Best Secure Messaging Apps in 2026

In short: Olvid is ranked #1 of 36 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Wire and Telegram. 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 accounts, devices, and message history are handled. Compared on account requirement, desktop apps, and multi-device support, the entries make it possible to check access across the devices you use. Disappearing messages and encrypted backups offer further criteria, while maximum group size helps you consider the scale of conversations an app lists. Olvid, Wire, and Signal are among the options to compare. Look at free-plan availability and paid-from pricing as well, then weigh those details against your account preferences, device needs, and expectations for message retention.

36 secure messaging apps ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.

36ranked
11free plans on this page
$3/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Secure Messaging Apps 25 channels on this page · 58 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromAccount requirementEncrypted backupsDesktop appsMaximum group sizeMulti-device supportDisappearing messages Spec sheet Score
01 Olvid Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesYes 2/8spec lines stated 8.1
02 Wire Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 8.0
03 Telegram Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementphoneEncrypted backupsYesDesktop appsYesMaximum group size200,000 membersMulti-device supportYesDisappearing messagesYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.8
04 Threema Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsYesDesktop appsYesMaximum group size256 membersMulti-device supportYesDisappearing messagesYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.7
05 Viber Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementphoneEncrypted backupsNoDesktop appsYesMaximum group size250 membersMulti-device supportYesDisappearing messagesYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.7
06 Crypho Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.6
07 SimpleX Chat Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesYes 2/8spec lines stated 7.6
08 Delta Chat Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesYes 2/8spec lines stated 7.4
09 Signal Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesYes 2/8spec lines stated 7.4
10 Element Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.3
11 Cinny Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsYesMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.2
12 TigerConnect Secure Text Messaging Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 7.2
13 Keybase Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.1
14 SchildiChat Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsYesMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.0
15 Zangi Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesYes 2/8spec lines stated 6.9
16 Jami Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.5
17 Status Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.3
18 WowApp Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsYesMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.3
19 Keet Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.1
20 Briar Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesYes 2/8spec lines stated 6.0
21 Cwtch Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.0
22 Ricochet Refresh Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsYesMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.0
23 Cheogram Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementusernameEncrypted backupsYesDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportYesDisappearing messagesYes 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
24 Monal Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementnot statedEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsnot statedMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesYes 2/8spec lines stated 5.9
25 Nheko Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAccount requirementusernameEncrypted backupsnot statedDesktop appsYesMaximum group sizenot statedMulti-device supportnot statedDisappearing messagesnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.9

Is your tool 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 Specifiction?

Olvid is ranked #1 of 36 with a score of 8.1. Wire is second and Telegram third.

How many of these have a free plan?

11 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 on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.

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