SimpleX Chat: secure messenger 4+

Name: SimpleX Chat: secure messenger
Rating: 4.5 (125 reviews)
Author: SimpleX Chat

Privacy redefined: no user IDs

SimpleX Chat

- 4.5 • 125 Ratings

- Free

iPhone Screenshots

Description

SimpleX Chat - a private & encrypted open-source messenger without any user IDs (not even random ones)!

To send messages, make a private connection via link or QR code.

SimpleX - the first messaging network without user identifiers of any kind (not even random numbers) - 100% private by design!

Security assessment by Trail of Bits: https://simplex.chat/blog/20221108-simplex-chat-v4.2-security-audit-new-website.html

SimpleX Chat features:
- quantum resistant end-to-end encrypted messages, with editing, replies and deletion.
- disappearing messages with opt-out per contact/group.
- message reactions.
- delivery receipts, with opt-out per contact or group.
- multiple chat profiles, with hidden profiles.
- app access and self-destruct passcodes.
- incognito mode - unique to SimpleX Chat.
- end-to-end encrypted images and files.
- voice messages up to 5 minutes – also end-to-end encrypted.
- "live" messages – they update for all recipients as you type them, every few seconds - unique to SimpleX Chat.
- connect via one-time invitation links or via long-term public addresses.
- secret chat groups - only group members know the group exists and who is the member.
- end-to-end encrypted audio and video calls.
- connection security code verification, for contacts and group members – to protect from man-in-the-middle attacks (e.g. invitation link substitution).
- end-to-end encrypted push notifications (they contain only encrypted meta-data, not the actual content).
- encrypted portable chat database - you can transfer your chat contacts and history to another device.
- all local files and media are encrypted by default.
- animated images and "stickers" (e.g., from GIF and PNG files and from 3rd party keyboards).

SimpleX Chat advantages:
- privacy of your identity, profile, contacts and metadata: unlike any other existing messaging platform, SimpleX uses no phone numbers or any other identifiers assigned to the users - not even random numbers. This protects the privacy of who you are communicating with, hiding it from SimpleX platform servers and from any observers.
- complete protection against spam and abuse: as you have no identifier on SimpleX platform, you cannot be contacted unless you share a one-time invitation link or an optional temporary user address.
- full ownership, control and security of your data: SimpleX stores all user data on client devices, the messages are only held temporarily on SimpleX relay servers until they are received.
- decentralized proxied peer-to-peer network: you can use SimpleX Chat via your own relay servers and still communicate with people using pre-configured or any other SimpleX relay servers.
- fully open-source code.

You can connect to anybody you know via link or scan QR code (in the video call or in person) and start sending messages instantly - no emails, phone numbers or passwords needed.

Your profile and contacts are only stored in the app on your device - relay servers do not have access to this information.

All messages are end-to-end encrypted using open-source quantum resistant double-ratchet protocol; the messages are delivered via relay servers using open-source SimpleX Messaging Protocol.

Please send us any questions via the app (connect to the team via the app settings!), email chat@simplex.chat or submit issues on GitHub (https://github.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat/issues)

Ream more about SimpleX Chat at https://simplex.chat

Get source code in our GitHub repo: https://github.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat

Follow us on X/Twitter (@SimpleXChat), Reddit (r/SimpleXChat/) and Mastodon (https://mastodon.social/@simplex) for the latest updates.

Oct 20, 2024

Version 6.1.1

New in v6.1.1:
- improved interface responsiveness.
- fixes: changing chat profile, importing themes in iOS 15, etc.

New in v6.1:

Better security.
SimpleX protocols reviewed by Trail of Bits.

Better calls.
You can switch audio and video during the call.

Better iOS notifications.
Improved delivery, reduced traffic usage.
More improvements are coming soon!

Better user experience:
- switch chat profile for 1-time invitations.
- customizable message shape.
- better message dates.
- forward up to 20 messages at once.
- delete or moderate up to 200 messages.

Read more: https://simplex.chat/blog/20241014-simplex-network-v6-1-security-review-better-calls-user-experience.html

4.5 out of 5

125 Ratings

Good so far

Loving it so far, fast and very easy to use. The only thing I feel is missing that I need is the ability to either include images with the groups welcome message or the ability to pin certain selected photos in the group so new joiners are able to see them as well without them being resent. Other than that great experience so far, keep up the good work !

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.

Voiceover experience needs major improvements

Great concept and the basic stuff works for me in a functional sort of way. However, the interface makes navigating through the thread of messages using iOs Voiceover nearly impossible. I have to swipe (navigate to next item) about 10 times to get from one message to the next. I don't know what Voiceover is having to go over since none of it is spoken, but this interface is extremely inefficient, time consuming, and not at all how messaging apps should be. iMessages, Signal, etc, all the messages are right next to each other. Just one swipe from one to the next. Also, the date is spoken too soon after the message. On the outside where your connections are listed, it also takes 3 swipes to get from one to the next when it really only needs one. There are a few unlabeled elements and a lot of things have weird labels. I feel accessibility has not been given a high enough priority. I love, absolutely love what this app is supposed to do, but in the state it's in right now, I can't use it. Thank you for all the work you've done so far and I'm looking forward to future improvements.

The developer, SimpleX Chat, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

Seller

SimpleX Chat Ltd

Size

226.7 MB