Comparison

DatChat vs Apex

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DatChat

This app offers a private social network and messenger with self-destructing, screenshot-protected, and end-to-end encrypted posts and messages. Users can control messages even after sending, create private social groups, and secure photos with advanced encryption.

Highlights
  • Self-destructing messages and posts
  • Screenshot protection with notifications
  • End-to-end encrypted communication
  • Nuke conversations to erase both sides
  • Private social groups
  • Multiple accounts
  • Encrypted hidden photo storage
Features
Read full description

DatChat is a private social networking app and messenger that protects your privacy with self-destructing, screenshot protected, encrypted posts and messages. Get the security you deserve. Keep your messages and social posts private, secure, and out of the wrong hands. Our proprietary anti-screenshot protection makes it nearly impossible for others to screenshot messages, posts, or comments - and you will receive a notification that they even tried. Every message you send has an end-to-end encrypted connection. Control over messages doesn’t stop after you hit send - now you have control even after they are sent. “Nuke” conversations on both the sender and recipient’s devices to protect your privacy. You can also unsend messages with ease. Messages will vanish without trace when they reach view limits or are manually destructed. Using DatChat is like having your own private social network. Create Social Groups where only you and the friends you invite to the group can post, comment, and like. Have as many accounts as you like, with whatever friends and family you want. Secure, private messages and pictures are only visible when logged into that respective account. Only your profile picture is available for anyone to view on DatChat. All other photos and information are in a private camera roll, hidden and encrypted behind other pictures. Never worry about picture security again. Download DatChat today and enjoy free, private, and secure social networking. DATCHAT FEATURES: Free, Secure Messaging: - Private messenger protects your privacy - Propriety anti-screenshot protection makes it nearly impossible to screenshot a message, post, or comment - Receive notifications when someone attempts to screenshot messages, photos, or videos - Only the sender & intended recipients can view messages - they cannot be forwarded to others - Every message has an end-to-end encrypted connection Post-Send Control: - Control what happens to messages even after you send them - Self-destructing messages & posts protect your privacy - “Nuke” messages & completely eradicate both sides of a conversation, comments, and more - Messages & posts vanish without a trace when they reach a view limit or are manually destructed Secure Social Networking: - Create Social Groups where only you & your invited friends can post, comment, and like - Group & individual conversations available - Multiple accounts for different friends: messages are visible when logged into that respective account Picture Privacy: - Only the cover photo can be seen in plain sight - Senders can hide pictures and information on the camera roll, hidden & encrypted behind other pictures Download DatChat now to start sending secure, private messages. __ We now offer DatChat Pro at three membership tiers: - Monthly: $0.99, renews every month - Yearly: $9.99, renews annually - Lifetime: $24.99, one-time purchase good for the life of your account DatChat Pro is an optional subscription service that unlocks new features and removes existing limitations. Subscriptions are offered on a monthly, yearly, and lifetime basis. Monthly subscriptions will renew every month for $0.99. Yearly subscriptions will renew annually for $9.99. A lifetime subscription is a one-time payment of $24.99 that does not renew and will upgrade your status to Pro for the lifetime of your account. Prices may vary by location. Any portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription. Subscriptions are charged to your credit card through your iTunes account. Manage your subscription in Account Settings after purchase. Monthly and Yearly subscriptions must be canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period to prevent an auto-renewal. Once purchased, refunds will not be given for any unused portion of the term. Terms of Service: http://www.datchat.net/terms Privacy Policy: http://www.datchat.net/privacy

About

Apex

Create exclusive, invite-only groups for private conversations. You control who joins and set the rules for your curated space. Supports multiple identities for different social circles.

Highlights
  • Invite-only groups
  • Curated spaces
  • Content and member moderation
  • Private conversations
  • Multiple identities
  • Hidden ownership
Features
Read full description

Apex is the fastest way to create invite-only groups, where creators set the rules and members drop into conversations Unlike other social networks, Apex allows you to choose who gets in your inner circle and curate the best conversations on the internet. YOU'RE IN CHARGE! - Curated space: choose who gets in and who stays in. - Set the the rules: moderate content and members. PRIVATE - Exclusive: conversations visible only to group members. - Be who you want: choose your real identity or a private, masked one. - Support for multiple identities: keep your friends and family separate from your other groups. - Hidden ownership: perfect for revolutionaries and interest groups with no owners. CONVERSATION - In the moment conversations: easily see who's active and start an in-the-moment discussion. - Keep up with multiple conversations effortlessly. - Everyone can create and participate. We want to hear your feedback! Email: help@joinapex.com

Screenshots

DatChat4 screens
Apex3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DatChat at 91% against Apex's 50%. DatChat also leads on ratings volume (943 vs 8) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Apex's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. DatChat sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Apex asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DatChat holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DatChat has 943 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of DatChat's written reviews are positive against 50% of Apex's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DatChat ships an update every 9 days, Apex every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
DatChat versus Apex: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDatChatApex
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (943 ratings) — better4.5 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews90.8% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings943 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB30 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperMyseum, Inc.The Apex App, Inc.

Customer experience

DatChat

All ratings944 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral0.3%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews131 reviews
Positive90.8%
Neutral0.8%
Negative8.4%

Apex

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

DatChat

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Inconsistent message delivery
  • Notifications not always working as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Video chat functionality
  • Ability to like/react to messages
  • Improved message search and sorting
  • Customizable notification settings
  • Integration with other platforms

Apex

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

DatChat

Subscriptions2
  • Pro (Monthly)$0.991 Month
  • Pro (Yearly)$9.991 Year
One-time2
  • Remain Anonymous$1.99
  • DatChat Pro Lifetime$24.99
None

Apex

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DatChat free?
DatChat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Apex free?
Apex is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DatChat or Apex?
DatChat is rated higher. DatChat averages 4.8 out of 5 from 943 ratings, while Apex averages 4.5 from 8 ratings.
Do DatChat or Apex have ads?
Neither DatChat nor Apex shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DatChat or Apex?
DatChat ships an update every 9 days, and Apex every 5 days. Most recently, DatChat was updated on October 24, 2026 and Apex on October 8, 2026.

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