WhatsApp Alternatives
The messages are encrypted, but Meta still sees who you talk to, when, and how often, and ties it to your Facebook self. The metadata is the point.
Here are the recommended messaging apps we recommend in its place.
SimpleX Chat
Messaging with no user identifiers at all, not even a random number.
Signal
The mainstream secure messenger, trusted and easy to use.
Session
Onion-routed messaging with no phone number and no central servers.
Element
Open, federated chat on the Matrix network, no phone number needed.
Threema
Paid Swiss messenger with no phone number or email required.
Molly
A hardened fork of Signal for Android, with extra at-rest protection.
Delta Chat
Encrypted chat over ordinary email, with no new account needed.
Ricochet Refresh
Anonymous desktop chat over Tor with no servers or accounts.
bitchat
Bluetooth mesh messaging that works with no internet at all.
Tox
Serverless peer-to-peer messaging with a cryptographic ID.
Jami
Distributed peer-to-peer calls and chat, a GNU project.
Briar
Peer-to-peer messaging over Tor that even works with no internet.
