Wave vs Zyphr

Wave: Secure Messaging Wave is a privacy-first messaging app built for people who value security, simplicity, and control. Chat freely without signing up, sharing personal details, or trusting centralized servers. You can start messaging instantly. Wave uses end-to-end encryption, ensuring only you and the people you’re chatting with can read messages. Conversations are encrypted on your device and decrypted only by recipients. Powered by XMTP, Wave is built on a decentralized messaging network reducing reliance on central servers and giving users more control over their conversations. Wave supports fast one-to-one messaging and secure group conversations in a clean, minimal interface with no clutter or distractions. You can optionally connect your Bluesky account to message people you already know, or simply use Wave on its own without linking any account. Wave is designed with privacy at its core, with end-to-end encrypted messages, a privacy-first architecture, and no ads or trackers.

Zyphr is a private messenger built around one idea: your conversations are yours. Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted, video calls are secure video calls, and the server is never able to read them. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - End-to-end encrypted 1:1 chats (Signal Protocol) and group chats (MLS, the IETF standard for group encryption). - Encrypted voice and video calls (WebRTC / DTLS-SRTP) that connect directly between devices whenever they can. - Sign up with just an email, no phone number. Your email is stored only as an irreversible hash, never in plain text. Or sign in with Apple or Google. - The server relays only sealed ciphertext and helps your devices find each other. It holds no message content and no decryption keys. MESSAGING THAT RESPECTS YOU - Photos, videos, files and voice messages, each encrypted with its own key. - Disappearing messages, delayed send, and view-once secure media. - Read receipts and typing indicators you can turn off, in both directions. - On-device voice-message transcription (audio never leaves your phone). CALLS - One-tap voice and video, with a native call experience. - Call history with in-chat call records. YOURS TO CONTROL - Two-step verification and passkey sign-in. - Block and report, with username and impersonation filtering. - Screenshot protection across the app including video calls (secure video calls). - Delete your account and wipe your data anytime. Zyphr is ad-free and tracker-free.