Nearly everyone has WhatsApp — around 60 million users in Germany alone. But the app belongs to Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, and although WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption it collects extensive…
Nearly everyone has WhatsApp — around 60 million users in Germany alone. But the app belongs to Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, and although WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption it collects extensive metadata: who talks to whom, when, how often and from where. That data is as valuable to advertising profiles as message content. Signal protects not just messages but metadata, SimpleX goes further with no user IDs, phone numbers or accounts, and bitchat mesh works entirely without the internet, over Bluetooth and WLAN between nearby devices. As of March 2026, SimpleX Chat and Keet are gaining ground as metadata-free alternatives, while bitchat mesh matters as an offline mesh option for festivals or crisis scenarios. The comparison weighs default end-to-end encryption across every message type, which metadata are stored or shared, open-source code and independent audits, whether a phone number is required, cross-platform and desktop use, sustainable funding, and the size of the network you can actually reach.
Our verdict
Signal is the best secure messenger for the iPhone. It sets the gold standard for end-to-end encryption, collects practically no metadata, is fully open source and is run by a nonprofit foundation, while remaining genuinely usable in everyday life: groups, voice messages, video calls and stories work reliably.
For maximum privacy without any form of identification, SimpleX Chat is the most radical option — no phone number, no user ID, no account. Session offers similar anonymity through onion routing, and Threema is the right choice for companies and anyone preferring a Swiss provider with a one-time purchase.
bitchat mesh is compelling in situations without internet access — travelling, at events or in crisis areas. Element X, built on the Matrix protocol, suits technically minded users who want a decentralized messenger they can host themselves.
Signal is the messenger recommended by security experts, journalists and activists worldwide: end-to-end encryption for every message type, open-source clients and practically no metadata collection, run by a nonprofit foundation through donations, with no premium tier. Groups, voice messages, video calls and stories work reliably enough for everyday use.
The one weak point the source names is registration by phone number; anyone unwilling to share one has to look at SimpleX. The source code for the iOS app is published on GitHub.
bitchat mesh is a Bluetooth mesh messenger that works entirely without internet or a SIM, relaying messages directly between nearby devices. It is free and open source, funded by donations, with no registration and no metadata; the source calls it a natural fit for festivals, travel and crisis scenarios.
The limit is reach: it cannot replace everyday chat with friends who do not have the app, and the source describes it as an experimental niche tool rather than a reliable daily driver. Its value lies precisely in situations where no network exists.
Keet is a peer-to-peer messenger without central servers: chats, calls and files run directly between devices, which removes the need to trust a service operator and can deliver messages while a device is offline. It is completely free with no ads or in-app purchases, open source and financed by Holepunch, the company behind its P2P technology.
The trade-off the source notes is small distribution: strong privacy and ratings, but little reach for group chats and an audience limited to technically minded users.
Session is a decentralized messenger with no phone number, no email and no central server, routing traffic through an onion-routing network so messages cannot easily be linked to an identity. The iOS app is free, open source and funded by donations, with code on GitHub.
The source calls it the most honestly private approach after SimpleX, at the cost of slower connections, a small network and weaker multi-device synchronization — a poor fit for time-sensitive communication.
SimpleX Chat is the most radical privacy option in the list: no account, no phone number, and unlike other messengers no user identifier at all, with open-source clients and independent security audits. The iOS app is free and funded by donations, source code on GitHub.
The source warns the experience is still raw and the network small, so it suits privacy maximalists rather than everyday users, and anyone wanting an easy start or a messenger family already uses should choose Signal.
Threema is the Swiss messenger that needs no account and no phone number, sold with a one-time purchase instead of a subscription and popular across the DACH region. The source sees it as the right choice for businesses and users who want Swiss hosting and no recurring costs.
Its network is small, so contacts who only use WhatsApp or Signal stay out of reach. The source gives three different purchase prices, which is why no single figure is quoted here; the model — pay once, keep using it — is stated consistently.
Telegram is the feature-rich mainstream messenger: groups and channels with thousands of members, large file sharing without practical size limits, speed and reliability, plus a free base. Premium at around €5 per month adds cloud storage and expanded channel features.
The source is blunt about the security trade-off: end-to-end encryption is not on by default, and secret chats must be switched on manually, so marketing it as a secure messenger is considered misleading; moderation policy is also named as a weak point.
Discord is less a classic messenger than a community platform, built around structured servers and channels with voice and video, and the natural home for gaming groups and online communities. The free base covers nearly all use; Nitro starts around €3 per month for animations, higher upload limits and profile features.
The source considers it strong for organized groups and in-game voice chat, weak for private one-to-one communication with privacy expectations, and easy to lose track of across many servers.
WhatsApp is the most widely used messenger in Germany — the source puts it at around 60 million users in the country — which means reach no alternative matches, alongside a straightforward interface and reliable end-to-end encryption for message content.
The trade-offs are its owner Meta, extensive metadata collection, and no real privacy beyond content; the source calls it unavoidable for many people but not a sensible first choice, and a poor fit for anyone who will not hand over a phone number or data to Meta.
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Questions & answers
Is WhatsApp really insecure?
WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption for message content, which is good. The problem is metadata: it records who communicates with whom, when, how often and from which location. Meta shares this data with its other services and uses it for advertising profiles. For many users that is an acceptable trade-off; for privacy-conscious users it is not.
Which messenger is the most secure for iPhone?
Signal offers the best balance of security and everyday practicality. For maximum anonymity without a phone number, SimpleX Chat and Session are the safest options. Security also depends on your own behavior: the most secure messenger is useless if your iPhone passcode is 1234.
Can I take my WhatsApp contacts with me to Signal?
Not directly — chat histories cannot be transferred. But Signal automatically detects which of your phone contacts already use it. The simplest route is to install Signal, let it match contacts, and announce in your WhatsApp groups that you are also reachable there. Many people run both apps in parallel.
Do I need a phone number for secure messengers?
For Signal yes, and for Threema, although Threema also works without linking a phone number. Session, SimpleX Chat and Element X require neither a phone number nor an email address, a genuine advantage for anyone who wants to communicate anonymously.
Do secure messengers also work for group calls?
Signal supports encrypted group calls with up to 50 participants in good quality, and Element X offers encrypted group video calls over Matrix. Threema supports group calls with up to 16 people. SimpleX and Session are currently limited to one-to-one calls.
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