With so many messaging apps positioning themselves as the most secure option, it can be difficult to know which ones truly safeguard your data and protect your privacy. That's why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you, analyzing and ranking the most popular messaging apps based on five key security dimensions, and breaking down how these apps stack against each other.
To rank each app, we evaluated them across five essential security factors:
- End-to-end Encryption (E2EE): Does the app have E2EE? This ensures that messages are protected from sender to recipient. Without E2EE, messages could be intercepted and read by third parties, exposing sensitive information.
- Code Transparency: Is the codebase open-source? Apps with open-source code allow for independent audits, ensuring there are no hidden vulnerabilities; closed-source apps may have unchecked flaws.
- Metadata Handling: How does the app collect non-message data, like time, location and recipient? Apps that collect excessive metadata can be exploited to build detailed user profiles, even without message content.
- Key Rotation: Does the app rotate encryption keys? Ensuring encryption keys change regularly prevents past messages from being accessed if a key is compromised.
- Privacy Policies & Data Sharing: What is the app's privacy policy? Apps that share data with third parties expose you to data misuse, profiling, and surveillance.
These features are vital for securing your private communications. We used a three-tier indicator system to rate how each app stands in these five critical categories:
Summary Table
Signal
Signal is a privacy-focused messaging app offering end-to-end encryption for texts, voice, and video calls.
User base: 40 million active users
Signal stands out with some of the most advanced security and privacy features available, making it our top choice for a secure messaging app. However, it does come with a few usability challenges, such as a smaller user base compared to mainstream apps, no cloud backups for seamless data transfer, limited third-party integrations, and the requirement that your phone be online for desktop syncing. Additionally, Signal requires users to disclose a phone number to register, meaning that if Signal’s records are subpoenaed or its servers are compromised, this information could potentially be exposed. While these trade-offs may impact user experience, many see them as a worthwhile compromise for enhanced privacy. And, when weighed against other high-security apps, Signal still excels in both functionality and overall reach.
Wire
Wire is a secure messaging app designed for both personal and business communication.
User base: 500,000 active users
Wire offers robust privacy and security features but falls short in a few areas compared to other apps. Its user base is significantly smaller than Signal’s, and it lacks the broad appeal and refinement of more mainstream options like WhatsApp and Signal, which can make it less intuitive for some users. Additionally, certain features are locked behind paid tiers, meaning users may need to subscribe for full functionality. It’s also important to note that Wire suffered from two major vulnerabilities discovered by security researchers in 2021, but both were patched immediately. Moreover, although Wire does not require a phone number for registration, it may retain metadata such as session duration and contact synchronization, which could be exposed if legally subpoenaed or hacked.
Element
Element is an open-source messaging app designed for privacy and collaboration.
User base: 10 million active users
Element offers excellent privacy and security features for messaging, but its smaller user base can make it harder to connect with others. Features like self-hosting and advanced security settings may be overwhelming for casual users, and the app does not offer seamless integration across devices—for example, you can’t easily switch between your phone and laptop to continue a conversation without extra setup, which can be a deal-breaker for users who value convenience. Additionally, while Element's decentralized architecture enhances privacy, it may retain certain metadata, which could be exposed if legally subpoenaed.
Session
Session is a privacy-focused messaging app that uses decentralized servers.
User base: 200,000 active users
Session has one of the smallest user bases on our list, but its security and privacy features are as impressive as the rest. Users of Session may encounter some usability issues; because the app is decentralized and routes messages through multiple nodes, it can be slower and less reliable than centralized apps like WhatsApp or Telegram. Session also lacks some advanced features like video calls or integrations that other mainstream apps offer. Still, for those who seek decentralized messaging, Session could be the best choice. Notably, Session does not require a phone number or email for registration, enhancing user anonymity. However, while Session minimizes metadata collection, some information, such as the timing and frequency of messages, could potentially be inferred through network analysis.
SimpleX
SimpleX Chat is a privacy-focused messaging app that operates without user identifiers and prioritizes strong security features; because it is designed to prioritize user privacy by operating without user identifiers, such as usernames or phone numbers, even the platform itself does not track or have access to the number of active users.
Session has one of the smallest user bases on our list, but its security and privacy features are as impressive as the rest. Users of Session may encounter some usability issues; because the app is decentralized and routes messages through multiple nodes, it can be slower and less reliable than centralized apps like WhatsApp or Telegram. Session also lacks some advanced features like video calls or integrations that other mainstream apps offer. Still, for those who seek decentralized messaging, Session could be the best choice. Notably, Session does not require a phone number or email for registration, enhancing user anonymity. However, while Session minimizes metadata collection, some information, such as the timing and frequency of messages, could potentially be inferred through network analysis.
Threema
Threema is a privacy-first messaging app offering anonymous usage.
User base: 10 million active users
Ranked 5th on our list, Threema offers many of the same robust security features as the top apps but lacks fully open-source code. While some components are open for independent review, the parts that remain closed limit transparency. This means the security community can’t fully verify Threema's claims or easily identify potential vulnerabilities, leaving users reliant on the company’s internal testing and privacy reputation. Additionally, Threema has a relatively small user base and only offers paid plans, with no free option available, which may be a drawback for some users. Notably, Threema does not require users to provide a phone number or email address during registration, enhancing user anonymity. However, in compliance with legal obligations, Threema may retain certain metadata, such as the date of Threema ID creation and the date of last login, which could be disclosed if legally subpoenaed or hacked.
Viber
Viber is a messaging app for private chats and voice calls, with many of its users based in Europe and Southeast Asia.
User base: 1 billion active users
Viber provides some security with end-to-end encryption enabled by default and regular key rotation, but users may find it harder to fully trust the app since it’s not open source. Additionally, Viber's collection and potential sharing of metadata raises privacy concerns. While messages are encrypted, metadata such as contact information, location, and interaction times can reveal patterns about a user's social network, activities, and preferences. This data may be used for targeted advertising, shared with third parties, or vulnerable to breaches, which can heighten privacy risks, particularly if users are unaware or have not given explicit consent.
WhatsApp is a widely used messaging app with strong adoption in regions like India, Brazil, and parts of Europe.
User base: 2 billion active users
WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging app that offers end-to-end encryption as a default setting for all messages and supports rotating encryption keys. However, users may find it difficult to fully trust its security without code transparency. Additionally, Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, can share the metadata it collects with third parties under certain conditions. While Meta claims it doesn't share message content (which remains end-to-end encrypted), metadata—such as user interactions, device information, and other non-encrypted data—can be used for ad targeting and shared with partners, raising potential privacy concerns.
Apple iMessage
iMessage is Apple's messaging app, popular in regions with high iPhone usage such as the U.S., Europe, and parts of Asia.
User base: 1.3 billion active users.
While iMessage isn’t open source, Apple’s strong reputation for privacy and security, combined with robust encryption methods like end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and key rotation helps build trust in the platform. Apple's regular security updates and transparency reports further boost user confidence. However, E2EE is only available for messages exchanged between Apple devices, meaning that messages sent to non-Apple devices via SMS are not encrypted. Additionally, iCloud backups are not fully encrypted by default. To ensure complete encryption, users must enable Advanced Data Protection in their iCloud settings, which encrypts most iCloud data, including messages, making it accessible only by the user.
Google Messages
Google Messages is the default SMS and RCS messaging app for Android.
User base: 5 billion active users
While Google ensures the highest level of encryption for Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging, it cannot protect messages outside of RCS. RCS is a protocol that upgrades SMS and MMS messaging by enabling enhanced features such as read receipts, typing indicators, file sharing, high-resolution images, and group chats. RCS is essentially a modern version of traditional text messaging, designed to work over the internet (similar to WhatsApp or iMessage) rather than relying on carrier networks for SMS. However, RCS adoption varies by region and carrier, and full encryption and feature support depend on both the app and network. Google doesn't share RCS message content (which remains end-to-end encrypted), but non-encrypted messages (SMS) and associated metadata may be used for ad targeting and shared with partners.
Telegram
Telegram is a messaging app popular among users aged 18-34 due to its large group chats and customization features.
User base: 950 million active users
Telegram offers two types of chats: regular chats and 'Secret Chats.' Most users default to regular chats because they are more convenient and accessible, while Secret Chats, which provide end-to-end encryption (E2EE), must be manually initiated. This extra step often discourages casual users from switching. Telegram’s server-side code is not open source, limiting independent audits and transparency. The app also collects metadata, such as IP addresses, message timestamps, and contact information, which can be used to build detailed user profiles. Such information could be valuable to third parties or government entities if requested or leaked, increasing the risk of surveillance or privacy breaches. While the company claims it doesn't share data with third parties, retaining this metadata allows them to comply with potential legal obligations or government requests.
Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is Facebook’s messaging platform.
User base: 1 billion active users
Most Facebook Messenger users rely on regular chats by default, which are not encrypted. To access end-to-end encryption, users must manually switch to 'Secret Conversations.' This extra step makes it less likely for the average user to regularly take advantage of encrypted messaging, unless they are particularly focused on privacy. Additionally, users should be mindful of Facebook’s metadata collection. Although metadata doesn’t include message content, it still captures details such as who you communicate with, when, and from where. This information reveals a great deal about your behavior, interests, and social connections, and can be used for targeted advertising, profiling, or shared with third parties.
WeChat is a super app primarily used in China.
User base: 1.3 billion active users.
WeChat is a popular super app primarily used in China. It lack robust security features, as it does not offer end-to-end encryption for messages, leaving user communications vulnerable to surveillance and data collection by the app and third parties, particularly in regions with heightened privacy concerns. Additionally, WeChat collects extensive metadata and has faced criticism for censorship and monitoring, especially within China. More than just a messaging app, WeChat offers deep integration into a broad ecosystem of social, financial, and e-commerce services, which increases the potential for data exploitation and privacy risks, as users' information is shared across multiple platforms.
Secure messaging apps are valuable tools for enhancing digital privacy and safeguarding your communications. However, for most people, relying solely on these apps isn't practical, as regular calls and texts remain essential and are often unprotected. Standard communication channels expose sensitive information like your location, call history, and SMS activity, which can be collected by your carrier. That’s why using a secure mobile carrier, like Cape, is crucial to fully protecting all aspects of your communication.
Cape is a privacy-first cellular network that provides robust security features to protect your mobile communications and activity. How does it work?
- Cape operates with a privacy-first approach—At Cape, we believe that your data belongs to you, and only you. Cape will never sell your data. In fact, we only ask for the bare minimum required to provide you with high-quality cell service. Unlike other carriers, we don’t need extensive personal information to deliver exceptional service.
- Cape offers network-level, first-class security—Cape attacks security issues at the root by operating with its own mobile core, which enables Cape to control how users connect to the network, and what information they share once connected. Additionally, Cape utilizes best-in-class signaling firewalls and modern cryptography and authentication protocols to protect your information.
With Cape, you can talk, text, and live with the peace of mind that your data is secure. Join our waitlist below to get early access to mobile freedom.
