Snikket.org Open Source, real End-to-end encryption (OMEMO), and you can use other clients if you don't like theirs. You can also self-host.
this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2025
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Signal for those who have it and SMS for everyone else
Another vote for signal
Would rather use WhatsApp then SMS. Its much more secure and private and doesn't cost money. Although if RCS is an option it could be used instead of SMS or WhatsApp.
How private can WhatsApp be if Meta owns it?
If you Chat via WhatsApp the Chat is probably in cleartext on the servers of
- Apple
- Meta
- NSA and stuff
But at least You can be sure if you are really chatting to the right person
You can send self destructive messages with a very short livespan that probably won't land in cleartext on somebody else's devices.
If you call you are Safe, its encrypted and not stored unencrypted in backups.
So its possible to use it encrypted
If you Chat via SMS the Chat is probably in cleartext on the servers of
- Provider1
- Provider2
- Apple
- Meta
- NSA and stuff
- but also any other Spy agency or snoop that has access to SS7
You can't be sure if you are really chatting to the right person
Calls are interceptable.
impossible to use securely
SMS are not encrypted, messages in whatsapp are, in some way
If you trust Meta not to snoop, which I dont
See my post above: WhatsApp backups are unencrypted by default to Google/Apple servers. But at least you have options to make it more secure.
So all in all, would you say my messages are more likely to be captured by Meta when using WhatsApp, or SMS? I ask in good faith. I am aware SMS isn't secure, but at least it isn't literally hosted by Meta... So if Meta was my main concern for my threat model would you still recommend WhatsApp?
No, but don't use SMS either. Meta Apps have the permission to access SMS.
Well I don't use any Meta apps.
But I have to use SMS for certain people
Yeah, I was aware that whatsapp checked first the message and then send it both your recipient (which needs to pass trough META servers) and META itself
if RCS is an option it could be used
Generally when people say "I use SMS" they mean "SMS, MMS, and RCS".
There is a big difference tho.
Sure, but colloquially that's how I is used. People have apps that send "SMS" and they call anything it sends "SMS". People don't make conscious decisions on which to use of the three, it's automatic.
You still pay for SMS? Do you not get a ridiculous amount bundled into your plan?
Depends currently I use a free one where they are included. Before that I used another one where they were extra and before that I used a prepaid plan where they were extra just data was cheaper.
In the UK basic SMS is free but if you want to send a media message it's hella expensive
MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) is not available anymore in Germany. Why would anyone sane use that shit if there are free options?
In Mexico you can pay for unlimited sms by time, like for a day or a week or a month or more. For a month would be $100MXN, that are like $5.28USD, for unlimited: calls, sms, META suit, and got like 1.3GB to surf the web.
Signal. It's in the perfect middle ground of security and usability. Security enthusiasts will tell you it isn't good enough. It's fine, and it's certainly better than Facebook Messenger.
Signal, mostly because I value my privacy though.
I've wrangled over this very question for years. I've looked at all the research, I've read all of the articles and I've witnessed all of the armchair security 'experts' make their claims one way or the other. I got so exhausted bouncing back and forth between a dozen screamed opinions, I walked away. In the end, I decided to go with Signal and it has served my needs for a secure and private instant messenger with no ads or shady crypto-scams without fail.
- Signal
- SimpleX
As side note. Simplex is the future but not quite mainstream ready. It works phone as phone app. If you want full range ir desktop. Might be best to go with signal for now. Hopefully their desktop apps are fixed next year.
Signal is decent privacy wise but they still can tell the feds who you are cheating with the time stamps. So not the best long term solution.
From my understanding on the signal protocol, the only thing they can check is your last log in. So not really who you messaged.
The downside of signal is that it is centralized.
You are using their servers. They have your phone number.
Olvid, for people close to me. Signal for strangers.
I use Signal, and I’ve read that Session and Teleguard are also good alternatives.
Telegram is not a good alternative at all unless you are looking for socia media experience. I am they will get ads to eventually. It Russian corporate slop, same as American but with a different daddy in charge
Teleguard, not Telegram
Teleguard defenitly not they are closed source.
I feel like Delta Chat should be mentioned here as a secure, decentralized and pretty awesome alternative.
It also allows to communicate with non-delta chat users via email through the same chat interface
It also allows to communicate with non-delta chat users via email through the same chat interface
That's a disadvantage. Messengers should only allow secure encrypted chats!
WhatsApp like app is Signal. Other ones are better in terms of privacy but you have to convince contacts to use that, so….
I was just about to ask this, so thanks, OP, and thanks, answer-givers.