SimpleX Chat: secure messenger
Privacy redefined: no user IDs
How much does SimpleX Chat: secure messenger cost?
Prices are current as of 12 Sept 2026.
SimpleX Chat: secure messenger has no in-app products on record in the United States.
10+ alternatives to SimpleX Chat: secure messenger
| SimpleX Chat: secure messenger |   Threema. The Secure Messenger |   Session - Private Messenger |   Primal |   Skred Messenger |   Element X - Secure Chat & Call |   Threema Work. For Companies |   Monal — XMPP Chat |   xPal Ultra Secure Messenger |   Delta Chat |   Tato Talk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating / 5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 3.3 |
| Reviews | 1.4K | 16K | 14K | 1.8K | 1.3K | 714 | 695 | 635 | 589 | 512 | 155 |
| Released | 2022 | 2012 | 2020 | 2023 | 2017 | 2023 | 2016 | 2009 | 2020 | 2020 | 2026 |
| Monthly price | — | — | — | $6.99 | $2.49 | — | — | — | $4.99 | — | — |
| Annual price | — | — | — | $69.99 | $20.49 | — | — | — | $39.99 | — | — |
| One-time price | — | — | — | $4.99 | — | — | — | — | $99.99 | — | — |
The going rate for each plan in United States, in its own currency, shaded from the cheapest price on the row to the dearest. Plans fewer than four in ten of the priced apps sell are left out.
SimpleX Chat: secure messenger reviews
4.4 out of 5, based on 1,358 reviews.
What people like
- No phone number or personal data needed
- Strongest privacy and security features available
- Works well across many different devices
- Clean and simple chat interface
What they complain about
- Push notifications often fail to arrive
- App feels laggy and slow on iOS
- User interface looks outdated and ugly
- Moving contacts to a new device is hard
Very Good
Should have an option for the non tech savvy people because while this app is EXTREMELY GOOD at its job, i had to play around with the settings so it wouldn’t lag or take forever to send a message let alone half the time I did trial and error to figure out what everything meant. If not, add a developer or advance user interface/option and have short explanations about what certain buttons and settings do. Other than that PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING BESIDES IMPROVEMENTS. It’s already perfectly made and manageable, it’s just a bit too overwhelming for some people who aren’t familiar with servers and relay nodes. Thank you creators and developers and I hope we keep this project strong!!
The network has been down all day and nothing works
At least Session still works. Guess I'll be using that again until this gets figured out
The core product and privacy features are great but the iOS app needs work
This app deserves 5 stars for the privacy features, including the encrypted voice/video calls. Much better and more reliable than Session, and we can trust that it’s going to be around long term. But there are numerous UI/UX bugs in this app that make it awkward to use. If they’re VC funded, they should have the bandwidth to solve these very basic issues that should come up with normal usage. Once those are fixed, this would be a clear 5 star app.
Great Potential but Many Critical Issues
I love the concept of this app and think it has amazing potential, however there are several bugs and/or features that need to be addressed. I know there’s a long backlog on GitHub containing the bug/feature requests, but the biggest issue in my opinion is with push notifications not working half the time when the app is in the background and seemingly not at all when it’s closed. This applies to audio/video calls & messages. If this can be fixed, along with a more updated user interface & support for all emoji reactions - I’ll upgrade my review to a 5.
I NEED SCREEN SHARING ON IPAD SO BAD
plz add screen sharing on other devices like ipad
The ONLY Secure Messaging App for iOS
Coming from a security engineer looking for alternatives as the “Session” app shuts down. Check out all of these security features — and the best part that most miss: “No Data Collected”. This will be my new platform. Approved.
If this were more accessible with VoiceOver, then this would be 5 stars
Please fix. Label all buttons and add alt text for images. VoiceOver cannot read messages in a chat thread.
UI
Chang your UI better
User interface
The only real complaint I have about this app is the user interface. Look at WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal pretty much every messaging app has moved toward a more modern design style and adopted newer UI elements like Apple’s liquid glass design. There’s no way the developers don’t realise this app needs a refresh too. What’s frustrating is that whenever anyone brings up the UI on their X profile, the comments just get ignored. The app works fine, but visually it feels outdated compared to almost every other messaging app now.
Problem with sending photos and videos
I wish that they would fix the photo and video compression because it does not send the full image without losing any data and which in results causes photos and videos to be fuzzy and low quality
Very smooth app
Love the e2e and all the security feats but i personally prefer this interface over like a signal or something
Wip
Needs a lot of work , iPhone app not a full iPad app, audio calls can be finicky to connect on some devices, video calls are very laggy. Seems ok for text and file transfer, I assume images/videos too. Feels somewhat alpha
Still hard to read.
What happened to Seach For Groups in the app? I cant find it, or it doesn’t work. The names of message “posters” need to be bigger and brighter. Possibly a different colour. It’s so difficult to see who’s posted what. But that is pretty much irrelevant now… This new thing with bots joining private groups, but not being invited… it stinks a bit. I’m not into kiddie porn or anything as pathetic as that, but having a bot reading any of my private conversations. Absolutely NO. I don’t care about the “Why”, I’ll just go elsewhere. You can keep your not-so-privacy app, and stick it where the sun don’t shine.
Nice concept but very buggy
The app needs a lot of work, messages get notified then you can’t find em
iOS app issue
This is a great app and very easy to use. The only downside is that the iOS app feels really laggy,especially after using it for a while. The developers definitely needs to optimize it.
Very nice
Simple ,security ,free,very nice
???
The keyboard keeps disappearing in the middle of the chat
Security is top notch!
I really love how well I’m protected using this. That is the strong point here. But what needs Siri is the design - it just doesn’t look very good. It feels like something used on old Gnome Linux Desktop to me that has the bare minimum for mobile design. The secure nature and privacy structure of the app is beautiful though and no app matches this robust approach to privacy & security (they’re not the same thing).
Paraphrase
I know my paraphrase but when I put it in it doesn’t bring me back to my account. Help!!!
Because if you upload a video it will take hours and you can disable video call
Don t carr
Delete the other ones......
This is the only secure messenger on the market. Period.
Waste of money
Did not work at all
Need performance improvements
The app is concise but a lil bit laggy. Anyway thanks for your efforts.
Terrible changing devices
I had to create three different accounts because migrating to another device is awful. You have to re-add all your contacts. The process is unnecessarily nuanced and tedious. It shouldn’t be so dependent on a passphrase that you’re never prompted to create but always need. I don’t really recommend this app.
It’s ok
Good alternative to Signal and it has a few extra features. Signal uses phone number which kinda defeats the purpose and adds a layer of restriction when making an account. Signal also block certain phone numbers from receiving verification texts. Three stars for now because the app is broken on iOS26. Even after a full removal and reinstall it fails to open the keyboard when taping a text entry field and just freezes.
😍😍😍
I love the fact that all my data is mine
Does not work work iPhone 13
When I try to click chat it does not open the chat it’s unresponsive. Yet still I can move the chat object (delete)
No read receipts
Please add the option to sent read recipes.
Cant attach multiple pictures at once with descriptions
Cant attach multiple pictures at once with descriptions, really a bummer thats something i would like changed
Notifications?
Works like a messaging app but doesn’t send notifications. Have instant push turned on, even tried “test notifications” and don’t get anything
SimpleX is Unrivaled
Unquestionably the most sophisticated chat system available. Critically, the UX is also good, enough for me to use it for legitimate work uses with less technical people.
No keyboard on IOS 26
Keyboard not working on new iOS 26 update
Daru
I found it good for chatting. But it is impossible to call a friend and talk. Or I don't know how to set up the app correctly, so that you can talk immediately like in Signal.
No typing indicator
Great but the live implementation of typing individual not as great ….need real typing indicator
Описание проблем
Замечательная идея, лучшее приложение в теории. Но на практике очень много проблем с использованием. Да, я понимаю и читал что писал разработчик , как он пытается обойти ограничения производителей смартфонов и какую колоссальную работу он проделал. И всё же. Первое. С доставкой это главная проблема. Ждать от 20 минут до пол дня, причём как на айфон( читал предупреждение разработчика) так и на андроид, не всем это нужно и понравится, это рубит на корню всё общение и отталкивает пользователей. Второе. Серверы не работают как надо(настройки серверов вообще не работают). При переключении серверов в настройках они не меняются в чатах. При зависшем, отключённом сервере в чате я не могу отправить сообщение и ни как не могу это исправить, переназначить сервер что бы отправить сообщение. Даже если я отключу сервера и подключу другие, программа упорно продолжает отправлять через этот нерабочий сервер. И его никак не поменять. Настройки серверов, что бы в них не устанавливалось, не действуют на чаты. Да, есть "поменять адрес получателя" но это адрес получения а не отправки, и сто бы он изменился нужен рабочий сервер отправки который не работает пока он не подключится, и в итоге остаются те же нерабочие сервера. А сервер отправки- никак. Даже при смене оператора серверов на другого, всё равно отправляет упорно через нерабочий сервер отключенного провайдера и не помогает НИЧЕГО. Третье. Восстановление бэкапа. И опять чехарда с серверами. И далее. После восстановления нужно подтвердить ключи, всё логично и казалось бы просто. Но. Нужно чтобы в это же время собеседник был онлайн, иначе, если пройдёт время(час, день, неделя) пока собеседник появится в сети, подтверждение будет ошибочным даже если напишет "успешно". И исправить это никак. Только удалять контакты и заново подключать их. Не всем, мягко говоря, это понравится, и не все это понимают как делать. Особенно когда это надо делать время от времени, а не просто установит, настроил и пользуешься. Люди в раздражении просто перестают общаться этим мессенджером. А жаль. Четвёртое. Обновления становятся поверх плохо, криво. Программа начинает вести себя не понятно как(долго описывать), а переустанавливать это переподключение контактов и… читай выше. Пятое. Десктоп версия для виндовс оооочень тяжёлая, пользоваться просто невозможно. Она висит. Жутко тормозит интерфейс. А многие пользуются или часто дублируют в основном на ПК. "Использовать с ПК" тоже не получилось подключится с 5 попыток, выбивало ошибку(возможно какие—то проблемы с брандмауэром или ОС) разбираться не стал. Есть ещё, но это основные проблемы рубящие на корню использование этого мессенджера. Хотелось бы исправления всего, особенно доставки сообщений в первую очередь. За идею 5+. А за реализацию, при всём уважении к вашему титаническому труду, 2+/3 с натяжкой. А так, это лучший мессенджер и теоретически идеален. Спасибо за Ваш титанический труд и идеи. Желаю новых, плодотворных идей в решении задач, проблем и успешной реализации задуманного.
Quantum-resistant end-to-end encryption
In terms of security, SimpleX is our top choice for sending data between our numerous devices including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, and Wndows. In testing all the features such as audio, video, timed auto-delete of messages, and delete for everyone, it’s all good. In terms of maximum privacy and security, SimpleX is at the top of the list but one has to convince your contacts to use it. One minor disappointment is that the iPad version of the app is not optimized for the display.
What is this app
I am someone who works in tech and CANT USE THIS APP. I don’t know why they made it so complicated. Worst app I’ve ever used.
Not bad
Make a bot maker feature like on telegram and it will be perfect
Often late notifications
The app is a good concept, but often when I send a message the recipient gets notified +20 minutes later which, for the most part, is unacceptable.
pretty decent app
up to par with the other private messengers on the app store, 3 stars because it’s really annoying no matter if i mute a chat or not i still get every notification for it
Pinnacle.
That's it. SimpleX does it all best. Have a frankly unreasonable threat model? No problem, this thing is nuke proof. It's also a good messenger with a clean interface. Anonymity and no phone number are obvious features to have. Apple made me use a unique nickname to post this thing.
Not compatible with Desktop app
Simply can’t sync phone and desktop
Decent App
Love most things about it, a tad glitchy here & there but works fine otherwise. Would like a better/more reaction emoji selection though!
Not good enough
Notifications don’t appear despite having all settings correct. Messages don’t even appear in the chat until I open the app (they just hang out in the ether somewhere I guess)….and since there are no notifications I have no idea that I need to check….not useful.
More private than Signal, but WIP
Update to my review below. Noticed that if my recipient hasn’t opened the app in a few days, then messages I send her don’t get delivered. So while the privacy and anonymity features of this messaging app are better than Signal or any other such app I’ve seen, it appears to be still a work in progress as not everything works as expected. I hope the devs work out the bugs and soon. Love the concept of no user IDs and no personal information used. No registration. No phone numbers. No email addresses. Multiple profiles. In these regards it’s better than Signal. However, calling needs some work. When calling, would be nice to hear a ringing tone. Would be nice to have option to launch speakerphone while the call is ringing before being picked up. Also, there is a delay of a few seconds after caller picks up before I can hear the caller. The caller is saying “hello” after pickup and I can’t hear them until a few seconds after they pick up. This is with relay calls enabled. Didn’t try with relay disabled. But Signal has no such issue with relay calls enabled. I hope it continues to improve and gains popularity because in concept it’s excellent.
The New King of Privacy
Goodbye Signal. Hello SimpleX. Yep, it’s that good.
Avoid this app if you’re visually impaired
I’ve tried this app on multiple platforms & one thing is quite consistent… the poor user experience for those like me who are visually impaired. Messages won’t read via VoiceOver when swiping to them, unless screen recognition mode is enabled, but that’s not always reliable, not to mention the improper way to handle things. Lots of unlabeled buttons and odd names for the ones that are labeled. Don’t get me started on the accessibility fails of the desktop apps, as those are a far more frustrating experience. Really starting to wonder if this exclusionary design is intentional or just incompetence on the dev team’s part.
iPad
Будет ли версия под iPad?
Typing inserts extra characters
You are failing on the most basic functionality of a messaging app. Something is wrong with the chat box. It inserts characters into the text box as you type. Fix this annoying glitch
Early stages but privacy seems to be the focus
The privacy aspects of this app by design are key and a huge reason to use it. Unfortunately, you’ll have to put up with frequent app crashes, typing bugs, and other issues. I’m willing it put up with those problems for the benefits the app offers.
SimpleX Chat: secure messenger FAQ
- Is SimpleX Chat: secure messenger free?
- Yes. The app is free, in all 174 countries it sells in, and it sells nothing inside it.
- Does SimpleX Chat: secure messenger have a free trial?
- No. None of its offers (US) come with a free trial.
- What are the best alternatives to SimpleX Chat: secure messenger?
- Threema. The Secure Messenger (4.2 from 15,529 reviews), Session - Private Messenger (4.4 from 13,886 reviews) and Primal (4.9 from 1,813 reviews, premium from $4.99).
SimpleX Chat: secure messenger download
Last updated 1 month ago.
SimpleX Chat: secure messenger sells in 174 countries. It was released 4 years and 7 months ago, on 8 Mar 2022. It holds a 4.4 rating from 1,358 reviews.
Supports 17 languages: English, Bulgarian, Czech, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian.
How much does SimpleX Chat: secure messenger make?
Third-party estimates for the last 30 days, worldwide — not the store's own figures, which Apple publishes for nobody.