Anonymous Messenger Apps Comparison

Hello everyone, this is Pavluu! Previously, we wrote about safe communication online and touched on the topic of messengers. Today, we present a translated article about messenger anonymity and a comparison of popular apps.

With the internet flooded by news of hacks and government surveillance, it’s no surprise that the average user feels paranoid about their privacy. After all, most of your online activity (at least in the “clearnet”) is tracked and logged.

Messaging is a much more private and personal form of communication than email. We share personal data, account information, numbers, secrets, vulnerabilities, and more. That’s why we need the most secure and private messaging possible. Let’s take a look at the apps available on the market and compare them.

Signal

Signal is one of the most popular and well-known privacy tools, developed by Open Whisper Systems. It’s free to use, available on both iOS and Android, and offers strong end-to-end encryption for texts, voice calls, and media attachments. Signal stands out for its simplicity and ease of use.

• Pros:
  • Free
  • Offers top-notch encryption for all types of communication
  • One of the best privacy tools available
• Cons:
  • High profile (endorsed by Snowden)
  • No PIN required to access the app

Silent Phone

Developed by Silent Circle, Silent Phone is a messaging and voice call app with all the main features and encryption you’d expect from a privacy-focused program. It’s available on both iOS and Android.

• Pros:
  • Dedicated servers for handling encrypted messages
  • Easy to use
• Cons:
  • Limited features
  • Costs about $10 per month

Telegram Messenger

This app is designed especially for tech-savvy users. All chats are encrypted, so only you and the recipient can read the messages. Telegram uses MTProto encryption and offers several customization options.

• Pros:
  • Highly customizable (PIN, cloud PIN, 2FA, SOCKS and proxy support, encryption, etc.)
  • User-friendly
• Cons:
  • Doesn’t use the most modern encryption algorithms by default, but you can enable them manually since they are supported

Wickr Me

(Note from Pavluu: I use this for the most sensitive matters and highly recommend it.)

Compared to other privacy tools, Wickr Me has been around for quite a while. It offers text messaging, voice, and video calls. All encrypted photos and videos you send are protected from prying eyes. Geotags are removed, and you can send messages with a self-destruct option. The app is updated regularly.

• Pros:
  • Large user base and strong encryption for privacy
  • No phone number required for registration—just create a username
  • Regular updates
• Cons:
  • No significant drawbacks noted

Silence

One of the most popular anonymous messaging apps among Android users. It supports passphrase protection.

• Pros:
  • No phone number required
  • Encrypts all stored messages
  • Supports passphrase protection
• Cons:
  • Only available on Android
  • Limited features

Conclusion

In conclusion, friends, we’ve already made our choice—and of course, it’s Telegram. Not surprising, right? Tip: Take a closer look at Wickr Me as well!

Wishing you all safe and anonymous communication!