Ricochet Refresh

No phone app

6.4No. 31 of 36
in Secure Messaging Apps

Recognised40% of the score20
Phone app26% of the score0
Documented20% of the score98
Free plan14% of the score100

Free plan: Yes
Runs on: Linux, Mac, Windows

Summary

Ricochet Refresh is ranked #31 of 36 in secure messaging apps on Samsung Mobile US Press. It runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. There is a free plan.

Ricochet Refresh plans and pricing

All plans

Free Free Open-source peer-to-peer messaging · native file transfer ricochetrefresh.net · 8 Oct 2026

Compared on secure messaging apps

Free plan: Yesricochetrefresh.net
Account requirement: nonericochetrefresh.net
Desktop apps: Yesricochetrefresh.net

Facts

Purpose: Ricochet Refresh is an open-source project for private and anonymous instant messaging.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Peer-to-peer: The app uses Tor to connect clients directly through Tor circuits.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Identity: When started, the app creates a Tor hidden service on the user's computer, whose address serves as their anonymous identity.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Metadata: The maker describes the messenger as metadata resistant, so others do not know who users talk to or what they say.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
File transfer: The app includes secure file transfer.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Encryption: The maker says communications are end-to-end encrypted by default.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Data storage: Account data is stored locally on the user's computer, and the maker says there are no servers hosting user data.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Open source: The source code is available for inspection and development.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Security updates: The maker says it releases updates roughly monthly when upstream dependencies publish security updates.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Security caveat: The maker says timing attacks could in theory unmask an anonymous user's identity, though they do not reveal message contents.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Intended users: The maker highlights whistleblowers, activists, and journalists as people the software may help protect.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Contact setup: To start a chat, users add the other person's Ricochet Refresh hidden-service address to their contacts.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Release verification: The maker says all releases are GPG signed and provides SHA256 sums.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Support: The team lists [email protected] as a contact address.ricochetrefresh.net · 7 Oct 2026
Account data: The maker says there is no account registration and account data is stored locally on the user's computer.ricochetrefresh.net · 8 Oct 2026
Tor compatibility: Ricochet Refresh supports Tor Onion Services v3.ricochetrefresh.net · 8 Oct 2026
Security limitation: The maker says it cannot guarantee privacy or anonymity and encourages users to evaluate their risks and exposure.github.com · 8 Oct 2026