Olvid

Olvid is an instant messaging application for exchanging text messages and attachments. It says it can operate without a phone number, email address, name, surname, address, or birth date. Olvid states that data and metadata are end-to-end encrypted, so it cannot know who is communicating with whom. Each message and file uses a single-use ephemeral key, which is intended to protect message history if a key is compromised. Olvid also says it has received two ANSSI Security Visas under CSPN certifications.

The app supports Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, and Linux, with synchronization that does not require a master device. Secure audio and video calls are end-to-end encrypted. Video calls support up to two contacts, while group audio calls have no participant limit. Receiving calls is free; initiating them is free during a one-month trial that ends without billing or an automatic subscription. The free plan includes unlimited messages and attachments, group discussions, ephemeral messages, multiple profiles, and inbound calls. Business costs €990 a year; Enterprise costs €990.50 a year.

Olvid offers messaging and encrypted calls across mobile and desktop, with a free plan for core messaging. Check the separate business and enterprise plan costs and call limits against your needs.

Olvid suits people or organizations seeking messaging across mobile and desktop platforms without providing personal details to operate. Its Enterprise plan includes SSO, automated license management, MDM deployment, and a management console.

Olvid is a messaging app for people and organizations that want encrypted conversations without registering personal details. It suits privacy-focused users who value encrypted metadata as well as message contents, though its free plan is stronger for messaging than for making calls.

Overview

Olvid brings text, attachments, group discussions, ephemeral messages, and encrypted audio and video calls into one service. The company says the app operates without a phone number, email address, name, or other personal details, and that end-to-end encryption prevents it from knowing who is talking to whom. That makes its privacy approach especially relevant to people concerned about both account identity and communication patterns.

Each message and file gets a single-use ephemeral key, intended to protect message history if a key is later compromised. Olvid also says it has received two ANSSI Security Visas under CSPN certifications. These credentials support its security case, while the feature split between free messaging and paid outbound calls remains an important practical consideration.

Key features

The Free plan includes unlimited messages and attachments, secure group discussions, multiple profiles, ephemeral messages, and inbound calls. With no message or attachment quota, it can cover substantial personal messaging without a subscription. Receiving audio and video calls is free indefinitely, but initiating calls is free only during a one-month trial; the trial ends without billing or automatic subscription.

Audio and video calls are end-to-end encrypted. Video calls support up to two contacts, while group audio calls have no participant limit. That distinction makes Olvid more flexible for larger audio discussions than for group video, and the separate outbound-call charge matters if calling is a routine part of how you communicate.

Supported devices include Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, and Linux, with synchronization that does not depend on a master device. That broad coverage suits people who switch between phone and computer. Multi-device use, however, is included in the separately billed in-app purchase rather than the Free plan.

For organizations, Enterprise can connect to Keycloak for SSO and integrate OpenID Connect, SAML 2.0, LDAP, or Active Directory directories. Its management console supports MDM distribution. Olvid Bots run in Docker or on a Linux server and expose a gRPC API, giving technical teams an option for building bot integrations; Bots are optional on Enterprise.

Pricing

Olvid offers a Free plan at no cost, billed forever. It includes unlimited messages and attachments, secure group discussions, ephemeral messages, multiple profiles, and inbound calls. This is the natural fit for people whose priority is messaging, but it gives up ongoing outbound audio and video calling and multi-device use, which are sold through an in-app purchase.

Business costs €990 a year with annual billing. It includes a business license deployment, manual license management, and partial MDM deployment. It is aimed at organizations that need a business rollout without the fuller automation and management package; no seat count is given, so teams should confirm deployment terms before committing.

Enterprise costs €990.50 a year with annual billing. It adds turnkey integration, SSO, automated license management, MDM deployment, a management console, managed groups, and instant revocation; Olvid Bots are optional. The listed price is only €0.50 more per year than Business, making Enterprise the more compelling of the two if its added controls suit the deployment. Organizations should verify licensing and integration scope for their needs.

The in-app purchase is billed monthly through the App Store or Google Play, with no published price. It includes outbound audio and video calls, multi-device use, unlimited messages, and unlimited attachments. The 30-day trial makes it possible to try the paid features before deciding, and it ends without billing or automatic subscription. Check the in-app price before relying on those features long term.

Platforms

Olvid supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. Its desktop availability and synchronization without a master device are useful for people who move between mobile and desktop, although multi-device use requires the in-app purchase. Encryption coverage is default, and encrypted backups are end-to-end encrypted.

Who it's for

Olvid is best suited to privacy-conscious individuals who want no personal details tied to an account and need encrypted messaging across phone and desktop. Its free messaging package is particularly strong for text, attachments, and groups. Businesses that need SSO, directory integration, MDM, managed groups, or license controls should consider Enterprise; teams that only need business licensing and partial MDM have a less extensive Business option.

It is a weaker fit for people who expect free outbound calls or free multi-device use, and for groups that need video calls with more than two contacts. The in-app purchase addresses the first limitation, but its monthly price should be weighed against the value of those features.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Free messaging includes unlimited messages and attachments, plus groups, ephemeral messages, and multiple profiles, so regular messaging does not run into a stated quota.
• Pro: Olvid says it encrypts metadata end to end and does not require personal details, addressing privacy concerns beyond message contents.
• Pro: Enterprise offers SSO, directory integrations, MDM, managed groups, and instant revocation for centrally managed deployments.
• Con: Initiating calls and using multiple devices require a separately billed in-app purchase after the one-month call trial, limiting what the Free plan can do.
• Con: Video calls support only up to two contacts, so larger groups must use audio calls instead.
• Con: Business has manual license management and only partial MDM deployment, making it less suited to organizations that need automated administration.

Alternatives

Choose Session if open-source code that can be independently audited is a priority; its free plan includes encrypted messaging and attachments up to 10mb. Wire is another option for readers who want a free plan and source code that its maker says is fully open source and available on GitHub.

Berty may suit readers looking for a free, open-source messenger from a Paris-based nonprofit. Delta Chat is a free and open-source option with mobile, desktop, and self-hosted platforms. FluffyChat offers a free plan with no ads.

imo is a free option for calls and messages, though carrier data charges may apply. Jami is another free alternative. Messenger is a free messaging app. For more choices, browse Encrypted Messaging Apps and Secure Messaging Apps.

Verdict

Olvid is a strong choice for people who want free, unlimited encrypted messaging without linking an account to personal details, and for organizations that need substantial identity and device controls. Its main trade-off is that outbound calls and multi-device use cost extra, while video groups are limited to two contacts. Choose it for privacy-centered messaging and managed enterprise deployments; look elsewhere if free calling or larger video conversations are essential.