Best Encrypted Messaging Apps You Should Use Today
What Are the Most Secure Messaging Apps? Review this List and Choose the One that Suits Your Needs.
Do you want to know which are the best encrypted messaging apps out there and how it can protect your valuable data? This guide might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Many of you could believe that all the private data shared via Facebook Messenger, Skype, or Snapchat is safe, but sometimes it’s just an illusion. Remember that popular apps like Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook Messenger do not use end-to-end encryption, so your conversations and files may not be fully protected.
On the other hand, there are many chat apps that provide messaging services that have upped their game on the security and privacy fronts by using end-to-end encryption. Without end-to-end encryption, your conversations most likely will get into the hands of cybercriminals, and other malicious actors focused on stealing them.
We compiled a list of reliable encrypted messaging apps because the struggle for keeping our data secure is fiercer than ever. Governments crave it, companies seek access to it, and cybercriminals probably want it the most.
The Most Secure Encrypted Messaging Apps
1. Signal
Here’s a secure messaging app that uses an encryption system and can keep your messages safe.
Whisper Systems created Signal as a successor to two separate apps dedicated to encrypted voice calling and encrypted texting.
Encryption was always at the core of the company’s products. When Twitter acquired it in 2011, the goal was to improve the security in the microblogging platform.
Its encryption engine is open source, which means is available for everyone to inspect.
Signal is used by notorious figures in cybersecurity and data privacy, such as Edward Snowden and Bruce Schneier! That’s because in Signal all communication is encrypted end-to-end by default (and it’s one of the few encrypted messaging apps which employ this default system).
Recently, the app received a $50 million investment from the WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton which is supporting the non-profit Signal Foundation’s mission of “making private communication accessible and ubiquitous”.
Signal is also WIRED’s secure messaging recommendation to use it because “it’s free, it works on every mobile platform, and the developers are committed to keeping it simple and fast by not mucking up the experience with ads, web-tracking, stickers, or animated poop emoji.”
App cost: FREE
It can be downloaded for free on Google Play or App Store.
2. iMessage
Apple Messages is an app used only on Apple devices, but it is perfect when it comes to security features. In addition to offering end-to-end encryption between users, Apple Messages enables users to control how long the message stays up and how many times the receiver can see the message. This feature is only available to those who have iOS 10 and above.
Core features of iMessage, available on all supported platforms, include sending texts, images, videos, and documents; getting delivery and read statuses (read receipts).
No matter what Apple device you’re using, whether it’s iOS, watchOS, or iPadOS, your messages are end-to-end encrypted and a password is required in order to be accessed. Users of Apple’s FaceTime can also rest easy knowing that their video calls are also E2EE-empowered.
iMessage also allows sending location data and stickers. On iOS and iPadOS, third-party developers can extend iMessage capabilities with custom extensions, an example being quick sharing of recently played songs.
App cost: FREE
3. WhatsApp

Since 2016, WhatsApp has enabled and implemented end-to-end encryption, so users can enjoy more secure communication. With more than 1.5 billion users, the platform has been acquired by Facebook and offers a free app to small-to-medium sized and enterprise businesses alike.
Security-wise, encryption enhances communication privacy and protects users’ messages from impostors or malicious actors. While security flaws may appear, if cybercriminals were to breach WhatsApp today, they couldn’t decrypt your conversations. That’s due to the encryption and to the fact that WhatsApp doesn’t store your messages on its servers.
App cost: FREE
4. Viber

Since 2017 its corporate name has been Rakuten Viber and is currently based in Luxembourg.
This private chat app has plenty of useful features in order to offer users high-quality calling experience and all of them are secured, so the information shared is protected along the way with the end-to-end encryption system.
As long as you make sure to use the sharing method pointed out by Viber, your data will remain encrypted from your end all the way up the recipient.
App cost: FREE
Users: More than 900 million registered users
5. Threema
Here’s another secure texting app that we suggest giving a try. Everything you communicate while using Threema is encrypted end-to-end: not only messages but also group chats, voice calls, media files, and even status messages. Your messages can be read only by the intended recipient, so nobody else can interfere and have access to them.
The app makers also boast that they delete the messages you send from their servers once they’ve been delivered.
The Threema app has a “Private Chats” feature that can help users protect individual chats with a PIN code. This way, confidential chats are protected from malicious actors.
Another great thing about this app is the QR code and key fingerprint available for user verifications to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
App cost: 2,99 EUR
6. LINE

The same year, LINE added end-to-end encryption to its platform. This featured is called “Letter Sealing” and it’s available to all its users. They just have to turn it on to benefit from it.
App cost: FREE
Users: over 700 million
7. Telegram

Similar to other messaging apps, Telegram offers end-to-end encryption as well, being considered one of the most secure messaging platforms. For users who want more privacy, they can turn on “Secret Chats” from the app’s advanced settings. Read more details about this feature:
“And when you delete messages on your side of the conversation, the app on the other side of the secret chat will be ordered to delete them as well.
You can order your messages, photos, videos and files to self-destruct in a set amount of time after they have been read or opened by the recipient. The message will then disappear from both your and your friend’s devices.”
All secret chats in Telegram are device-specific and are not part of the Telegram cloud, meaning that you can only access messages in a secret chat from their device of origin. If your device is safe, your secret chats are safe as well.
App cost: FREE
Users: Over 200 million active users
8. KakaoTalk

This feature offers users the option of securing messages with end-to-end encrypted chatting option. However, KakaoTalk’s default chat mode is not end-to-end encrypted, so you’ll have to enable it.
The app makers boast that KakaoTalk is used by over 90% of smartphone users in South Korea, for which privacy and data security are main concerns.
App cost: FREE
Users: Over 220 million registered
9. Dust

“You can erase your messages off other people’s phones. No messages are permanently stored on phones or servers. Messages are heavily encrypted and not accessible to anyone, even us.”
What Dust is trying to create is a social communication platform with enhanced security and privacy, by using a combination of AES 128 and RSA 248 encryption.
App cost: FREE for both Android and iOS platforms
10. Wickr – Secure Messenger

This app is open source and doesn’t require a phone number or email address to register. Built with privacy in mind, Wickr I does not collect data or have access to users’ data.
This page dedicated to the encryption standard used in Wickr is extremely useful for those who want to understand how end-to-end encryption works.
App cost: FREE for Android and iOS
11. CoverMe

By using it, you can also make encrypted voice calls, without any records on your phone bill. The app also includes a private vault feature for extra security so you can use to store your files in and hide videos, photos, passwords, and any files.
App cost: FREE
Download it from Google Play Store or Apple Store
12. Silence
Is another messaging app that focuses on keeping your messages safe, using encryption for text messages over the air and on your phone. Similar to Signal and Wickr Me apps, it is open source and free.
Formerly known as SMSecure, Silence app has a simple and friendly interface and uses encrypted SMS messages with no Internet connection required.
App cost: FREE
Download it from Google Play Store
13. Pryvate Now
Whether you are an Android or iOS user, you can freely start chatting and messaging with Pryvate app.
In 2015 it won the award for “Best Business – Best Mobile App” and ensures your communications are encrypted and fully secured.
This messaging app offers world-class RSA 4096-bit encryption technology and involves NO servers or middleman for communications, so users can enjoy direct communications with their colleagues, friends or family.
It includes a “Self Destruct” feature which lets you delete all your messages sent on recipients device at any time.
App cost: FREE for Android and iOS
14. SureSpot
This small mobile messaging app uses end-to-end encryption technology for every text, image, and voice you are sending to one of your friends or colleagues, so no stranger can read it.
Surespot app doesn’t share any data about you and transfers your conversations securely to other devices. This guide can show how the app works and how can you protect all your mobile messages.
It worths knowing that it does not require or store your data.
App cost: FREE for Android and iOS
15. Wire
Here’s another great encrypted messaging app that is worth a try. Unlike other services out there, it offers end-to-end encryption by default to secure your conversations, files and images, text files, and more.
It is an open source and collaborative platform and has plenty of useful features: fully encrypted video calls, secure file sharing, synced between devices and others. Wire also has a free version for personal use (after creating an account) and paid one for organizations (large enterprises).
It works on all popular platforms: Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera).
What Other Encrypted Messaging Apps Would You Include to the List?
If you have any encrypted messaging apps that should be on this list to add, do let us know, or leave a comment below, and we’ll be happy to include them.
Until then, remember that popular apps like Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook Messenger don’t use end-to-end encryption, so your conversations and files may not be fully secured. If you are a Skype user like me, you should know that the company has introduced end-to-end encryption at the beginning of 2018.
If you want to explore more data encryption methods, we have a dedicated guide you’ll find helpful.
Also, make sure you visit our article on the best-encrypted email services, so you can use secure communication for sending emails as well!
Conclusion
We’re living in a digital world where security and privacy matter more than ever. If you are concern about your data and value privacy, then it’s a must to use one of these encryption messaging apps to better secure them from spies, hackers, or any other malicious actors.

This article was originally published by Miriam Cihodariu in July 2019 and was updated by Antonia Din in July 2021.
I would advise you to pay attention to the Utopia P2P ecosystem. The messenger from Utopia’s P2P ecosystem is designed for instant exchange of encrypted text and voice messages.
This is an excellent piece of reading material. You could probably add to this and create an ebook with minimal effort. I am impressed with your writing skills, attention to detail, and new views.
This article is very low qulity.
Protecting our data against who?
Many of the recommended apps collects loads of data on their users and some pretend to protect users privacy.
Some good suggestions on here and I generally agree. I’d also suggest taking a look at the articles detailing messengers at cooltechzone.com as they go into a bit more depth with each of their suggestions. It could help shape your decision better!
The main aim of Signal App is the end-to-end encryption that means no one can intercept and read your messages.
very informative
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signal app Making all my communication secure ,and now they updated payment features too .
Hi it’s james here i m the active user of signal app it’ really a nice app this makes full control of my messages , it has lot of advanced features like ‘disappearing messages’, ‘screen lock’, ‘incognito keyboard’, ‘read receipts’, ‘message trimming’ etc.
Any application that requires an email or phone number to register is untrustworthy to me. Once you are linked to an email or phone number, you will always be identifiable and therefore lose the notion of privacy.
Started using telegram instead. So far so good. Didn’t know they had so many good features.
It seems like what I was looking for, except now it’s full of tRumpers and that just makes it fairly useless for finding my tribe. 🤮
We should clearly consider using Encrytped Secure and Private messaging apps like ChatFinder , I have have tested the app – currently available for closed testing beta groups. I could say that the app looks realy promising to me . Signal with social features added. worth waiting !
Yes it is amazing and disappearing messaging feature is best and outstanding . for me its thumbs up for privacy. Beta try version is not for everyone . invite only
Got got the beta beta test version for personal testiong , it look like promising secure messaging service from codenear . the app need some more improvement in UI . other are working fine, Self distructing messages are the one fetures i like most . ! waiting
DATCHAT should be added in a future update
Whatsapp is disqualified from start, it belongs to facebook.
Absolutely agree.
if it’s not opensource you can’t trust it, because they say it’s encrypted and secure, but could have build in backdoors to spy on you
only good encrypted apps are: 1. Wickr 2. signal 3. telegram
Wow, what a mostly horrible list. Most of these apps not only grab you data and their privacy policies allow them to pass it on or use it however they like, some also take you contacts and other data and store that data on their own servers. Some even potentially expose your contacts to other third-parties.
Squealock encryption is goods it wipes away all meta data
is ema chat secure?
which is best app for couples? SnapChat or EmaChat?
Why EmaChat not listed in your list?
Know about EmaChat.
Things I say verbally on my phone become ads. I have a theory. Facebook use the Instagram and Whatsapp apps to turn on your microphone and send this data back to Facebook for serving ads. Google do something similar with Android and Apple with iOS. Because you agree to the Terms of Service they are “not” violating your rights.
I have tested ways to stop or change the ads I am shown and it’s consistent with this hypothesis.
Try disabling the microphone and camera under app permission for Whatsapp and Isntagram and see if your adverts change! Then try other apps!
tbh spying trought microphone is bullsh*t. 1. thing is sending that huge amount od sound data would drain your cellular data in few days (unless you have unlimited) and 2. its just useless to transform sound to text and then to data for ads, because facebook would have to had so powerful computers there to do all of that
I challange those who says whatsapp is safe no they are wrong my whatsapp coversation records has been shared by whatsapp compey member i will case against whatsapp
Babelapp works perfectly to us (they use encrypting by blockchain) since 2018. This year they upgraded their website (i hope that app will look the same).
People say that EmaChat is best encrypted private messenger for couples.
Is it really secure?
I want to know that because I use emachat for chat with my boyfriend.
Who is the idiot who wrote this blog ?..must be nsa or cia because every app on this list has been “compromised” and the elite’s know it that’s why they want un-tech savvy people to download them. Everyone of these apps are “data miners” and track/tracers and it has already been proven.
Sincerely,
A Cisco Network Security trained research investigator !
So which app would you use instead of those mentioned.
Agree i wondered how come whatsapp is on the list.
Could I speak with you for some advice?
So what do you recommend?
Recently i install Signal app Really it’s have Great features of privacy , Frankly Guys it’s nice and best App For our Privacy . Thanks to Signal Team
What a biased article! WhatsApp No1? In terms of security? Really laughable and misleading.
Awesome blog! I like it a lot! Thanks and keep up the great work!
Babelapp.com utilizes Blockchain encrypted solution for enterprise customers. With all communications stored on clients own server.
Signal is a highly recommend encrypted messaging app for privacy-centric people. It runs on world’s best encryption protocol i.e. Signal Protocol.
How can Signal be highly secure when you need to use a phone number to register?
Best encrypted messaging service – Signal – has unveiled a new logo. With this, Signal is more confident about protecting their user’s data from hackers and attackers.
WhatsApp is the most secure messaging app?
I really disagree with this list.
👎
are dada maskharas
whatsapp is owned by facebook, so that says it all I guess.
It suppose to be a joke 😀
Thanks for sharing such an informational blog which will, surely be a big help to the small medium enterprise so that they can choose the best suited tool for their business.
That’s a pretty good article, but why use encrypted messaging apps when you can encrypt the whole data of your device traffic? There are plenty of VPN options that you can use for such occasions. If you want to go for a free option, Atlas VPN would be the best choice for smartphone users
Thanks for sharing this informative blog regarding The Best Encrypted Messaging Apps.
Hi there! I’m an active user of Signal Private Messenger. The messenger is awesome because it offers me full control over my messages. The best part is that it has a lot of advanced features like ‘disappearing messages’, ‘screen lock’, ‘incognito keyboard’, ‘read receipts’, ‘message trimming’ etc.
I just use gpg4usb and encrypt everything myself..safest way I can ever think of.
Signal Nice App Good Features of Privacy Thanks Signal Team
For me the most secure messenger is Utopia
I agree with you
The article did not refer to global communications needs. Can someone in Vietnam use an end to end communication, and data sharing app that Is not attributed to any network and receive it here in the states? Can the user communicate with someone in Europe? What are the limitations?
Session messager is almost finished and through my research looks to be the most secure yet.
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Thanks to Signal team, they made privacy easy
Yes, I found my personal data privacy and security with Signal private messenger
Thanks to Signal team, they made privacy easy.
Signal provides the strongest privacy protections beyond what any other messenger (including WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype, Facebook).
Which app has end to end encrypted call? I take it Signal does not?
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Signal is OK but it lacks what I consider two must have features. First, once you create a group and add people you cant remove individuals from the group. You must ask the person to leave the group from their end. The only other way to do it is delete the entire group and then rebuild it. Second, anyone who is added to the group as a member has the ability to add others to the group. In other words the person who creates the group has no control over that group from that point on.
Found this – Void Messenger, quite nice security wise
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sleepingteam.nonstopchat&hl=en
like to give Me Special thank to Give Signal App Now Finally i Feel Secure About my Data , Thanks Buddy .
Very informative article it is. I got all the information which I was looking for. I like viber application a lot. I really appreciate your hard work.
Amazing article…!! I got all the information from this blog about android messaging apps. Thanks for the wonderful article.
Singal has all the features i m using it its OK and Good Encryption Technique
U forgot Utopia on list. Best messenger today.
I fully agree with you and Utopia is good not only as a messenger
In recent time, often seen mention of Utopia, I decided to try and I liked it!
I hope this project has a great future, it looks promising
This is a really good list! Good job! My personal favorite is Brosix – it is as secure as functional.
Hi.
Thank You for the article.
I feel that there are few important shortcomings, some possibly already mentioned by others.
A big one is not having made it very clear which is opensource and use opensource standards and which doesn’t.
Another one is giving the false impression that some applications take privacy seriously (ie. Whatsapp, Telegram …etc.).
A third one is having left out some major app that take privacy much more seriously and use opensource standards, such as:
– Oversec (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/io.oversec.one/)
– DeltaChat (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.b44t.messenger/)
– Briar (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.briarproject.briar.android/)
– Meshenger (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/d.d.meshenger/)
– Pix-Art (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.pixart.messenger/)
– Dib2Qm (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/net.sourceforge.dibdib.android.dib2qm/)
– Riot (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/im.vector.alpha/)
Otherwise, thank you for your work. 🙏🏽
I am surprised you didnt include Utopia ecosystem in this list. Using it, I have found that sharing files and talking to my friends in total privacy is really possible.
now I am stick to Utopia messenger too. everything works great. still a little bit confused.. why the devs keep their names secret?
Hi. The problems I see with these apps are:
– New and not tested enough. Even when coming out of the beta. If you want to be serious about your privacy, generally it’s advised to used long used and tested opensource standards and implementations. For instance, Telegram fails here twice (not opensource, not long used/tested), albeit it’s very practical to use.
While Utopia may use long used and well tested standards, the implementation of such is not.
– With apps like “Utopia” the additional issue is that they admit themselves the app and/or usage of will be eventually charged….possibly in a specific cryptocoin. Even IF the cost is going to be negligible, it would be a strong deterrent when you want to invite your acquaintances.
I don’t trust fb, and idk who does in 2k19. Utopia ecosystem is private messenger, e-mail and crypto wallet. Recommend to join the beta and earn money!
Agree, their messenger is really amazing in terms of usability. Not from one other messenger I was so delighted.
Thanks, for the article, it really covers the red hot data security issues. But really can’t agree with all of the apps recommended by you. Most of them I’ve never heard about. In addition, Facebook and WhatsApp have got not the best reputation among users. But still, some of them are really nice. My personal recent discovery is the Utopia ecosystem. I’ve become one of the first beta-testers, their messenger promises a very impressive security level due to p2p technology applied. Maybe you’ll find it interesting too!
Have you already tried their uMail, kind of email used inside the system? Now it is one of my favorite high-security, high-privacy email providers.
Thanks for the wonderful article, I was researching for details like this, going to check out the other posts.
I wonder if anyone using MyChat enterprise messenger? We started using it recently in our office and do not have issues with security. It can work in a LAN, and that is perfect for our internal environment.
i am using imo app for messaging and video calling. i would like to know how safe is the app
Hi Cecilia! Thanks for your question. According to their Privacy Policy, they may monitor live streams to improve the quality of their service. Also, they will share your data with other companies and may disclose your personal information if required by law. What’s more, they don’t explicitly mention they are using end-to-end encryption, so the app doesn’t seem to be that safe. You can review Imo’s full Privacy Policy and Terms of Service here: https://imoapp.com/policies/privacy_policy.html
Oh, having WhatsApp in the first place is so misleading. People might even believe that they are safe using it.
I agree and the Crypviser was not even on the list which makes the list incomplete. You can read more about how Crypviser is a world apart from the others out there at Crypviser-news.com
Review unseen.io please
Why don’t you go do your own research. Read the privacy policy.
now whatsapp steal your privacy
Telegram is my favourite .Not just for security ,for usability as well. It has a version for every device and can even be used if you don’t have a smartphone. You just need to be able to receive a confirmation text on your phone to set it up . You can then manually add Telegram users by searching for them. Normally the app will scan through your contacts and do it that way ,but it can’t if you don’t have a smartphone.
Being able to use it without owning a smartphone allows you to communicate with people like your Gran who might have a PC and and old style phone.
This gives Telegram a big advantage over most phone based apps. That and the obvious fact that it was designed to be a secure app in the first place
Thanks for the post! You should include Idka on that list. http://www.idka.com. They provide a platform for communication and sharing, with a built-storage system. Fully functional and free for a basic account.
which can be used WITHOUT phone ?
Telegram can as it has a version for every device. You do need a phone to set it up though for the confirmation text but it can be any phone that receives texts. You will have to manually add people in the app due to it not being able to scan through your contacts if you don’t have a smartphone.
Briar project seems to be a good one left in the fray. You don’t need a phone, and you don’t need the internet, you can still chat if the internet is down, and it’s quite secure.
What about instagram messages can my employer see my instagram messages when I’m connected to their network
No, that’s the whole point of end-to-end encryption… assuming your phone has not been compromised.
Nothing guarantees your employer didn’t install malware in your phone. If they managed to install a keylogger either when you were not looking or through an exploit you’re screwed.
Hey there. Some of the options sound ridiculous to me, e.g Whatsapp. This is like the most insecure and unreliable IM available ever. We all know pretty well who owns it.
The most secure application in my humble opinion is Brosix IM.
Hello and thank you for sharing your opinion. We didn’t know about Brosix app, but we’ll consider adding on the list. Thanks!
From what i’ve checked out about Brosix, it is proprietary (Meaning its not open code, therefore not trustworthy). You can also checkout other open-source tools like KeyBase (This one is for im only, pretty much with file storage and more being added all the time). If you need calling/video calling/messaging plus security like encryption and open source for free there is another tool called Riot.im (runs on an open/decentralized network called matrix @matrix.org). Nice thing about matrix is optionally using your own server, if you know how to set one up that is. There are even more tools, some which are much slower because of the extra security such as running over tor network, Like ricochet.im and yes there are even more with some searching. More and more of those tools, and your going to have a very hard time trying to get friends/family to use it, especially if there more complicated than tools like facebook.
thanks for sharing .
it is helpful and useful for me.
So Signal ‘Private’ Messenger fails to work, when you have US Gov addresses being filtered.
I kid you not.
Set it up and see.
I agree that our personal data’s are important and using social media app or websites is risky. so this helps a lot. Like FxLeaders, a signal provider who will surely secure you an excellent service!
Have you heard of HighSide? It has military grade encryption , using a cryptosecurity protocol, that is being used by a number of government agencies and financial institutions. You should really see their website https://highside.io/
If you really want the best in an end-to-end encrypted chat and file sharing platform, HighSide is the best out there.
No if you really want to be secure build it yourself
Hi Ioana,
thank you for this precious list: I discovered several apps I wasn’t aware of.
I would like to have your opinion about this: according to the following article, Signal is a fake-privacy tool, because it was created by the same Government you want exclude from your conversations and message sharing:
https://surveillancevalley.com/blog/government-backed-privacy-tools-are-not-going-to-protect-us-from-president-trump
What do you think about this issues? I knew the risks related to Tor but I didn’t know these details about Signal.
For work I use Threema, that is half-closed but Swiss based, so less dangerous than USA based ones (all except Threema and Wire), even if somebody says that Russian government now can demand from Threema metadata and calls, but I don’t know if this is true!
Thank you in advance,
Bert
I GOT A SNEAKY HUSBAND WHO USES THIS. BUT FOUND ALL HIS CONVERSATIONS ;0)
What are you even talking about? It says right above that Signal is owned by Twitter. Twitter is owned by the Saudis. I’ll GUARANTY you that your messages are being intercepted.. by the Islamic Caliphate, not Trump!
Hi
On your top 5 list we find Whatsapp and Telegram.
On a swedish newspaper we can read that police have read conversation between people on Telegram and Whatsapp.
If these apps are encrypted 100% how is this possible?
Backdoor? Cracked encryption? Phone hacked? Open and see when they have the phone?
How do police?
https://omni.se/misstankta-terrorister-avlyssnades-av-sapo-2017/a/On5v0w
Telegram chats are not encrypted by default, neither are groups, channels, and so on.
Whatsapp is probably a backdoor. Even though the encryption is applied, they comply with the requests from authorities to provide encryption keys.
Great review!
But as far as I know all messengers use AES + RSA.
AES is a good algorithm, but not perfect.
There is only one perfect solution – the Vernam cipher.
RSA is no longer a secure key exchange method due to quantum computers and the Shor’s algorithm (see NIST PostQuantum Project)
I see the only instant messenger on the market that uses the Vernam cipher and does not use RSA: Vernam.IM
Just take a look at the official site http://vernam.im and read the section “How it works”.
I think this is a real cryptopunk dream.
Hello, Alex! Many thanks for your feedback!
Vernam uses OneDrive and/or DropBox as a mediator. That makes them rely on 3rd party’s good will and – how exactly is that *secure*?
“Secure” means that messages cannot be decrypted.
Of course, messages go through OneDrive/DropBox in encrypted form.
Using OneDrive/DropBox makes it impossible to ban service by IP as it happens in Russia with Telegram.
I’ve checked into it, never heard of that one before but do know that it is not open-source, so from a security point of viewing coming from a security engineer it is not to be trusted, seems like a money grab. One Time Pad encryption (a.k.a vernam cipher) is a good algorithm, but again it all depends who implements it and how they do it. Check out finalcrypt.org, again its another developer who claims AES is broken which it is not, therefore thats one lie (btw, the source he links to is about a side channel attack, not direct lol) AES is resistant to quantum computing, depending upon how well its implemented. Grover’s algorithm does pose a small threat though, but aes-256 is still very secure, not broken by quantum computing. One Time Pad can be, if the users aren’t aware of certain things such as ONE TIME, doesn’t matter how big the key, the more you use it to encrypt more and more files, if attackers gets the ‘extra’ encrypted files then its game over (as you dont want to reuse any of the random bits that previously encrypted the file). If you encrypted file a , b , & c all with the same key then its easier for me to find a path or a way to reverse the encryption to perform the decryption hence the ONE TIME nickname. If done properly, with a large enough key (~100mb should be good), random and the key file is BIGGER in size than the file to be encrypted and used only once then thats the only PERFECT way to use this cipher, but its not for modern day use, reason we have something like aes.
FYI.
This is the current site of the Vernam messenger: https://vernam.app/
Some answers to Joe:
Joe: it is not open-source.
In the FAQ you can read:
you can request the source
code text for verification by pre-signing
the appropriate NDA.
Joe: its another developer who claims AES is broken.
I can not find this on the site.
They claims that RSA is almost broken and it’s true.
Joe: its not for modern day use
Just see this work https://arxiv.org/abs/1303.2219
Hi Ioana,
Great insight you have here. If it’s hard for you to find Email Security comparison sites, then maybe I can help.
Thanks for these great lists! We’re going to have a mobile app coming out soon – to help people to make unlimited call and text. Phone2 is a messaging app with a phone number, but it works anywhere with internet.
I have read that Whatsapp and (fb)Messenger can generate new encryption keys, for the purpose of giving the company access to all of your content (chats and files).
http://www.techworld.com/security/best-secure-mobile-messaging-apps-3629914/ Although that page seems to contain many errors (as if it was written with outdated info but the date-stamp changes to keep it in current search-engine results), I do recall, however, reading this about Whatsapp a year ago from other sources as well.
What is your take on this? Does Whatsapp still have a backdoor?
This for sure is something that should have been mentioned in your above article.
Agree totally. Also, jurisdiction and open source status should be mentioned.
Thanks for sharing the best encrypted messaging apps. Keep sharing more interesting posts.
I have been using Signal Private messenger for almost two years and it never disappoints, i keep reading about stuff that how secure the signal private messenger is.
Safeswiss is the only secure encrypted messenger and swiss securium.no other messenger offers full enterprise encryption for free without the cost
I think you forgot the messenger for Facebook but anyway I loved the article. Thanks
Facebook messenger is the least secure, in my opinion. What about a something that is not cloud based, is not intruded by server owners or outside government demons.
if you read to the end, it is mentioned under “more to come”.
However, the fact that encryption with a backdoor has been added in August 2018 tells us that this article is out of date, and needs all of it’s information refreshed.
Hello, Timmi! Thanks for your feedback! We will update the article and refresh the information as soon as possible. Thank you!
facebook messenger is not secure at all. Here we are talking about messengers who do not steal your data rather keeps it encrypted, and one the best apps to do that is SIGNAL. it is simple, fast and secure. messages sent on signal are always end-to-end encrypted and painstakingly engineered to keep your communication safe.
I every day use Briar
No (middle) center server,end-to-end encrypted,internet connections via tor+bluetooth you make to create blog forum secure group.
I love this app.
Poorly researched article, the information is wrong for many of these apps, they are *not* secure. The blog post fundamentally is a list of apps that their respective marketing departments say are secure and the ‘review’ this author posted is basically a regurgitation of the marketing department’s BS.
You may want to do your own research and analysis before giving products your stamp of approval. Yes, it requires time and some level of capability beyond reading marketing material and skimming Wikipedia.
My opinion of Heimdal Security was neutral; however after reading this, I will not consider recommending any Heimdal product to my clients. You have no credibility impo.
Perhaps you can give us some recommendations?
My choice had settled on WIRE, after extensively researching this in late 2017 to early 2018. However, although it is good, it’s program code is a resources pig! And on Windows it crashes often (per hour!).
So I am on the lookout for a chat app that:
1. does not require your phone number (to pull out your info from billing records)
2. has end-to-end encryption on ALL chats, group and user to user
3. allows you to give out an Alias to contacts, not your phone number
4. has larger chat groups than Wickr (limited to 10 per group)
Point 4 is what eliminates Wickr – otherwise it would have been fine.
Also, any hard facts on TOX?
My concern with Tox is that anyone is allowed to write and use a Tox-compliant server app: might they be able to design it to hack into keys and decrypt messages as well? You can bet that the N,S.A is onto it if they haven’t already done it.
100% Agree
Best one is https://hushtexting.com cause no app is needed and it supports all mobile browsers. It’s Anonymous and auto Deletes messages. Maybe no encryption but at least my wife and kids won’t know who I’m texting.
Great review. One of the best is missing: https://hushtexting.com it’s web enabled so no app needed and no account just send link to a friend and u chat with him secretly no one will know.
Threema is one of the best apps, I used it … thanks for sharing it
Nice article, it’s always going to be difficult to capture everything in a list like this one. I would like to suggest matrix.org – an open-source chat network with several different clients available for desktop and mobile. Encrypted chat that is closed-source is not really encrypted – someone just says it is and you have no way of checking.
Dear IOANA
Thank you for your informative web page.
If I can make a positive suggestion, It would be very informative on your page, if you would advise which Secure Messaging App can still be used in China without the need for a VPN (ie most know Whatsapp and Viber are blocked by the Chinese Great Firewall), but it would be nice to know which of the less popular Secure Messenging apps can still function within China
Thanks
Tom
Any encrypted calling and Texting app not devloped in US ?
You have missed out the only Safe Messenger Zangi. It is probably the most secure and most private messengers in the market. It is not only *fully encrypted*, but it also has extra levels of security. Zangi is serverless, decentralized, and leaves no traces on the internet. This means user communication history is never stored on any servers, so it’s impossible for anyone to access user data.
Hello, Suzan! Many thanks for your comment! Will have a look at this app and consider adding it to the list. Thank you for reading our blog!
Zangi is not open source. Nothing encrypted is secure unless it is open source.
There is also SHUSH…End to End encryption that you control with your own secrect key. … http://shush.bworby.com
Hi, Bob! Thanks for sharing this! I didn’t know about it, but we’ll consider including it on the list! Thanks!
Hi Everybody, what about Zangi ?
Hello, Atilla! Thank you for reaching out! I didn’t know about Zangi Safe Messenger, but we’ll consider adding it on the list. Thanks for your feedback!
get2Clouds offers end-to-end encryption and encrypted cloud sync for free
WhtsApp is not secure or safe.
Recently was booted off & blocked from WA for testing how safe they are. As soon as I found an issue and questioned them about it, they sent me illegal and vile images then blocked my phone number from using it.
WA is owned by Facebook which is monitoring you now if you are using it.
Take WA off this list. Nit secure in any way.
Nice blog. Recently I use one more app for business messaging that app name is WIBRATE. According to me, This app is really good and you can advertise with Wibrate and drive more traffic more leads and revenue for your business.
When you talking about secure , how can you miss the Blackberry Messenger ?
Whatsapp is completely unsecure if you use their auto backup feature for your conversations (which most people do). The conversations are stored as plain unencrypted text on facebook’s servers.
Secondly, because Whatsapp is not open source there is absolutely no way of verifying that facebook are not recording everything. All it takes is for them to insert one line of code into the application for it to record every message before it gets encrypted and then all your messages are unsecure.
Whatsapp is owned by Facebook which has a terrible reputation for privacy. The head/founder of whatsapp recently left because facebook wanted to mine whatsapp user information (ie, record the conversations and use them to create a profile on users).
The head of Whatsapp (Jan Koum) then went on to donate 50 million dollars to Signal, and recommends everyone use that instead.
Hi! Thanks for the info a few apps definitely looks interesting but once I download an app it becomes less attractive. I personally use hushtexting.com it’s definitely good quality and allows to use with no download. It’s all kept as secret so even better.
Hello, Maria! Thank you for the feedback and for sharing your recommendation. Will check out this app and see if it’s worth adding to our list.
Sorry Ioana, but I doubt that WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or Viber are a good idea.
Especially in the case of recent problems with Facebook. I mean, these apps can be secured, but still – they are owned by a big bad corporations or are currently on the spotlight from FSB (Russia).
They are most popular apps, I’ll give you that. But I’m not sure about their level of privacy.
Signal is by far the gold standard. No way Whatsapp should be ever trusted while owned by Facebook. The rest of the apps are playing catch up to Signal.
“Until then, just keep in mind that apps such as Kik, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and Skype are not encrypted end-to-end, so your conversations and files sent over these platforms can still be compromised.”
This is not correct. Skype has already implemented end-to-end encryption earlier this year for Skype-to-Skype connections.
Hello, Joelin! Many thanks for your feedback and observation. That is correct, Skype has introduced end-to-end encryption earlier, I have updated the article. Many thanks for pointing it out 🙂
What about UseCrypt – an european one. You didn’t mentioned that.
This is not a proprietary product, uses the old signal protocol, closed code, not worth mentioning.
Hey, if you are serious, never trust these popular apps What’s app, Viber, but really you cannot trust them and I know some people who made mistakes. You just cannot trust Facebook, Google or any other similar company, they collect everything about you…
I personally use hushtexting.com it’s by far the best way to chat without your close ones knowing. It’s anonymous and secretive and so easy to use. It deleted messages automatically and also locks your account so no way my kids see who I’m texting. They did a good job.
I think you missed out Workapps Chat. It should’ve been here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXzi4AVfHfo
Does anyone have any experience with chatcrypt.com and how would one even check if what the site says is true. I dont have any hacking experience so id appreciate any feedback about the safety of communication over that site.
What a fantastic post! you did really a great job! This is comprehensive and helpful list.
I want share one more app which is very useful for encrypted & private texts & videos that is EnKryptonite. With this app, one can securely send SMS ,Videos from their mobile devices.You should give it a try!
Available on Play and App store
What a fantastic post! you did really a great job! This is comprehensive and helpful list.
I want share one more app which is very useful for encrypted text & for private messages that is EnKryptonite. You should give it a try!
Many thanks for your feedback, Adriel, and thanks for sharing info about this encryption app.
Thank you for this article. Here in the Philippines, a deadly authoritarian government led by Rodrigo Duterte has teamed up with telcos from China using Huawei-Made routers to spy on his political enemies resulting in many deaths. Use the of end-to-end encryption should prevent that. Thanks.
Thank you for this beautiful read 🙂
Thank you so much for your reply!
Hi Andra Zaharia, Blog post is nice , i have gone through it but if you are talking about best encrypted messaging apps then you should include BirdsBeep Chat app. It gives more security features as compare to Whatsapp or Viber
Best chat encryption ever developed
https://www.swantry.com/
https://www.paranotek.com/
completely moronic. Does not say what the hell the apps run on… desktop, iOS, android,
fish poop… on to a site with forethought…
A comprehensive list, however, Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber can hardly be called completely secure. Great to see Threema here, but I would add Symphony https://symphony.com/, which is more corporate-oriented for finance companies, and VIPole https://www.vipole.com/ got both a free privacy app and team solutions.
Which of these can be used across multiple platforms? I’m trying to find a free application that can be downloaded to a computer primarily and work across a switched network. If there is a phone app to accompany it, that may be a bonus. We were using Squiggle (secure because nothing leaves the network of it’s own accord), but now we’re looking to be able to chat between networks.
You can find details about each app on their website. Most of them are cross-platform, so you should have no issues using them across multiple devices.
Can you review Hypster-Heart ?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thesonid.hypster_heart_coder
Hi Dinos! Thank you for the suggestion. We don’t do reviews, but we’ll consider adding this app. Have a great week!
After reading this post, I realized that- Whatsapp is the world’s most secure app for my privacy. But sometimes I use Facebook Messenger for my private calls. Is it secure for me? or, Facebook Messenger is how much secure?
Hi John! Whatsapp is a good option indeed. Facebook Messenger has an option called Secret Conversations, but it has some limitations. Here are more details: http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/facebook-messenger-secret-conversion/ (We’ll update this article soon to include the details.)
You are kidding, right? Facebook not only collects all of your information from these apps, but it provides them to the US government daily. Facebook also uses the content of your chats for marketing purposes. These are the last apps I would use. WhatsApp is encrypted but the middlemen are corrupt.
SaltDNA should be here. You should review it and it’s use for the enterprise.
Thanks for the recommendation, John! Our list was destined for home users, that’s why we didn’t list any corporate products. But it’s good to have in mind in any case.
Ahhh, no problem thanks for the reply Andrea. I’d really recommend looking into SaltDNA in the future. Is the perfect solution for businesses.
For online chatting firstly i choose the Whatsapp always. But recently i download imo chat software on my android device. After reading you post; i know that whatsapp is safe for private calls or chat. But i want to know about the imo. Is imo safe for private calls?
Hi Jaqueline! I think this link will help you get the information you need: https://www.quora.com/Is-it-safe-to-use-IMO-for-video-call
What about man in the middle prevention?
About zom.im, conversation and SecureChat?
I could not dwonload from the url. Can I get it from a ftp server?
Really? Whatsapp? Secure? My foot!
Never heard of something called BBM? Do a little research before u publish something rubbish!
True , these are all paid reviews , how can they miss BBM ????
this is really bad that you didn’t mentioned most secure, Kryptochat app
whatsapp has worst encryption standard, Telegram and signal and cyphr are most secure ,after KryptoChat
KryptoChat is a secure messaging application based on military-grade encryption and other security features.
KryptoChat uses a military-grade encryption of the level RSA 8192-bit for asymmetric encryption, AES 256-bit algorithm for symmetric encryption and SHA-512 for signature algorithm. Custom encryption can be developed even at higher grade with multi-layers of symmetric encryption (up 99 layers using different algorithms).
KryptoChat also uses protocols like Transport Layer Security (TLS), Off The Record (OTR) Protocol for chat, ZRTP for VOICE, and other security features like certificate pinning on dedicated Certification Authority.
source:http://www.kryptochat.com/
Hello there,
are you working for Facebook ?? How do you trust them ? did you execute a penetration test over the whole facebook network/servers? How you can say that WhatUP is secure ?
Also today the pigs fly ..
is facebook actually safe to use ? thanks in advance
is telegram really encripted ? because i have t make some personal and confidentional chats
You can read the details on their website. And yes, it is really encrypted.
Can you please also review Safeswiss secure communication?
We’ll check it out, Tim! Thanks for the suggestion.
Can you review Ceerus?
Hi John! Thanks for your suggestion. We’ll see what it’s all about and if it’s worth including when we update this guide.
“The app features two encryption protocols called Off-the-Record Messaging and Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol. ”
Since when XMPP is an encryption protocols ? Even in the wikipedia page the lake of end-to-end encryption is list as a weakness of xmpp (https://www.wikiwand.com/en/XMPP#/Weaknesses ).
It’s good to provide sources, it’s even better to proof read them 🙂 Especially when we deal with encryption, encryption is a serious business.
Thank you for the feedback! We’ll make sure to make this even clearer on the next update on the guide. I completely agree that encryption is very serious business, so your input is more than welcome. Thanks for making the time for it!
how does Whatsapp work concerning the phone bill? Will it show calls or video on the bill?
Hi Debi! No, those are conducted via your mobile data, so only the cost of the mobile data will be mentioned on the bill.
Thank you for sharing!
I have been looking for secure communication solutions for a while now.
Another part of secure and private communication, is whether or not the meta data is encrypted.
The seemingly most secure Signal, claims to not store information on their servers, but technically, they (or FBI, NSA, …) could read/store a lot of information about users, e.g.
– Who called who at what time.
– How long the call lasted
– Their phone numbers
– Their IP address (thereby a fairly safe way of locating the user)
– There’s probably even more meta data
This doesn’t make it insecure, but it does create a trail of valuable data.
Very good point, Dan! Thank you for sharing your perspective on this. Choosing the most secure app for messaging is a lot more challenging than it seems, but we hope we’ll all learn how to get better at this.
Good Point.All the point are logical.
Funny thing is that Singal released document on FBI wanting the server data log and they gave them nothing but registered data LOL so yeah it’s trusted from now on IMO
Can you review Textnow?
Hi Kristy! Textnow is not encrypted, so it can’t be part of the list. If that changes, we’ll consider adding it.
Dandy review. The only thing I had to go to individual websites to find, was the availability of device specific apps. I voted for Telegram, It will be nice to see if they perform as expressed. Thanks
Thank you, Claude! We’ll make sure to update the article to include these details as well. It would definitely make things easier for other readers as well. Thanks for reading and for providing feedback on it!
Hi We have been using safeswiss encryption. These guys are a new Swiss based startup thier UI and end to end encryption including voice is very good.
Thank
Shannon
Good list. A few of us use Squealock (squealock.com). It is way up there in terms of security. Surespot should be on here too.
squealock is not openscource it is closed so there is no way of checking the code to see if it is secure
200% agree with you.
Yes that toms hardware article decent alarm for cyber security.
Wickr has all the features I need but it is too buggy and they deny any problems.