Best Encrypted Chat App

250+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.4 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated September 2026

With an average user rating of 4.4β˜…, the encrypted chat app category is one of the App Store's strongest. Browse all 250+ apps we track, sorted so the most loved ones surface first.

Compare top Encrypted Chat App (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Signal - Private MessengerSignal - Private MessengerFree4.7β˜… (1.1M)NoYesSep 2026
2Telegram MessengerTelegram MessengerFree4.0β˜… (280K)NoYesSep 2026
3SimpleX Chat: secure messengerSimpleX Chat: secure messengerFree4.3β˜… (264)NoNoSep 2026
4Session - Private MessengerSession - Private MessengerFree4.3β˜… (4.6K)NoNoSep 2026
5Keet - Private Encrypted ChatKeet - Private Encrypted ChatFree4.6β˜… (189)NoNoSep 2026
6KeeperChat Encrypted MessengerKeeperChat Encrypted MessengerFree4.2β˜… (389)NoNoSep 2026
7WhatsApp MessengerWhatsApp MessengerFree4.7β˜… (19M)YesYesSep 2026
8Phantom ChatPhantom ChatFreeβ€”NoYesAug 2026

Top Picks for Encrypted Chat App

Signal - Private Messenger#1

Signal - Private Messenger by Signal Messenger, LLC

Say β€œhello” to privacy.
4.7😊(1.1M ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#9in Social Networking
Signal - Private Messenger screenshot 1
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This messaging app prioritizes your privacy with strong end-to-end encryption for all communications. It offers free text, voice, and video messaging, including group chats and disappearing stories, all without collecting your data.

What We Love

  • πŸ”’ Security and privacy
  • πŸ‘ Ease of use
  • πŸš€ Great call quality
  • πŸš€ Smooth and pleasant user interface
  • πŸ”’ End-to-end encryption
  • πŸ”’ Non-profit ownership

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Delayed message delivery
  • πŸ› Inconsistent image/video quality
  • πŸ› Buggy call functionality
  • πŸ› Inability to edit sent messages
  • πŸ› Unreliable notifications
  • πŸ”’ Mandatory contact sharing
Telegram Messenger#2

Telegram Messenger by Telegram FZ-LLC

Fast. Secure. Powerful.
4.0😊(280K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#4in Social Networking
Telegram Messenger screenshot 1
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Telegram Messenger screenshot 5
Telegram Messenger screenshot 6

A fast, secure, and powerful instant messaging app synced across all devices. It offers unlimited media and file sharing, robust encryption, and extensive group chat capabilities. Enjoy a simple, private, and customizable communication experience.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Fast and efficient
  • πŸ”’ Secure and private
  • πŸ‘ Customizable and user-friendly
  • πŸ’‘ Innovative features like channels and bots
  • 🌟 Great overall messaging experience

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Buggy and unstable at times
  • πŸ”‹ Battery life issues
  • 🚫 Lack of video calling feature
  • πŸ“‚ Issues with media uploads and downloads
  • πŸ” Inadequate search functionality
SimpleX Chat: secure messenger#3

SimpleX Chat: secure messenger by SimpleX Chat

Privacy redefined: no user IDs
4.3😐(264 ratings)
Free
SimpleX Chat: secure messenger screenshot 1
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This secure messaging app offers unparalleled privacy by eliminating user identifiers. Enjoy end-to-end encrypted messages, calls, and files with features like disappearing messages and incognito mode. Connect via invitation links without needing phone numbers or emails.

What We Love

  • πŸ”’ End-to-end encryption and quantum-resistant security
  • πŸ” No phone number or personal data required
  • πŸ‘€ Anonymous profiles and multiple identities
  • πŸš€ Fast message delivery when working properly
  • 🎯 Decentralized and open-source architecture
  • πŸ“± Cross-platform support (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows)
  • πŸ”„ Disappearing/auto-delete messages
  • πŸ’¬ Group chat functionality
  • πŸ“ž Video and voice calling capabilities
  • 🎨 Clean and polished interface
  • ⚑ Quick setup process

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Frequent app crashes and instability
  • πŸ“¬ Delayed or missing notifications (20+ minutes common)
  • ⌨️ Keyboard issues on iOS (freezing, unresponsive)
  • πŸ”Œ Poor connectivity and message delivery failures
  • πŸ“± iPad version not optimized
  • 🎨 Cluttered UI with hard-to-read message posters
  • πŸ”§ Complex user interface for non-technical users
  • πŸ“ž Call functionality unreliable with delays
  • πŸ”„ Device migration process tedious and confusing
  • βš™οΈ Server configuration issues not working properly
  • 🐒 Windows desktop version very slow and laggy
  • β™Ώ Poor accessibility for visually impaired users
  • πŸ”Š Audio input selection broken (AirPods incompatible)
  • πŸ” Search for groups feature missing or broken
  • πŸ€– Bots joining private groups without invitation
  • πŸ“Š Large group chats (300+ members) extremely buggy

More Encrypted Chat App apps to explore

FAQ about Encrypted Chat App

What is the best encrypted chat app for iPhone?
Signal - Private Messenger tops our encrypted chat app ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.7-star average from 1.1M App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes β€” 20 of the top encrypted chat app we rank are free to download, including Signal - Private Messenger and Telegram Messenger.
Signal - Private Messenger has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
We track 250+ encrypted chat app on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
This app is a messaging service designed with privacy at its core. It allows users to send text messages, voice messages, photos, videos, GIFs, and files. It also supports encrypted voice and video calls, including group calls.
Key features include strong end-to-end encryption for all communications, free messaging and calls, group chats for up to 1,000 people, and disappearing Stories. It also offers admin controls for group management and file sharing.