Cinny vs SimpleX Chat
Cinny
cinny.inSimpleX Chat
simplex.chatSide by side
| Figure | Cinny | SimpleX Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Secure Messaging Apps | 8.3 (#8) | 8.5 (#5) |
| Encryption | Cinny’s site describes its interface as protected by end-to-end encryption. | The network uses end-to-end encryption with continuous post-quantum key exchange for messages and metadata. |
| License | Cinny is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3, AGPL-3.0-only. | The application source code is available under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3. |
| Open source | Cinny’s source code is open for people to enhance, modify, and inspect. | Alternative client applications based on SimpleX Chat code must publish modifications under the AGPLv3 license. |
| Self-hosting | Users can self-host by serving the release tarball’s dist files or using the Docker image from Docker Hub or GitHub Container Registry. | Users can operate their own SMP relay server with a VPS, domain, and basic Linux knowledge, while still communicating with users on other relays. |
Plans
In their own words
SimpleX Chat
SimpleX Chat is a messaging application for the SimpleX platform, with apps for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows. It supports encrypted text with Markdown and editing, media and file sharing, decentralized groups, voice messages, disappearing messages, and audio and video calls. The network does not assign profile identifiers such as phone numbers or usernames. Messages and metadata use end-to-end encryption with continuous post-quantum key exchange. Four servers participate in each chat so relay servers cannot see which IP addresses communicate. Profiles, contacts, and messages remain in a portable encrypted database on user devices; relay servers hold encrypted messages only until delivery. Users may operate their own servers and still reach people using preconfigured servers. Developers can build bots and integrations using protocol SDKs; the TypeScript SDK connects to the Chat CLI over a WebSocket API. A phone or tablet can link to the desktop app only when both devices share a local network. Disappearing messages and recipient-side deletion are not guaranteed when a recipient device is offline or modified. The free plan costs nothing.