Best Secure Messaging Apps in 2026
Updated
In short: Signal is ranked #1 of 35 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Wire and Delta Chat. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Wire. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Threema at $3/mo.
Choosing a messaging app for private conversations means weighing how it handles accounts, devices, and message history. Compare account requirements, desktop apps, and multi-device support against the devices and access your conversations call for. Disappearing messages and encrypted backups provide additional points to review, while maximum group size can help clarify fit for group chats. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing as well. Viber, Wire, and Delta Chat are among the apps to compare against the features that matter for your conversations.
35 secure messaging apps ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Signal iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.6Free
- 2 Wire iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.6€7.45/mo
- 3 Delta Chat iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.4Free
- 4 Olvid iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.4€82.50/mo
- 5 SimpleX Chat iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.3Free
- 6 Telegram iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.1Free Account requirement: phoneEncrypted backups: YesDesktop apps: Yes
- 7 Viber iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.1Free Account requirement: phoneEncrypted backups: NoDesktop apps: Yes
- 8 Element iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.9
- 9 Threema iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.5$3/mo Account requirement: noneEncrypted backups: YesDesktop apps: Yes
- 10 Jami iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.0Free
- 11 Cheogram Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9 Account requirement: usernameEncrypted backups: Yes
- 12 Keet iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7
- 13 Keybase iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7
- 14 Conversations Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5
- 15 Status iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5
- 16 SchildiChat Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5 Desktop apps: Yes
- 17 Zangi iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5$5/mo
- 18 Crypho iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5€379/mo
- 19 FluffyChat iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4
- 20 Briar Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4
- 21 Cwtch Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3
- 22 Snikket iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3 Account requirement: usernameEncrypted backups: YesDesktop apps: No
- 23 Molly Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2
- 24 WhatsApp No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1
- 25 Bridgefy iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Account requirement | Encrypted backups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Signal | 9.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | Wire | 9.6 | Free plan | €7.45/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 3 | Delta Chat | 9.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | Olvid | 9.4 | Free plan | €82.50/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | SimpleX Chat | 9.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | Telegram | 9.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | phone | Yes |
| 7 | Viber | 9.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | phone | No |
| 8 | Element | 8.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | Threema | 8.5 | No | $3/mo | No | — | none | Yes |
| 10 | Jami | 8.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 11 | Cheogram | 7.9 | No | — | Yes | — | username | Yes |
| 12 | Keet | 7.7 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 13 | Keybase | 7.7 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | Conversations | 7.5 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | Status | 7.5 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 16 | SchildiChat | 7.5 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 17 | Zangi | 7.5 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 18 | Crypho | 7.5 | Free plan | €379/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 19 | FluffyChat | 7.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 20 | Briar | 7.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 21 | Cwtch | 7.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 22 | Snikket | 7.3 | No | — | No | — | username | Yes |
| 23 | Molly | 7.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 24 | 7.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — | |
| 25 | Bridgefy | 7.0 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which secure messaging app is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
Signal is ranked #1 of 35 with a score of 9.6. Wire is second and Delta Chat third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Threema has the lowest first paid tier we found: $3/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.