Quicksy review
A free mobile XMPP client with broad messaging features and optional encryption.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Quicksy is a free, open-source messaging client for Android and iOS. It is designed for people who want phone-number registration and address-book-based contact discovery while retaining access to federated Jabber/XMPP messaging. Users can communicate with Quicksy users and people on participating XMPP servers, rather than being limited to one app-specific network. Its core messaging features include private and group conversations, file, image, and video sharing, message history, audio calls, and video calls.
The main strength is the combination of familiar mobile discovery with XMPP federation. Quicksy matches address-book phone numbers with Quicksy users and participating XMPP users, which can reduce the effort involved in finding contacts. It also connects with Jabber/XMPP and supports Google Firebase Cloud Messaging, Twilio, and Vonage. The Android and iOS variants are maintained from the Conversations and Monal codebases, respectively, and the published feature set includes synchronization and server-side archiving. There is one important privacy distinction: OMEMO end-to-end encryption is optional, while message history and server-side archiving are supported features.
Quicksy is a sensible choice for mobile users who want free messaging, phonebook discovery, calls, file sharing, and access to the wider XMPP ecosystem in one client. Its open-source code and federated design will appeal to users who value interoperability. It is less suitable for someone who requires end-to-end encryption to be enabled by default, wants a desktop application, or prefers a messaging service without server-side archiving. The plan structure is straightforward: the Free plan includes phone-number registration, automatic contact discovery, and federated XMPP messaging, with no paid tier described.
Quicksy pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Automatic contact discovery from address-book phone numbers
- Federated messaging across participating XMPP servers
- Files, calls, groups, and message history included for free
- Where it doesn't
- OMEMO end-to-end encryption is optional rather than default
- No desktop app is listed
- Server-side message archiving may not suit every privacy model
Quicksy fact sheet, pricing and score →
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.
Last updated · How we research and update