12 Best Secure Messaging Apps with Privacy 2025

Rajeshwari Published On December 18th, 2024 Tech Talks

Explore the best 12 secure messaging apps you can use for private and business conversations, without worrying about the privacy and confidentiality of your data. 

There are thousands of chatting apps you can see. But which one is safe? That’s the big question.

No one likes eavesdropping!  Whether you are messaging your friends and family privately, or having a business discussion with your teams and clients, your data needs to be secure.

With so many options available, it’s really hard to choose the best secure chat app for your needs. However, this guide will help you explore some of the top untraceable safe apps to chat in terms of security features, pricing, and use cases. 

What is a Secure Messaging?

Secure messaging apps are chat platforms that have the safest communication features. You can send and receive messages without the fear of losing your conversations and data to unauthorized parties. These apps use a security protocol called end-to-end encryption, and some are even exploring the use of Generative AI to enhance user experience and privacy.

Using a chat app already? Open the privacy settings and check if it states that your messages are end-to-encrypted.

This means the app is secured with formal rules to not expose your personal information to even the company that runs the app. A software testing company tests the software for all the security scenario. No one can use your conversations or data and sell it for advertising purposes or breach it for any kind of cybercrimes. 

Interested to know more about how an encrypted messaging app secures your chat? Let me explain this to you.we have list down the best private chat app for android

The Top 12 Secure Messaging apps  are Signal,iMessage, Telegram, Wire, Threema, WhatsApp, Wickr Me, Viber, Silence, Line, Dust, and Zulip

Top 12 Best Secure Messaging Apps in the Industry

When selecting the best secure chat platform, you have a lot of options. But I’ve filtered out the top instant messaging apps that can help you send and receive messages safely. 

1. Signal – Private Messenger for Web

Key Security Features:

• Self-destructing messages
• Screen security
• Sealed Sender

Signal is a free, instant messaging app that is used by around 155 millions of users, as of 2025. The app was launched in 2021 by the Signal Technology foundation that’s led by co-founders Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton. 

Whether you are sending messaging or on calls, Signal makes use of advanced end-to-end encryption to secure all the data, from non-intended recipients. Till date, it is considered as the best private messenger for the web, Android and iOS. 

Overall, Signal is the most secure messaging app for private chats, offering end-to-end encryption, open-source code, and strong privacy protections. If you wish to enjoy secure conversations without targeted ads, that too for free, Signal is the best choice.

Which Features You’ll Love On The Signal App?

• Open source protocol
• Uses phone’s data network connection for SMS and MSS fees
• Encrypted stickers
• Group chat
• Media services

Important Specs:

Compatible Platforms:	Android, iOS, iPasOS, Linux, Windows, macOS
Number of Users:	Signal mostly does not publish their users listing, but as per Android’s Google play store Signal is one of the best free chat apps that has been downloaded by about 1 to 5 million people
Location:	Primarily serves the United States, Europe, and other countries that prioritize security and privacy of users.
Use Case:	Healthcare, Legal, Finance & Banking, E-learning, Fitness, Government, Non-profit organizations, Media and Technology.

Pricing:

Signal is completely FREE to use. Since Signal is developed by a non-profit organization, you can offer your donations to the app, if you wish to. 

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2. iMessage – Best Secure Chat App for Mobile

Key Security Features:

• iCloud backup encryption
• Message disappearing options
• iMessage Contact Key Verification (advanced)

iMessage is a messaging application launched on June 6, 2011 by Apple Inc. With its user-friendly chat interface, Apple has attracted over 1 active billion users, as of 2025. iMessage is the best iOS chat app.

If you are an iPhone user, iMessage will undoubtedly be the best secure texting app you’ll ever use. Moreover, you can have the privilege to decide how long your message can stay on the recipient’s device. 

Also you can set the number of times they can view the chat. That’s how secure iMessage is.

Which Features You’ll Love On The Signal App?

• Have complete control over “Read Receipts“
• Access the internet instead of a phone network while communicating with other iOS or macOS users
• iCloud for backup iMessages
• Access to tailor the iMessage settings
• Enables customization of message profile/personality with GIFs, Memojis, and animations

Important Specs:

Compatible Platforms:	iOS and macOS
Number of users:	1.3 billion
Location:	iMessage is used around the world, but is most popular among the users in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Use Case:	Private and Enterprise communication
Cost:	Free

Pricing:

iMessage is completely FREE to use. 

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3. Telegram – Most Safe Chatting App

Key Security Features:

• Secret chats 
• Cloud storage with client-side encryption (optional)
• Hidden chats with self-destruct timers

Telegram is one of the best private chat apps for Android, iOS, and Web platforms. The iOS version of the app was released on August 14, 2013, and the Android version by October of the same year. Being one of the best secure messaging apps worldwide, particularly popular in Europe, Asia, and Africa, it is estimated that Telegram has over 800 million monthly active users.

Which Features You Love On The Signal App?

• Open API and protocols
• No specified file size for media and chats
• Available with distributed servers globally for security and speed
• Able to collaborate with a group of over 2,00,000 members
• Enable to send any type of document

Key Specifications:

Compatible platform:	iOS, Android, Mac, Linux, PC
Number of users:	Over 200 million
Location:	The primary user base of Telegram is around the countries like Russia, Iran, China and India.
Use Case:	Enterprise, Social Networking, VOD and Media.

Pricing

Telegram is free for individuals. But you need to pay a subscription if you are planning to use Premium features. In order to subscribe, you’ll need to register via their Premium Bot Channel.

4. Wire – Secure Messaging App for Android, iOS

Key Security Features:

• Multi-factor authentication
• Self-hosting option for additional control
• Secure file sharing with expiration and access control

Wire is another safest messaging app that uses end-to-end encryption to protect user’s data like messages, images, documents, etc. Since, wire is always on and works transparently in the background, you need not activate it everytime. Additionally, for every message, a new encryption key is generated to outperform the robustness of a single key that can be easily compromised.

Wire is an open source platform. So you can access its source code on Github to easily evaluate, inspect and improve it. Wire is very much concerned about the data and thus, it does not sell any of your usage data or analytics to third-parties.

Features

• Video Conferencing
• Complete open source
• Easy file sharing
• Group chat
• Timed conversations
• Online Presence Indicators

Important Specs:

Supported platforms:	iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and web browsers
Number of users:	Hundred of thousands, daily active users
Popular Locations/ Demographics:	Wire is popular among European countries, especially across Germany and Switzerland.
Use Case:	Financial services and Banking, Healthcare, Legal, Government and Enterprise.

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5. Threema – Top Encrypted Messaging App

Key Security Features:

• Server-side data anonymization
• No phone number or email required for registration
• Payment encryption with PIN protection

Threema is considered to be one of the best chatting apps as its server deletes a message permanently once delivered to the recipient. However, the information that is mostly managed on a server is automatically managed locally too on the user’s device. This implies protection against eavesdropping on any type of conversation. 

With Threema’s design, it allows only the intended recipients to read the messages. Since Threema is an open source, it permits the users to check for the correctness of the encryption, and for this you don’t have to provide any email or phone number to do a sign up process for security purposes.

Features

• Evaluates contacts via QR codes
• Hide confidential chat with password protection
• Allows to chat anonymously
• Can create distribution lists
• Create polls

Important Specs:

Supported platforms	iOS, Android, and web app
Number of users:	4.5 million
Service Locations/ Demographics	Theema has a strong user base in Switzerland and Germany
Use Case:	Healthcare, Legal, Enterprise, Government and Non-profit organizations.

Pricing
Threema is free for individuals. For Work, it charges in 3 different tiers. 

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6. WhatsApp – Most Secure & Private Chatting App

Key Security Features:

• End-to-end encryption (default for all messages)
• Two-step verification
• Fingerprint lock for app access

WhatsApp is one of the most commonly used messaging apps for texting and voice calls. This is in fact the most secure text messaging app that comes with built-in end-to-end encryption. Which means, only you and the sender/ receiver can view the chats. 

In terms of Data Storage, WhatsApp does not save any of your data on its server.  So the data is highly protected from hackers and third-party intruders. In addition to this, WhatsApp allows you to remove their conversations from their cloud backups. 

Features

• Share messages, images, videos with upto 256 users at once
• Can make free video calls via internet connection
• Easy access to built-in camera
• Indicate availability of other users with Online presence indicators

Key Specifications:

Compatible platforms:	iOS, Android, and web app
Number of users:	1.5 billion
Service Region/ Demographics	Whatsapp is widely used around the world but is predominantly available in India, Brazil and Indonesia.
Use Case:	E-commerce, Banking, Online Shopping/ Marketplace, Transport, Logistics and Super Apps.

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7. Wickr Me – Most Secured Private Messaging App

Key Security Features:

• Military-grade end-to-end encryption
• Secure screen sharing with optional blurring
• Anonymous email address registration

Wickr is one of the most popular and encrypted messaging apps that is well known for its privacy features. It uses Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) with the support of Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). 

Therefore, you need not provide any of your personal details such as phone number or email address when you register as a user.  And the best part is, you can avail the transparency reports to check how safe your conversations are. So does it sound to be your choice of private chatting app?

Features

• Perform search across all files and messages
• Shares images, video/voice files safely
• Screen sharing and location sharing
• Retention up to 30 days
• Permits the APIs to integrate with in-house apps

Key Specifications:

Supported platforms	Mobile and Web Applications
Number of users:	Nil
Popular Locations/ Demographics:	Wickr Me is widely used across United States and Canada
Use Case:	Government, Defense, Finance & Banking, Legal and Healthcare.

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8. Viber – Secure Chat Software

Key Security Features:

• Hidden Chats with disappearance timers
• Self-destructing photos and videos
• Secret Notes with fingerprint lock

Viber is more than just a messaging app. As far as security is concerned, Viber provides a secure space with fully encrypted voice and video chats on mobile as well as desktop. Considered as a secure calling and best encrypted messaging app, Viber lets you have secure conversations without any downtime.

One of the unique features of Viber is that it enables every single chat with a separate color based on its current level of encryption. For instance

• Green color specifies that the chat has been encrypted and the contact you are trying to get in touch with is the trusted one
• Grey color specifies that the chat is encrypted but the contact you are looking out for is not under the trusted criteria.
• Red color indicates a potential problem or issue with the authentication of the contact.

Features

• Access to delete seen messages
• One-to-one or group voice/video interaction
• One-to-one or group video call with unlimited users
• High-quality video calling
• Access to stickers, GIF, and emojis

Key Specifications:

Supported platforms:	Mobile and Web Applications
Number of users:	More than 1+ billion
Popular Locations/ Demographics:	In Asia, particularly across the Philippines and Vietnam. And also in Europe and the Middle East (UAE).
Use Case:	Enterprise communication app

Pricing:

Viber charges you for making international calls.

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9. Silence – Best Secure Chat Platform

Key Security Features:

• End-to-end encryption for SMS, calls, and messages
• Secure storage with PIN or fingerprint protection
• Anonymous accounts with disposable usernames

Silence is the best secure chat platform that provides modern SMS/MMS features. Silence is monitored on a regular basis and its codes are fully locked. In fact, the app data is unavailable even to government agencies.

Considering security, there is no registration process to use the app. Which means, you need not provide any of your personal information, for any reason. 

Features

• Open Source
• Messages can be encrypted locally
• No need of internet connection
• Avoid access to screen-shot of conversation

Key Specifications:

Supported platforms :	Web and Mobile App
Number of Users :	NIL
Popular Locations/ Demographics:	Highly popular in the United States and Europe.
Use Case:	Enterprise communication

Pricing

Silence is free to use. You need not pay to install the app.

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10. Line – Best Private Chat App

Key Security Features:

• Group chat encryption 
• Login lock with PIN or fingerprint
• Multi-device account synchronization with approval

Line is the best private chat app that is free to use on any smartphone devices and desktops. Line was established by a team of Japanese engineers mostly as a way to communicate after the Tohoku earthquake in 2011.

LINE boasts over 80 million monthly active users, primarily concentrated in Southeast Asia, Japan, and Taiwan. The app is particularly popular among younger demographics.

Features

• Access to more than 10000 stickers that include characters and celebrities
• Letter Sealing
• Can share images, voice/video data on Timeline
• HD video calling
• OpenChat online space to interact with other like-minded people
• Allows you to add new friends with the option “Shake It!”

Key Specifications:

Technology Platforms :	iOS, Android, and Web Application
Number of users :	More than 700 million
Popular Locations/ Demographics:	Has a wide user base in Asian countries like Japan, Thailand and Taiwan.
Use Case:	Enterprise communication, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Fintech and Gaming.

Pricing:

Line is FREE for personal accounts. But for Business accounts, it comes with 3 different plans.

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11. Dust – Best private messaging for mobile apps

Key Security Features:

• Screenshot and copy prevention
• Anonymous accounts with PIN protection
• Encrypted storage with client-side encryption

Dust is the best private messaging app that protects your chat from web searches and data theft. It is well known for allowing its users the utmost privacy and securing their chats from data breaches.

Similar to Telegram, Dust uses trusted contacts mode. Which means, users can add their trusted contacts, and any message inside the chat won’t be stored on local or cloud servers.

Features

• Encrypted messaging
• Screenshot detection
• No message storage
• Passcode and screenshot prevention
• Secure file sharing

Key Specifications

Supported platforms:	iOS, Android, and Web
Number of users:	1M+
Popular Locations/ Demographics:	USA
Use cases:	Social and dating apps and the cybersecurity industry

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12. Zulip – Best-secured private messaging app

Key Security Features:

• Server-side encryption for all messages
• Access control and permission management
• Role-based messaging and channel restrictions

Zulip is one of the safest messaging apps that operates on a unique thread-based conversation model. It was initially developed and launched by a company called Zulip.

Later, it was acquired by Dropbox in 2014 and announced as an open-source messaging app in 2015.

It is well-known for enhancing real-time communication especially, secure chats between teams for projects or tasks.

Features

• Real-time messaging
• Topics and threads
• Cross-platform support
• Message history retention
• Private messaging and topic muting

Key Specifications

Supported platforms:	iOS, Android, Web, and Desktop
Number of users:	1M+
Popular Locations/ Demographics:	Spain, USA, and China
Use cases:	Large-scale enterprises, IT companies, Customer support centers

Pricing

Zulip comes with 2 different pricing models:

1. Cloud
2. Self-hosted

Well as every app has its own merits and demerits. And it is quite complicated to find which one among these 12 best fits your needs. 

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How are Most Messaging Apps Secure?

Well, this is the interesting part! 

We talk about ‘security’ and stuff on our chatting apps. But what exactly happens behind the scenes?

Let’s imagine a scenario. You are texting your close friend John on WhatsApp about his medical records. This is sensitive information that neither you nor John wants anyone else to know. 

So, this is what happens in the backend.

Step 1: You send a message

• You open Whatsapp
• You start by typing a message ‘Hey John, got your report’.
• The app takes this message and turns it into a secret code using encryption.

Step 2: Scrambling the Message

• The encrypted message looks like gibberish. No one can literally understand it.
• This scrambling is crucial for keeping your message safe from prying eyes.

Step 3: Sending the Encrypted Message

• Now, Whatsapp sends this coded message to John.
• It doesn’t matter if the message travels through servers or networks; it stays in its secret code.

Step 4: Receiving the Encrypted Message

• Now, John receives the encrypted message.
• Even if someone tries to intercept the message during this process, they can’t understand the coded content.

Step 5: Decoding the Message

• When John opens the message, the app uses a special key to decode and reveal the original text.
• This is the only point in the process where the message is readable.

To sum up, 

• The entire journey, from sending the message to your friend opening the message, is covered by encryption. This is called end-to-end encryption.
• It ensures that only you and your friend can understand the message, and no one in between, not even the service provider’s servers, can decipher it. Now, let me list the best chat apps that use this kind of encryption to keep your conversations private and secure. 

Which Is The Best Secure Messaging App?

Let me help you out:

• If you need a completely privacy-focused app, you can go for 

Signal, Silence, Dust, Threema, or Line.

• If you are looking for an app that perfectly balances security and features
• If you are looking for the best app for private chats, security, and features.

You can go for WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram or Viber.

• If you want an app for business or professional communication.
• If you want the most secure chat app for business or professional communication.

Choose Wire or Zulip.

• And if you prefer to message anonymously, 

Go for Wickr me.

Hope that helps!

Wrapping Up

Now that we’ve summed up ‘chat privacy’ in a nutshell, I believe that this article has added more light into which is the most secure messaging app you need. 
But, here are 3 things you could do to keep your conversations safe by yourself:

• For even more privacy, think about using a VPN. If you cannot decide between service providers, read a detailed comparison of NordVPN and Surfshark.
• Consider carefully before sharing any information online.
• Make sure two-factor authentication is enabled and maintain proper password safety.

Build Your Own Secure Messaging App with MirrorFly

How about building your own messaging app rather than choosing among plenty of apps in the market?

Don’t get distressed with the development process, time, and investment. With Chat APIs and SDKs, you can integrate complete messaging functionality into an existing application or website.

MirrorFly offers a self-hosted chat API solution for enterprises and developers to design and develop their own encrypted chat app. 

Why MirrorFly the Developer’s Choice?

100% Customization: You have complete control over features, branding, and functionality. With custom APIs and SDKs, you can build whatever chat functionalities you want and deploy them wherever you want.

Custom Security: Secure your messaging app with end-to-end encryption and data compliance to all industry standards. You can add custom security features, including biometrics, Gmail, custom admin controls, OMEMO encryption, AES, and more. 

1000+ In-App Chat Features: From instant messaging to voice calls, private video chat, and group conferencing, you can enable 1000+ interactive features for personal and corporate messaging. 

If you are interested in knowing more about MirrorFly, get in touch with the team for free consultation. 

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