Best Secure Messaging Apps in 2026
Updated
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.
36ranked
21free plans on this page
$5/molowest paid tier
12 Oct 2026last checked
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Viber iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9Free Account requirement: phoneEncrypted backups: NoDesktop apps: Yes
- 2 Wire iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9€7.45/mo
- 3 Crypho iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8€379/mo
- 4 Delta Chat iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free
- 5 Jami iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free
- 6 Monal iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free
- 7 Olvid iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8€82.50/mo
- 8 Signal iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free
- 9 SimpleX Chat iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free
- 10 Telegram iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free Account requirement: phoneEncrypted backups: YesDesktop apps: Yes
- 11 WhatsApp iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free
- 12 Briar Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free
- 13 ChatSecure iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free
- 14 Cwtch Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free
- 15 FluffyChat iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free
- 16 Keet iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free
- 17 Quicksy iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free
- 18 Status iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free
- 19 WowApp iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free Desktop apps: Yes
- 20 Zangi iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7$5/mo
- 21 Kontalk Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6Free
- 22 Bridgefy iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3
- 23 Cheogram Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3 Account requirement: usernameEncrypted backups: Yes
- 24 Keybase iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3
- 25 Molly Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Account requirement | Encrypted backups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Viber | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | phone | No | |
| 2 | Wire | 7.9 | Free plan | €7.45/mo | Yes | |||
| 3 | Crypho | 7.8 | Free plan | €379/mo | Yes | |||
| 4 | Delta Chat | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 5 | Jami | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 6 | Monal | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 7 | Olvid | 7.8 | Free plan | €82.50/mo | Yes | |||
| 8 | Signal | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 9 | SimpleX Chat | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 10 | Telegram | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | phone | Yes | |
| 11 | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | ||||
| 12 | Briar | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 13 | ChatSecure | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 14 | Cwtch | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 15 | FluffyChat | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 16 | Keet | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 17 | Quicksy | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 18 | Status | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 19 | WowApp | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 20 | Zangi | 7.7 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | |||
| 21 | Kontalk | 7.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 22 | Bridgefy | 7.3 | Yes | |||||
| 23 | Cheogram | 7.3 | Yes | username | Yes | |||
| 24 | Keybase | 7.3 | Yes | |||||
| 25 | Molly | 7.3 | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.