Chat & connect — free messaging apps

Every app below is free to use and available on Android, iPhone and the web. Pick one your friends already use, or the one whose privacy suits you best.

Private & secure

• Signal — free and end-to-end encrypted by default, run by a non-profit. No ads, no tracking. The safest pick.
• WhatsApp — free, end-to-end encrypted, and the app most people already have.
• Google Messages — free RCS chat for Android, encrypted between Messages users.

Big & feature-packed

• Telegram — fast and free, with large group chats and channels (turn on Secret Chats for end-to-end encryption).
• Messenger — free chat and calls, handy if your friends are on Facebook.
• Discord — free voice, video and text, great for friend groups (see Communities).

Open & independent

• Element on the open Matrix network — free, encrypted and not owned by any single company.
• Mastodon — free, open social posting without ads or algorithms.

All free and legal. This page isn't affiliated with any of these services — the links just go to their official sites.