Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience real numbers from our own analytics — open to see them
–Visitors
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · counted by iTechGuides's own first-party analytics, bots removed, every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Encrypted Messaging Apps

Messenger vs SimpleX Chat

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Messenger #5 in Encrypted Messaging Apps 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Messenger
SimpleX Chat #7 in Encrypted Messaging Apps 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit SimpleX Chat

Messenger leads on 0 checks, SimpleX Chat on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMessenger · 8.7/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresSimpleX Chat · 3 of 3

Messenger scores higher on our rubric for encrypted messaging apps: 8.7 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #7.

On encrypted backups, SimpleX Chat gives you None where Messenger offers End_to_end.

Messenger is the better fit for free social messaging with encrypted chats. SimpleX Chat is the better fit for privacy-focused users avoiding phone numbers.

  • Messenger fits best

    Free social messaging with encrypted chats

  • SimpleX Chat fits best

    Privacy-focused users avoiding phone numbers

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Messenger 8.7/10 Visit ↗ SimpleX Chat 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.5
Ranking #5 in Encrypted Messaging Apps #7 in Encrypted Messaging Apps
Best for Free social messaging with encrypted chats Privacy-focused users avoiding phone numbers
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Docs Email, Live chat, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Messenger 2/3 · SimpleX Chat 3/3
Desktop app Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Voice and video calls ✓ ✓
Disappearing messages ✓ ✓
Specs
Encryption coverage Default Default
Maximum group size Not checked yet Not checked yet
Linked device limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Encrypted backups End_to_end None
Our review
Pros
  • End-to-end encryption is enabled by default for personal messages and calls
  • Free messaging, group chats, voice and video calls, and media sharing
  • Disappearing messages, Secure Storage, editing, unsending, and shared albums
  • End-to-end encrypted messages, media, groups, and calls
  • Open-source apps for mobile, desktop, Linux, and self-hosting
  • Disappearing messages and portable encrypted database export
Cons
  • Not open source
  • Social features can make it less focused on encrypted messaging
  • Secure Storage keys in iCloud or Google Drive are outside Messenger's encryption
  • The same profile cannot be used simultaneously on multiple devices
  • Desktop linking is supported locally rather than across simultaneous devices
  • Self-hosted relay support may require additional technical administration
Our verdict

Messenger is Meta’s consumer messaging app for connecting with friends, family, communities and creators. It combines text messaging, group chats, photo and video sharing, file sharing, voice and video calls, shared albums, message…

Read the review →

SimpleX Chat is an open-source encrypted messaging application for people who want private conversations without user profile identifiers. It supports end-to-end encrypted one-to-one and group messaging, file, image, and video sharing,…

Read the review →
  1. MessengerEncrypted Messaging Apps 8.7Free plan
  2. SimpleX ChatEncrypted Messaging Apps 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Messenger — where it wins

    • End-to-end encryption is enabled by default for personal messages and calls
    • Free messaging, group chats, voice and video calls, and media sharing
    • Disappearing messages, Secure Storage, editing, unsending, and shared albums

    Where it doesn't

    • Not open source
    • Social features can make it less focused on encrypted messaging
    • Secure Storage keys in iCloud or Google Drive are outside Messenger's encryption

  • SimpleX Chat — where it wins

    • End-to-end encrypted messages, media, groups, and calls
    • Open-source apps for mobile, desktop, Linux, and self-hosting
    • Disappearing messages and portable encrypted database export

    Where it doesn't

    • The same profile cannot be used simultaneously on multiple devices
    • Desktop linking is supported locally rather than across simultaneous devices
    • Self-hosted relay support may require additional technical administration

More comparisons

All encrypted messaging apps comparisons → · Full ranking →

Guides on encrypted messaging apps

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update