# DatChat vs Apex

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.

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

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | DatChat | Apex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (943 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datchat-social-network-plus/id999516973/reviews)** | [4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apex-private-groups/id1501294998/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **943** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **90.8% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 53 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Myseum, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/999516972) | [The Apex App, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1501294997) |

## What reviewers say

### DatChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datchat-social-network-plus/id999516973)

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:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro (Monthly) | $0.99 | per month |
| Pro (Yearly) | $9.99 | per year |
| Remain Anonymous | $1.99 | one-time |
| DatChat Pro Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Privacy and security
- 🚀 Innovative features
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Blockchain technology
- 🔒 Anti-screenshot protection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔧 Needs more feature development
- 👎 Dated UI design
- 🔍 Difficulty finding recent messages

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Inconsistent message delivery
- Notifications not always working as expected

**Requested features**

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


### Apex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apex-private-groups/id1501294998)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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