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Head-to-head · Encrypted Messaging Apps

Wire vs SimpleX Chat

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Wire #4 in Encrypted Messaging Apps 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Wire
SimpleX Chat #7 in Encrypted Messaging Apps 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit SimpleX Chat

Wire 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 scoreWire · 8.9/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresSimpleX Chat · 3 of 3

Wire scores higher on our rubric for encrypted messaging apps: 8.9 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #7.

Wire is the better fit for enterprise encrypted collaboration. SimpleX Chat is the better fit for privacy-focused users avoiding phone numbers.

  • Wire fits best

    Enterprise encrypted collaboration

  • SimpleX Chat fits best

    Privacy-focused users avoiding phone numbers

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Side by side

Feature Wire 8.9/10 Visit ↗ SimpleX Chat 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.5
Ranking #4 in Encrypted Messaging Apps #7 in Encrypted Messaging Apps
Best for Enterprise encrypted collaboration Privacy-focused users avoiding phone numbers
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price €7.45/user/mo Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support Email, Docs Email, Live chat, Docs
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Wire 0/3 · SimpleX Chat 3/3
Desktop app Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Voice and video calls Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Disappearing messages Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Encryption coverage Not checked yet Default
Maximum group size Not checked yet Not checked yet
Linked device limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Encrypted backups Not checked yet None
Our review
Pros
  • End-to-end encryption covers messages, calls, and file sharing
  • Supports channels, guests, search, screen sharing, and self-deleting messages
  • Runs across web, desktop, mobile, Linux, and API environments
  • 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
  • Linux support is experimental or community-supported
  • The SMB monthly plan costs more than annual billing
  • Enterprise features are concentrated in higher-tier deployments
  • 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

Wire is an end-to-end encrypted collaboration platform for organizations, governments, and public-sector teams. It brings messaging, audio and video calls, conferences, file sharing, guest collaboration, channels, screen sharing, and…

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. WireEncrypted Messaging Apps 8.9Free plan
  2. SimpleX ChatEncrypted Messaging Apps 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Wire — where it wins

    • End-to-end encryption covers messages, calls, and file sharing
    • Supports channels, guests, search, screen sharing, and self-deleting messages
    • Runs across web, desktop, mobile, Linux, and API environments

    Where it doesn't

    • Linux support is experimental or community-supported
    • The SMB monthly plan costs more than annual billing
    • Enterprise features are concentrated in higher-tier deployments

  • 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 →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update