# Hollow - Distributed Messenger

> Hollow - Distributed Messenger (iPhone/iPad app by Victor Rovinsky.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hollow-distributed-messenger/id6777748033 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Victor Rovinsky](https://appshunter.io/developer/1411997448)
- Category: Social Networking
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 164 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2026-10-30
- Data updated: 2026-11-02

## What is Hollow?

Hollow is a group chat app where the members are the server. When you join a community, its messages, files and history live encrypted on the members' own devices, not in a data center. There is no company holding your conversations, because there is nowhere central to hold them.

There is also no account to create, so no email or phone number to hand over. Your identity is a cryptographic key created on your device, backed by a 24-word recovery phrase that only you have.

WHAT'S INSIDE
• Servers with channels, roles and moderation tools, including public channels
• Direct messages secured with Double Ratchet encryption
• Server chats use MLS, the IETF group messaging standard
• Voice channels, video calls and screen sharing with audio, encrypted end to end with SFrame
• File sharing
• Custom emotes, stickers, GIFs and saved messages
• Link previews are made by the sender, so opening a chat never loads a stranger's link
• Link several devices to one identity and your conversations follow you

PRIVACY, SPECIFICALLY
• Everything is end-to-end encrypted, except channels a server makes public on purpose
• Push notifications carry no message content or sender details
• Your local database is encrypted with SQLCipher
• No ads or analytics, and nothing in the app tracks you
• The code is open source (AGPL-3.0): https://github.com/VitalikPro13/HOLLOW

HOW DATA MOVES
Hollow uses a small relay to help devices find each other and to carry encrypted traffic when a direct connection isn't possible. The relay can't read private chats, calls or files, and anyone can self-host one and point the app at it.

Hollow is free, and every feature is included for everyone.

Privacy Policy: https://hollow.anonlisten.com/privacy
Terms of Use: https://hollow.anonlisten.com/terms

## Is Hollow safe?

Not enough ratings yet to assess Hollow.

## Is Hollow legit?

Hollow - Distributed Messenger appears legitimate, with a few gaps. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Hollow is 65 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data.


## Version history (last 1 release)

### 0.12.2 — 2026-10-30

No release notes.

## More apps by Victor Rovinsky

- [TetroWords](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tetrowords/id1411997449)
- [TetroWordsLite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tetrowordslite/id1471861163)
- [Wholesome Story A Day](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wholesome-story-a-day/id6758908125)
- [Anisotropic Piano Tuner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anisotropic-piano-tuner/id6792484919)

All apps by Victor Rovinsky: https://appshunter.io/developer/1411997448

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-11-02.*