WhatsApp
SignalPick
App29.5k
Free messenger where texts, calls and group chats are end-to-end encrypted by default, run by a nonprofit.
- No tracking
- Open source
- End-to-end encrypted
- Account needed
- Free
- Android
- iPhone
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
Threema
App in Messaging, Team chat
Swiss messenger you buy once; it works with a random Threema ID, no phone number or email required.
Privacy passport
3 of 5 checks- No trackingYesNo ads and no third-party trackers or analytics.
- Open sourcePartlyThe apps are open source; the server or some parts are not.
- Only you can read itEncryptedSynced with end-to-end encryption: the provider can't read it.
- No accountYesWorks without signing up.
- FreePaidPaid only.
Where it stands among 13 messaging apps
No tracking
Yes
Partly
Open source
Yes
Partly
Only you can read it
Yes
Partly
No account
Yes
No
Free
Yes
No
A private swap for
Other messaging apps
SimpleX ChatPick
App19.6k
Messenger with no user IDs at all: contacts connect through one-time links, so there is no number or username to leak.
- No tracking
- Open source
- End-to-end encrypted
- No account
- Free
- Android
- iPhone
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
Molly
App3.8k
Hardened Android build of Signal that adds a passphrase-locked database and talks to the same Signal network.
- No tracking
- Open source
- End-to-end encrypted
- Account needed
- Free
- Android
SessionAudited
App931
Encrypted messenger that gives you a random ID instead of asking for a phone number, and routes messages through an onion network.
- No tracking
- Open source
- End-to-end encrypted
- No account
- Free
- Android
- iPhone
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
ElementAudited
App13.6k
Chat app for the open Matrix network: encrypted private chats and rooms, and you can pick or run your own server.
- Minimal tracking
- Open source
- Partly encrypted
- Account needed
- Free plan
- Android
- iPhone
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Web
WireAudited
App1.2k
Encrypted messenger and team workspace with calls and file sharing, built on the MLS standard for group encryption.
- Minimal tracking
- Open source
- End-to-end encrypted
- Account needed
- Free plan
- Android
- iPhone
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Web