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

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Encrypted Messaging Apps

SimpleX Chat vs Olvid

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score SimpleX Chat #7 in Encrypted Messaging Apps 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit SimpleX Chat
Olvid #20 in Encrypted Messaging Apps 7.2/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Olvid

SimpleX Chat leads on 0 checks, Olvid 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 scoreSimpleX Chat · 8.5/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Olvid

SimpleX Chat scores higher on our rubric for encrypted messaging apps: 8.5 against 7.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #20.

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

SimpleX Chat is the better fit for privacy-focused users avoiding phone numbers. Olvid is the better fit for organizations needing identity-free secure chat.

  • SimpleX Chat fits best

    Privacy-focused users avoiding phone numbers

  • Olvid fits best

    Organizations needing identity-free secure chat

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. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature SimpleX Chat 8.5/10 Visit ↗ Olvid 7.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.5 7.2
Ranking #7 in Encrypted Messaging Apps #20 in Encrypted Messaging Apps
Best for Privacy-focused users avoiding phone numbers Organizations needing identity-free secure chat
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan €4.99/user/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Email, Live chat, Docs Email, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features SimpleX Chat 3/3 · Olvid 3/3
Desktop app ✓ ✓
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 None End_to_end
Our review
Pros
  • 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
  • No phone number or email required
  • Encrypted messaging, calls, backups, and ephemeral messages
  • Apps for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux
Cons
  • 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
  • Outbound calls require a paid plan
  • Multi-device use is not included in the Free plan
  • Advanced enterprise controls require the Enterprise plan
Our verdict

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 →

Olvid is an encrypted messaging application for individuals, teams, and organizations that want private communication without linking an account to a phone number or email address. The Free plan includes messaging and attachments, secure…

Read the review →
  1. SimpleX ChatEncrypted Messaging Apps 8.5Free plan
  2. OlvidEncrypted Messaging Apps 7.2Free plan · 30-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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

  • Olvid — where it wins

    • No phone number or email required
    • Encrypted messaging, calls, backups, and ephemeral messages
    • Apps for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux

    Where it doesn't

    • Outbound calls require a paid plan
    • Multi-device use is not included in the Free plan
    • Advanced enterprise controls require the Enterprise plan

More comparisons

All encrypted messaging apps comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update