# TurboIRC 3 vs Element X

The clearest difference is rating: Element X at 3.5 against TurboIRC 3's 3.1. Element X also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). TurboIRC 3's advantage is iOS requirement (7.0 vs 18.5). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Element X holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 56 and 164 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of TurboIRC 3's written reviews are positive against 39% of Element X's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

TurboIRC 3 ships an update every 6 weeks, Element X fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TurboIRC 3 | Element X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (56 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/turboirc-3/id978108367/reviews) | **[3.5 (164 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-x-secure-chat-and-call/id1631335820/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 56 | **164** |
| Positive reviews | **46.2% of reviews** | 38.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 3 MB | 341 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Michael Chourdakis](https://appshunter.io/developer/574876668) | [Vector Creations Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1154157774) |

## What reviewers say

### TurboIRC 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/turboirc-3/id978108367)

This is an advanced IRC client for iOS devices, offering a full suite of features for real-time chat. It supports unlimited channels, rich text formatting, log saving, and extensive server and user controls. Enjoy file transfers, scripting, and more, all for free.

**Highlights:** Unlimited channels, Rich text formatting, Save HTML logs, Channel and Nick control, File transfers, JavaScript scripting

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Element X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-x-secure-chat-and-call/id1631335820)

Communicate securely and privately with instant messaging and video calls. This app offers robust features for individuals and communities, allowing you to own your data and choose where it's hosted. Enjoy real-time communication with synchronized history across all your devices.

**Highlights:** Real-time messaging, Video calls, Public and private rooms, Rich messaging features, Cross-device synchronization, Data ownership and server choice

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TurboIRC 3 free?

TurboIRC 3 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Element X free?

Element X is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TurboIRC 3 or Element X?

Element X is rated higher. TurboIRC 3 averages 3.1 out of 5 from 56 ratings, while Element X averages 3.5 from 164 ratings.

### Do TurboIRC 3 or Element X have ads?

Neither TurboIRC 3 nor Element X shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TurboIRC 3 or Element X?

TurboIRC 3 ships an update every 6 weeks, and Element X fortnightly. Most recently, TurboIRC 3 was updated on October 23, 2026 and Element X on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*