Best Secure Messaging Apps in 2026
Updated
In short: SimpleX Chat is ranked #1 of 35 as of 1 October 2026, ahead of Telegram and Threema. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Telegram. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Threema at $3/mo.
For conversations where privacy controls are important, compare how messaging apps handle accounts, devices, backups, and message retention. Account requirements, desktop apps, and multi-device support help you assess access across your devices; disappearing messages and encrypted backups speak to how conversations may be managed. Maximum group size adds another point of comparison, alongside free-plan availability and the paid-from price. SimpleX Chat, Telegram, and Threema appear first in the ranking, followed by Signal and Wire. Consider who needs to join your conversations and which listed controls matter to you, then compare the apps against your device needs and expectations for message history.
35 secure messaging apps ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Account requirement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  SimpleX Chat | 8.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 2 | Telegram | 8.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | phone | View |
| 3 | Threema | 8.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $3/mo | No | — | none | View |
| 4 | Signal | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 5 | Wire | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | €7.45/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 6 | Element | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 7 | Delta Chat | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 8 | Olvid | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | €82.50/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 9 |  WhatsApp | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | — | View |
| 10 | Viber | 6.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | phone | View |
| 11 | Jami | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 12 | Cheogram | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | username | View |
| 13 | Keet | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 14 |  Conversations | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 15 | Status | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 16 | FluffyChat | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 17 |  Briar | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 18 |  Keybase | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 19 | Cwtch | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 20 | Molly | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 21 | Cinny | 5.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 22 |  Snikket | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | username | View |
| 23 |  SchildiChat | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 24 | Monal | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 25 |  Dino | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
Is your platform 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 Inferse?
SimpleX Chat is ranked #1 of 35 with a score of 8.5. Telegram is second and Threema third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 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, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.