What is end-to-end encryption?
End-to-end encryption (E2EE) means that messages are encrypted on your device and decrypted only on the recipient's device. Even the service provider cannot read the content of your messages. But protection is also importantmetadata(who communicates with whom, when, how often).
A quick comparison
| Messenger | Evaluation | No phone | Metadata | Quantum resistance | Self-hosting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimpleX | Recommended | None | |||
| Briar | Recommended | Minimum | P2P | ||
| Molly (Signal fork) | With caveats | Medium | |||
| Session | Not recommended | Minimum | |||
| Signal | Not recommended | High | |||
| Element (Matrix) | Not recommended | High | |||
| Telegram | Not recommended | High |
Recommended
SimpleX Chat
🟢 Recommended Open Source No identifiersSimpleX is the first messenger without any user identifiers. Does not require a phone number, e-mail or username. Even the servers do not know the identities of the users.
Key benefits
With caveats
Molly (Signal fork)
🟠 With reservations FOSSMolly is an improved fork of Signal for Android. Removes Google dependencies, adds better security and Tor support. However, it still inherits some of Signal's problems.
An improvement over Signal
Inherited issues from Signal
Not recommended
Session
🔴 Not recommended Open SourceSession is a decentralized messenger built on the Oxen network. Does not require a phone number, but it has serious security issues.
Problems
Preparing:Session Protocol v2 is intended to address these issues.More info
Signal
🔴 Not recommended Open SourceSignal is often presented as the "gold standard", but it has a number of privacy issues and centralized architecture.
Problems
Element (Matrix)
🔴 Not recommended Open Source FederatedElement is a client for the Matrix protocol – a federated communication network. Although it is open-source and federated, has significant security flaws.
Problems
Telegram
🔴 Not recommendedTelegram is a popular messenger, but it is completely unsuitable from a security point of view for sensitive communication.
Serious problems
Arrest of Durov:Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested in France in August 2024.More info