If you’re looking for a way to keep text conversations private, it’s important to choose your messaging app carefully. Not all are end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) and others may have security holes that compromise your privacy.
Simply put, E2EE means that only you (the sender) and your recipient can see the content of your messages. This, most importantly, excludes third parties, such as your mobile operator, Internet Service Provider (ISP), and phone manufacturer. Some users may want this extra layer of protection to help prevent any outside introspection by the government and other organizations that may try to use your private conversations against you.
All of the apps shown here are free and offer E2EE, so you can worry less about your privacy. Let’s get into it.
A list of conversations in Signal (text is out of focus for privacy). You can customize the background color of your messages in Signal.
Signal is one of the best known private messaging apps and is my personal favorite. It offers a simple, aesthetically pleasing interface that makes it easy to use as a replacement for your device’s default messaging app. Signal is also described as an “independent non-profit company” that does not contain ads or crawlers in the app. Messages as well as voice and video calls are E2EE to Signal.
One note: on Android, you can also organize the use of Signal for less secure SMS / MMS messages, but the only way to get full protection in Signal is if both users at both ends are using the app. (However, you don’t have to worry about this if you’re an iPhone user, as you can’t change your default SMS app.)
Signal is a great app to use as your default messenger or for certain situations where you need to communicate securely.
Telegram home screen. Telegram includes some fun stickers.
Telegram is another great secure messaging app. It provides server-client encryption for group and private chats, and you can also send messages with E2EE using Telegram’s secret chat feature. This not only prevents someone from forwarding your messages, but also allows you to send self-destruct messages, which disappear after a specific period of time. If you delete your message in a secret chat, Telegram will also delete it on your recipient’s device.
While Telegram has recently launched a pay-per-view level that offers faster downloads and larger file uploads, the free version of the app still has a lot of great features. (Oh, and Telegram has a lot of rad stickers that you can use to beautify your posts.)
Telegram takes privacy seriously, but it also has a lot of other fun features like stickers.
WhatsApp enables E2EE for your messages and calls by default. WhatsApp will alert you if you receive a message from someone who is not in your contact list.
Anything owned by Meta (Facebook’s parent company) doesn’t really paint a clear picture of privacy, but WhatsApp is an exception. WhatsApp enables E2EE for your messages and calls by default. Like Signal and Telegram, WhatsApp allows you to create group chats and securely send pictures, videos, and voice messages. The company received a negative reaction for its updated privacy policy last year, which requires users who interact with companies in the app to share their data with Facebook; however, it is important to note that this does not affect everyday personal conversations in the app.
WhatsApp may be owned by the parent company Facebook, but offers E2EE by default.
This is where your contact list should be. Wickr Me has tabs for rooms, direct messages and contacts.
Wickr Me is another app with a parent company that may seem nasty. Amazon Web Services bought Wickr Me last year, but the service is still a solid messaging app that should keep your conversations safe. While Wickr Me is more geared toward business professionals who use the app to communicate with their colleagues, that doesn’t mean a typical user can’t use it. The free version of the app allows encrypted personal and group messages, audio and video calls, and file sharing. It also allows you to set timers for missing messages.
Wickr Me, owned by Amazon Web Services, is a private messaging app aimed more at professional users.
Wire has a fairly simple interface. You can easily create groups and add contacts.
Wire is a streamlined messaging app with a simple interface that does exactly what you need: send E2EE messages and make E2EE voice and video calls. There are also some premium payment options, but these plans are best suited for companies looking for a secure collaboration app.
Wire is a simple application that supports secure messaging, calling and file sharing.
Viber can show recommended channels in your chat list. You can explore and join different channels to stay up to date on various topics.
With Viber, you can expect a full-featured messaging experience, with everything you’ll find in a modern messaging app, such as stickers, GIFs, and message reactions. It also works a bit like Telegram, as you can explore and join different channels to stay up to date on the topics that interest you. While it supports E2EE for calls and messages, it is a bit more cluttered than some of the others. applications here: You may see ads and channel recommendations while using it.
This app is owned by the Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten and is a bit more messy than some of the other apps here.
Skred doesn’t have access to your device’s contacts. You can invite someone to Skred with your QR code.
What’s interesting about Skred is that you don’t need a phone number or an email to sign up. Skred also doesn’t use your phone contacts to detect if any of your friends are using the app. You can only invite people to the app by having them scan a QR code of your app while you’re in person, or by sending them the code through another messaging service. Skred supports E2EE messaging, as well as voice calls and video calls.
Skred does not require you to enter your email address or phone number to use the app.