Olvid

Olvid is an encrypted messaging app for people and organizations that want communications without tying an account to personal details. It suits privacy-conscious users who need messaging across phones and computers, as well as businesses managing deployments. Its core messaging is free; outbound calls, multi-device use and enterprise controls have separate terms.

Overview

Olvid brings text messages, attachments, secure group discussions and ephemeral messages together with encrypted audio and video calls. The no-personal-data approach is unusually broad: the company says the service operates without a phone number, email address, name, surname, address or birth date. It also says messages and metadata are end-to-end encrypted, so it cannot know who is talking to whom. That makes Olvid a stronger fit for people concerned about relationship metadata as well as message contents.

Each message and file is encrypted with a single-use ephemeral key, intended to limit the damage if a key is later compromised. Olvid says it has received two ANSSI Security Visas under CSPN certifications. Those credentials add weight to its security proposition, but do not change the practical distinction between free messaging and separately paid features.

Key features

Free users get unlimited messages and attachments, secure group discussions, multiple profiles and ephemeral messages, with no messaging quota to manage. Calls are end-to-end encrypted. Video calls support up to two contacts, while group audio calls have no participant limit. Receiving audio and video calls remains free; initiating them is free for one month, after which the trial ends without billing or automatic subscription. Outbound calls then require an in-app purchase.

Olvid synchronizes across Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows and Linux without requiring one device to act as the master. That is useful for people moving between phone and computer, but multi-device use is tied to the paid in-app purchase rather than the Free plan. Enterprise features extend beyond messaging: Enterprise can connect to Keycloak for SSO and integrate OpenID Connect, SAML 2.0, LDAP or Active Directory directories. Its management console supports MDM distribution, and optional Olvid Bots run in Docker or on a Linux server and expose a gRPC API.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing, billed forever. It includes unlimited messages and attachments, secure group discussions, ephemeral messages, multiple profiles and inbound calls. It is a substantial choice for personal text-based use, but outbound calls and multi-device use are not included in that plan.

Business costs €990 a year, with annual billing. It includes business license deployment, manual license management and partial MDM deployment. This suits organizations that need a managed rollout but not the automated controls and broader management features in Enterprise.

Enterprise costs €990.50 a year, billed annually. It adds turnkey integration, SSO, automated license management, MDM deployment, a management console, managed groups and instant revocation; Olvid Bots are optional. It is the relevant tier for organizations needing centrally managed identities and deployments.

The in-app purchase has custom pricing and monthly billing through the App Store or Google Play. It covers outbound audio and video calls, multi-device use, unlimited messages and unlimited attachments. The free call trial lasts one month and ends without automatic billing or subscription, so users must choose whether to purchase after trying outbound calls.

Platforms

Olvid supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows. The range covers major desktop and mobile systems, with synchronization across supported devices that does not depend on a master device. Multi-device use, however, is a paid feature.

Who it's for

Olvid is best suited to privacy-conscious individuals who want unlimited free messaging and attachments without supplying identifying details, and to organizations that need encrypted communications with directory integration or device management. It is less suitable for someone who expects outbound calls and multi-device use to come with free messaging, or for a buyer who needs those features without a separate in-app purchase.

Pros and cons

Pros: Free messaging has unlimited messages and attachments, plus groups, ephemeral messages and multiple profiles, making the core useful without a quota.

Pros: The company says it does not need personal details to operate and cannot identify who is talking to whom, addressing account identity and metadata concerns.

Pros: Enterprise supports established directory and SSO integrations, MDM deployment and managed groups for organizations with administration needs.

Cons: Outbound calls and multi-device use require a separately billed in-app purchase, weakening the appeal of the free tier for users who want the full cross-device experience.

Cons: Business and Enterprise have annual prices of 990.00 EUR and 990.50 EUR respectively, a substantial commitment for small teams considering managed deployment.

Cons: Video calls are limited to two contacts, even though group audio has no participant limit.

Alternatives

For more options, browse Secure Messaging Apps or Encrypted Messaging Apps.

Wire is a freemium option on the same listed platforms; choose it if open-source code available on GitHub for verification is a priority.

Telegram is another freemium choice with unlimited cloud storage, groups and channels, and voice and video calls; choose it if those are the priorities over Olvid's stated metadata privacy approach.

Threema is paid, offers a free trial, and has open-source apps across several desktop and mobile platforms; consider it if open-source clients and a paid model suit you better.

Viber offers free messaging and calls to Viber users, with Viber Out sold through prepaid credit or subscription; it is an alternative for those calling within its network.

Crypho has a free personal plan with files up to 3mb and a limit of one group; consider it if that narrower free allowance fits your use.

Jami is a free alternative with no free trial.

SimpleX Chat is a free alternative whose client modifications must be published under the AGPLv3 license.

Keybase is a free alternative described by its download page as open source, with links to its source code.

Verdict

Choose Olvid if you want free, unlimited messaging with a strong stated emphasis on keeping both personal details and relationship metadata private, or if your organization needs directory integration and managed deployment. Look elsewhere if free outbound calls and multi-device use are essential: those require a separately billed purchase, despite the generous free messaging tier.