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5 best encrypted private messenger apps for Android
People care more about their privacy now than ever before. Facebook is dropping the ball with privacy, companies engage in data collection almost constantly, and it’s difficult to know who to trust. New products come out all the time to combat this issue. One of the most important is privacy chat apps. All five apps on this list have similar features. They allow for end-to-end encryption so nobody knows what you’re saying.
They do have the occasional drawback, but that is why there are five of them. Additionally, there are some fun projects in the works, such as Utopia, but they require further testing or don’t have mobile apps yet. Here are the best private messenger apps for Android! We have even more privacy apps here.
The best private messenger apps for Android
Signal Private Messenger
Price: Free
Signal Private Messenger is one of the most popular private messenger apps. Like most, it has its problems, but the overall product is fairly decent. It supports voice and video calls, text messages, and even SMS. It also features end-to-end encryption. However, that only works if both people use Signal to message each other. Some other features include Material Design, group chats, and it’s open-source. It’s also free with no in-app purchases or ads.
Telegram
Price: Free
Telegram is another very popular option for private conversations. It boasts most of the same features as Signal. That includes end-to-end encryption, group chats (with up to 100,000 members), voice calls, and more. It even has self-destructing messages. The encryption needs turned on from the settings and both people need Telegram for encryption to work. Otherwise, it seems to function as intended. You can even make GIFs there if you want to. The app is entirely free with no ads or in-app purchases. This one may not be available in all areas.
Threema
Price: $3.99
Threema is a competent and somewhat popular private messaging app. It has the usual array of features required for entry on this list, including end-to-end encryption. Threema goes the extra yard, though. They include encrypted voice calls and a lot of the stuff usually managed on a server is managed locally on the user’s device as well such as their contacts. Like most, the encryption only works if both people use Threema, but otherwise this is actually fairly decent. Also, like Telegram, it’s not available in all areas.
Viber
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Viber is one of the most popular chat apps out there, private or not. Tons of people use this one, although most of them are outside of the US. Viber offers end-to-end encryption, voice calls, video calls, text messages, group chats, and extra fun stuff like stickers. You can buy more stickers with in-app purchases. It also allows deletion of sent messages and you can hide chats in a different part of the app. As usual, you only get end-to-end encryption if everyone is using Viber. Otherwise, it’s just like any other chat app. We do recommend Telegram and Signal over this one, but it’s a good extra option in the privacy messenger apps space.
Price: Free
WhatsApp is the world’s most popular messaging service. It’s also end-to-end encrypted. Some of its features include group chats, voice calls, improved file sharing, and more. It also includes message deletion even after it’s sent. WhatsApp is owned by Facebook and Facebook’s privacy policy is under a lot of scrutiny right now. Thus, WhatsApp may not be the very best option, but it’s still better than nothing at all and its popularity makes it an easy choice for private messenger apps.
See also: How to use WhatsApp: A step-by-step beginner’s guide
If we missed any great privacy chat apps, tell us about them in the comments. You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists.
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