Wire

Wire is an organization-focused service for end-to-end encrypted messaging, calls, conferencing, and file sharing. Its messaging tools include group conversations, search, sketches, reactions, shared files, and audio and video messages. Audio and video conferences support up to 150 participants, with screen sharing and moderation tools. File management and online document collaboration keep files within conversations tied to verified group membership. Wire says only conversation participants can decrypt messages, calls, and files. It lists ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and Cyber Essentials certifications, and says its servers are in Germany and Ireland. The source code is open source and available on GitHub. Organizations can choose cloud, private cloud, or on-premises deployment, including offline or air-gapped environments. Wire supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. The free plan is for up to five people. Wire for SMB costs €7.45 per person/month with annual payment, or €8,94 per person/month with monthly payment, and supports up to 100 people.

Wire combines messaging, conferencing, and file collaboration with several deployment options. Check the people limit and the Linux support status when choosing a plan or platform.

Wire may suit organizations that need encrypted communication and collaboration across devices. Its deployment choices and group features may be relevant to teams with specific infrastructure requirements.

Overview

Wire is a secure communications and collaboration service for organizations, combining chat, calls, conferencing, and file work. It suits teams that need encrypted conversations and deployment control; its broad security focus is less compelling for someone seeking only a personal messenger.

Its strongest case is bringing organizational communication and file collaboration together while offering cloud, private-cloud, and on-premises options. The trade-offs are per-person pricing for larger teams and experimental, community-supported Linux software.

Key features

Messaging and collaboration

Group conversations support search, reactions, sketches, file sharing, and audio and video messages. That range makes Wire useful for teams that want routine coordination and shared files in the same conversations, rather than a chat-only tool. File management and online document collaboration extend the workspace; files remain in conversations associated with verified group membership, tying access to team context.

Conferencing

Audio and video conferences support up to 150 participants, with screen sharing and moderation tools. This can cover meetings for many teams, but organizations that need conferences larger than that should look elsewhere or assess another arrangement.

Security and deployment

Wire says messages, calls, and files are end-to-end encrypted and only conversation participants can decrypt them. It also says it is ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and Cyber Essentials certified, and that its source code is fully open source on GitHub. Those commitments make it a credible candidate for organizations with strict security requirements, though they do not remove the need to assess a deployment against an organization's own policies.

Cloud, private cloud, and on-premises deployments are offered, including offline or air-gapped environments. Servers are in Germany and Ireland, a relevant consideration for organizations weighing data location. Customers Wire describes include governments, parliaments, military organizations, and global enterprises.

Pricing

Wire uses a freemium model. Wire for Free costs nothing and supports up to five people and eight devices, with collaboration essentials. That is a practical starting point for a small group, but the five-person cap rules it out for larger teams.

Wire for SMB costs €7.45 a month per person with annual payment, or €8,94 per person/month with monthly payment. It raises the team limit to 100 people and includes conferences up to 150 participants, SSO and SCIM, and administrative controls. The annual rate is lower, while monthly payment costs more per person; either way, per-person billing makes the total grow with team size.

Wire for Enterprise has custom pricing for more than 100 people. Wire for Partners also has custom pricing, with partner-specific pricing, marketing support, opportunity support, and deal registration. The pricing information gives no seat or billing terms for the partner plan, so it is best treated as a partner arrangement rather than a standard team subscription.

Across plans, the pricing page gives a limit of up to eight devices and up to three accounts on one device. It lists standard support, optional premium support with first replies within 16 hours during business hours, premium+ with first replies within four hours, and optional 24/7 platinum support. Support response terms may matter to organizations deciding whether the base offering is sufficient.

Platforms

Wire supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows, and also identifies API support. The Linux download is described as experimental with community support, so Linux-dependent teams should account for less formal support than the other listed platforms.

Who it's for

Wire is best suited to organizations that want encrypted messaging, conferencing, and file collaboration alongside administrative controls or the option to run the service privately or on-premises. Its free tier can serve groups of up to five, while SMB pricing targets teams up to 100 people. Personal users who do not need organizational deployment or controls may find the service more than they need.

Pros and cons

• Pros: End-to-end encryption covers messages, calls, and files, rather than chat alone.
• Pros: Cloud, private-cloud, and air-gapped on-premises deployment give organizations meaningful control over where and how the service runs.
• Pros: Search, document collaboration, screen sharing, and moderation bring team work into the same service as messaging.
• Cons: The free plan stops at five people, so growing teams need a paid plan or a different service.
• Cons: SMB's per-person pricing adds up across a large workforce, and enterprise pricing is custom.
• Cons: Linux is experimental and community-supported, which may be a concern for teams that rely on formal platform support.

Alternatives

For a narrower focus on secure or encrypted messaging, compare the Secure Messaging Apps and Encrypted Messaging Apps lists. Teams prioritizing chat software can also browse Secure Team Chat Software and Team chat apps, while broader collaboration needs may point to Team Collaboration Software.

Viber offers free messaging and calls to Viber users, making it a simpler option for those needs. Crypho has a free personal-use plan with encrypted calls and video calls, but limits files to 3mb and groups to one. Delta Chat is free and open source across mobile and desktop platforms. Jami is another free option. Olvid offers a free plan with unlimited messages and attachments and secure group discussions. Signal is free for messaging and calling, with a mobile account required for desktop use. SimpleX Chat is free and open source. Telegram offers a free plan with unlimited cloud storage, groups, and channels.

Verdict

Choose Wire if your organization needs encrypted communications and collaboration with the flexibility of private or on-premises deployment. Its mix of messaging, conferencing, file work, and administrative controls is the main reason to choose it. Look elsewhere if you need a dependable Linux client, a free plan for more than five people, or a personal messenger without organizational overhead.