ChatSecure vs Delta Chat
ChatSecure
chatsecure.org
Delta Chat
delta.chatSide by side
| Figure | ChatSecure | Delta Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Encrypted Messaging Apps | 7.7 (#22) | 8.3 (#4) |
| Spec score · Secure Messaging Apps | 7.7 (#23) | 8.2 (#11) |
| Headquarters | Berkeley, California, United States | Freiburg, Germany |
| Product | ChatSecure is a free and open source encrypted chat client for iPhone. | Delta Chat is a reliable, decentralized and secure instant messaging app for mobile and desktop. |
| Support | The support page directs users to GitHub Issues, UserVoice, and an email address for iOS security reports. | The site links to a Delta Chat forum for support and feedback. |
Plans
In their own words
ChatSecure
ChatSecure has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Delta Chat
Delta Chat is a free, open-source instant messaging app for mobile and desktop, with support for self-hosting. It runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows, and supports multiple profiles and devices. Messages travel through secure, interoperable chatmail relays and are end-to-end encrypted by default, including attachments and their metadata. Delta Chat uses a subset of OpenPGP with Secure-Join and Autocrypt. Servers can still see sender and receiver addresses and message size; other message, contact and group metadata is encrypted. Chats can include interactive web apps for gaming and collaboration. Android and iOS audio and video calls use peer-to-peer WebRTC, but a March 2026 post said the feature was still behind a debug setting. A classic email address can act as a relay only if used exclusively by chatmail clients, and classic email providers generally do not support push notifications. The FAQ says there are no immediate plans for a web client. The project links to a forum for support and feedback.