Snikket review
A private, open-source messenger for small groups, with hosting priced at $6 per month.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Snikket is an open-source, decentralized messaging platform for families, friends, clubs, and small organizations. It supports end-to-end encrypted messaging, private and public groups, audio and video calls, photo, video, and document sharing, voice messages, private location sharing, and encrypted conversation backups. People join through invitations to a Snikket service hosted by Snikket or deployed on their own infrastructure, with Android and iOS apps available.
Pricing is straightforward for a small group: the Standard instance costs $6 per month and is suitable for up to 10 active users. That is an instance price rather than a per-user charge. Snikket offers a 14-day trial but no free plan, and hosting pricing can vary with region, currency, tax, and billing choice. For a group that fits within the stated capacity, the model is easier to evaluate than per-seat billing; larger communities should look closely at whether the instance limit meets their needs.
The main trade-off is platform coverage. Snikket provides mobile apps for Android and iOS, plus self-hosted server software, but it does not offer official desktop apps. Its feature set is broad for private group communication, including calls, file sharing, location sharing, synchronization across devices, and encrypted backups. Choose Snikket if your group values open-source, decentralized messaging and can work primarily from mobile devices. Consider another option if desktop applications are essential or if you need a free service.
Snikket pros and cons
- Where it wins
- End-to-end encrypted messages, calls, files, and location sharing
- Encrypted conversation backups and multi-device synchronization
- Android, iOS, and self-hosted deployment options
- Where it doesn't
- No free plan after the 14-day trial
- The $6 monthly price covers an instance, not individual users
- No official desktop apps
Snikket fact sheet, pricing and score →
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