Ricochet Refresh is a free, open‑source messenger designed for private, anonymous communication. Built on Tor Onion Services v3, it eliminates reliance on central servers, ensuring that no one can monitor who you talk to or what you say.

✨ Key Features

🕵️ Metadata resistant – hides who you talk to and when

🌐 Anonymous identities – no IP or location exposure

🔗 Decentralised – peer‑to‑peer via Tor, no servers to trust or hack

📂 Native file transfer – secure sharing built into the app

🛡️ Upgraded security – improved over the original Ricochet, hardened against timing attacks

🖥️ Cross‑platform – available for Windows, macOS, Linux

Perfect for: Whistleblowers, activists, journalists, or anyone needing strong anonymity and freedom of expression.

Signal is a free, open-source messenger built around privacy-first principles. Every message and call is protected with state-of-the-art end-to-end encryption powered by the Signal Protocol.

Unlike mainstream apps, Signal has no ads, no trackers, and no corporate ownership—it’s run by an independent nonprofit sustained by donations.

Key highlights:

🔒 Secure by default: Encryption for every message, every call, every time.

💬 Rich communication: Text, voice, video, GIFs, files, and even encrypted stickers.

👥 Group chats: Stay connected with family, friends, and coworkers without surveillance.

🌍 Cross-platform: Available on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux.

🕊️ Nonprofit model: Independent, community-supported, and never for sale

SimpleX Chat is a free, open-source messenger designed for maximum privacy. Unlike other messaging networks, SimpleX has no identifiers assigned to users — not even random ones. Key features:

🔒 End-to-end encryption with no usernames, phone numbers, or public keys

📱 Private connections via link or QR code for messaging and calls

🌐 Pairwise anonymous addresses hide communication metadata from servers and observers

🛡️ Option to connect via Tor for extra anonymity

💻 Cross-platform support: Android, iOS, and desktop

🌍 Community-driven, open-source transparency

Perfect for anyone who wants truly private communication without digital footprints.

Tox is a free, open‑source instant messaging platform designed for maximum privacy. Unlike mainstream services, it has no ads, no fees, and no corporate oversight. Key features:

• End‑to‑end encrypted messaging, voice, and video calls

• Decentralized, peer‑to‑peer architecture — no central servers

• Onion routing for enhanced anonymity

• Cross‑platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS)

• Community‑driven, transparent, and forever free

Perfect for: Anyone who wants secure communication without surveillance or hidden costs.

Quiet is a free, open‑source messaging app that eliminates the need for central servers. Messages sync directly between devices over Tor, giving you full control of your data and communications.

💬 Peer‑to‑peer messaging without servers

🛡️ Built‑in privacy with onion routing

🌐 Cross‑platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android)

⚡ Lightweight and community‑driven project

🚫 No reliance on Big Tech infrastructure

Perfect for: Users who want secure, private group or organizational messaging without depending on third‑party servers.

Speek! is a decentralized, serverless messaging application that prioritizes maximum privacy. It stores no metadata, requires no ID or phone number, and routes all messages via the Tor network for anonymity.

💬 End‑to‑end encrypted messaging with no central servers

🛡️ No metadata, IDs, or phone numbers required

🌐 Messages routed through the Tor onion network for anonymity

🔑 Users identified with public keys, shareable for contacts

💻 Cross‑platform support (Windows, Linux, macOS, Android)

⚡ Lightweight, fast, and privacy‑first design

🤝 Community‑driven, open‑source project

Perfect for: Users who want a secure, anonymous, and metadata‑free alternative to mainstream messaging apps.

Session is an end‑to‑end encrypted messenger that minimizes sensitive metadata, designed for people who want absolute privacy and freedom from surveillance.

📱 No phone numbers – accounts are completely anonymous

🔒 End‑to‑end encryption with onion routing network

🧭 Censorship‑resistant with no central point of failure

🛡️ No data collection – nothing to leak or breach

💻 Available on Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Windows

⚡ Lightweight, fast, and privacy‑focused

🤝 Community‑driven, open‑source project with active development

Perfect for: Users who want secure, anonymous messaging without metadata exposure.