In this article
10 Best Encrypted Messaging Apps
In this article
Introduction
Privacy has now become a commodity.
Companies are buying and selling your data without your knowledge. If you are concerned about your chats being read by a third party or you just want to have some private conversation. We have curated a list of the best-encrypted messaging apps to help you protect yourself from companies’ eavesdropping on your private chats and calls.
While some of these apps are developed by huge corporations, few are run by start-ups. Some of the messengers on the list are so heavily encrypted that even government intelligence agencies can’t break into them.
Here are some of the best encrypted messaging apps available for Android as well iOS.
1. Signal
Available on: Android, iOS
Price: Free
If you are a security-conscious mobile user then Signal is a fantastic messaging solution for you. The app is free and offers messaging, voice-calling, and group-chatting services. The app uses its end-to-end encryption protocol to protect your privacy.
Signal is an encrypted messaging app that allows you to send text messages, voice calls, group messages, media, and attachments to your contacts without messing with your special login credentials or PIN codes.
The application even offers you an option to set all the messages to self-destruct after a certain amount of time.
Signal’s encryption is so strong that Facebook uses it for WhatsApp and Messenger. However, unlike my tech giants, Signal’s parent is a non-profit foundation created by a cryptographer who is also the founder of WhatsApp.
Over time, Signal has become a favorite application for security-conscious users and other privacy advocates due to its ease of use and strong, open-source, regularly audited encryption.
The application offers user-friendliness without compromising on security making it’s a fantastic option. The application also offers user-friendly features such as for customization such as wallpapers and animated stickers.
2. Threema
Available on: Android, iOS
Price: $3.99
Download Threema: Android, iOS
Threema is a very secure end-to-end encrypted messaging app that leverages the NaCl cryptography library for privacy protection.
The application keeps your identity anonymous by not requiring any personal information and generating a unique Threema ID key. However, you can also associate your account with a phone number or email address to allow other users to easily find you.
If in any instance, you meet other Threema users in person but don’t want to exchange names then you can use a scannable QR code to connect with them.
Other than the raft of messaging features such as encrypted text, voice, picture, and video messaging, the application also offers a file-sharing limit of 20MB and a polling system for feedback
3. WhatsApp Available on: Android, iOS
Price: Free
Download WhatsApp: Android, iOS
WhatsApp has single-handedly become the most widely used chat and call app. The encrypted messaging app has used Signal’s end-to-end encryption since 2016 which is continuously being tweaked by its developers.
The app’s security and privacy features allow users to fine-tune group invitations. This in turn gives you control over them.
After WhatsApp was sold to Facebook, the company now uses its behavioral data, however, the messages entirely remain walled off.
WhatsApp remains the easiest end-to-end encrypted messaging application. For users not comfortable with Facebook’s presence, you can always opt for other applications on this list.
WhatsApp’s ease of use, ubiquity, and ability to send voice and video messages, and photos make it a robust and fully encrypted mobile messaging app.
4. Silent Phone
Available on: Android, iOS
Price: $9.95 per month
Download Silent Phone: Android, iOS
Silent Circle, is a secure-communications software, that provides encrypted audio and video calls. It also offers encrypted messaging and file transfers that are self-destructing.
The best part is the encryption keys are not held by Silent Circle but by subscribers themselves. This means that even though your encrypted messages may pass through Silent Circle’s network, they won’t be able to read your data.
However, there is a downside to this encrypted messaging app which is its high price. While installation is free of cost, it won’t work till the payment of $9.95 per month.
Silent Circle aims to provide enterprise users total privacy for work. This also means that you’ll find fewer people who use it for personal communications.
5. Wire
Available on: Android, iOS
Price: Free
Download Wire: Android, iOS
Wire offers end-to-end encryption for messages, calls, audio and video clips, and Dropbox file sharing. The encrypted messaging app has multiplatform for cross-device syncing and multiple accounts support. This allows you to keep your personal and work communications separate.
The application has its own Proteus encryption protocol with open-source code. It is also subjected to external security audits.
You can use the mobile and web versions of the application for free, but the premium tier is a paid version. Like Silent Circle and Wickr, Wire wants to primarily appeal to business users.
6. WickrMe
Available on: Android, iOS
Price: Free
Download Wickr Me: Android, iOS
Wickr Me is an end-to-end encrypted messaging app that allows you to send private, self-destructing messages for free.
This encrypted messaging app uses strong encryption as it takes your privacy seriously. With Wickr, you can configure the amount of time for a message to self-destruct.
A new layer of security is added by the video-key verification system which allows each user to verify each other with short encrypted video. The app even has a $100,000 bug-bounty program for anyone to point out a security flaw.
However, Wickr is not as versatile as one might think. Its audio and video calls are one-to-one only and group chats are limited to 10 members.
7. Viber
Available on: Android, iOS
Price: Free
Download Viber: Android, iOS
Originally developed in Israel, Viber is now owned and operated by Rakuten. The encrypted messaging app offers end-to-end encryption messaging with stickers and augmented-reality filters.
Viber also features a color-coded lock icon to show users conversation protection. The application also has a self-destructing Secret Chats and a Hidden Chats feature.
Additionally, the app also offers a solid mobile messaging feature set tied to your phone number. The app is free to communicate with other Viber users, but you’ll have to pay to call non-Viber users.
8. Facebook Messenger
Available on: Android, iOS
Price: Free
Download Facebook Messenger: Android, iOS
Facebook Messenger is not the first app that comes to mind when thinking about encrypted messaging, however, its mobile versions include end-to-end encrypted communication.
The application uses the same encryption system used in Signal but you have to opt into the feature for Secret Conversations. You can also send and receive encrypted text, pictures, and stickers with the option for time-limited self-destructing messages.
That said, Facebook Messenger is still vulnerable mainly because it’s Facebook.
9. Silence
Available on: Android
Price: Free
Download Silence: F-Droid, Google Play
Silence is an open-source SMS and MMS Android app offering more security than your standard text message. The application leverages the Axolotl encryption protocol pioneered by Signal and applies it to SMS.
This encrypted messaging app works similarly to your normal text messaging app with an option to send encrypted SMS.
Though Silence is available on Google Play Store, American users can’t install it due to trademark issues. A newer version of the application is available to Americans on the F-Droid open-source app repository.
10. Dust
Available on: Android, iOS
Price: Free
Dust, formerly called Cyber Dust, offers multiple encryptions and security features to maintain user privacy. The encrypted messaging app leverages a combination of AES-128 and RSA-2048 encryption. It is designed to keep direct messages in RAM, rather than in your phone’s storage.
You can also set messages to self-destruct within 24 hours after being read. However, the application does not display user names in a message and alerts you if a screenshot is taken.
Additionally, the application offers privacy-watchdog features along with a stealth search tool for your privacy during a web search.
These are the top picks for the best-encrypted messaging app. Do let us know if we missed your favorites in the comment section below.
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