Best Secure Messaging Apps in 2026
Updated
In short: Olvid is ranked #1 of 55 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 Session at $2.99/mo.
Secure messaging apps offer different approaches to accounts, conversations across devices, and messages that may disappear. Compare the 51 entries on encryption coverage, account requirements, disappearing messages, and encrypted backups. Desktop app availability, multi-device support, linked-device limits, maximum group size, and voice and video calls are listed as well, along with free plans and starting paid prices. Signal, Wire, and Element are the first entries, followed by Olvid and Delta Chat. Consider which devices, group sizes, and conversation controls matter to you, then compare the published details against those needs.
55 secure messaging apps ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | App | Score | From | Free plan | Paid from | Encryption coverage | Maximum group size | Linked device limit | Desktop app | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olvid | 6.8 | €82.50/mo | Yes | — | default | — | — | Yes | View |
| 2 | Wire | 6.8 | €7.45/mo | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | View |
| 3 | Delta Chat | 6.7 | Free | Yes | — | default | — | — | Yes | View |
| 4 | Session | 6.7 | $2.99/mo | Yes | 2.99 /mo | mixed | 100 members | — | Yes | View |
| 5 | Signal | 6.7 | Free | Yes | 1.99 /mo | default | 1,000 members | 5 devices | Yes | View |
| 6 |  SimpleX Chat | 6.7 | Free | Yes | — | default | — | — | Yes | View |
| 7 | Telegram | 6.7 | Free | — | — | — | — | — | — | View |
| 8 | Viber | 6.7 | Free | — | — | — | — | — | — | View |
| 9 | Zangi | 6.5 | $5/mo | Yes | 5 /mo | default | 1,000 members | 1 devices | No | View |
| 10 | Cyph | 5.9 | $7/mo | Yes | 3 /mo | default | — | — | Yes | View |
| 11 | Element | 5.8 | — | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | View |
| 12 | iGap | 5.6 | — | Yes | — | default | — | — | Yes | View |
| 13 | Jami | 5.6 | — | Yes | — | default | — | — | Yes | View |
| 14 | Confide | 5.5 | — | Yes | — | default | — | — | Yes | View |
| 15 |  imo | 5.5 | — | Yes | — | mixed | 5,000 members | — | Yes | View |
| 16 | KeeperChat | 5.5 | — | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | View |
| 17 | Keet | 5.5 | — | Yes | — | default | — | — | Yes | View |
| 18 |  Keybase | 5.5 | — | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | View |
| 19 | Status | 5.5 | — | Yes | — | default | 20 members | — | Yes | View |
| 20 |  Briar | 5.4 | — | Yes | — | default | — | — | Yes | View |
| 21 | Crypho | 5.4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | View |
| 22 | Cwtch | 5.4 | — | Yes | — | default | — | — | Yes | View |
| 23 | FluffyChat | 5.4 | — | Yes | — | mixed | — | — | Yes | View |
| 24 |  Messenger | 5.4 | — | Yes | — | default | — | — | — | View |
| 25 | Skred | 5.4 | — | Yes | — | default | — | — | No | View |
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 Freedom251?
Olvid is ranked #1 of 55 with a score of 6.8. Wire is second and Delta Chat third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Session has the lowest first paid tier we found: $2.99/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.