WhatsApp / Bigmouse108 / Getty

Since Facebook bought WhatsApp in 2014, people shunning Facebook could comfort themselves with the thought that their favourite messaging app wasn’t funnelling their information back to the Facebook mothership.

Now with the news that Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp will be merged to allow users to send messages between the apps, getting away from Mark Zuckerberg’s reach just became that little bit trickier. Fortunately, there are a handful of alternative messaging apps out there if you value your privacy more than convenience. Here’s our pick of the best.


Signal

Signal can do pretty much everything that WhatsApp can. It uses your phone’s data connection to send encrypted messages – or voice notes, images or videos – to individuals and groups. As with WhatsApp, Signal also lets you make one-to-one voice and video calls.

The app’s end-to-end encryption means any message sent is turned into indecipherable code until it reaches the receiver's phone – removing the chance for a third-party to intercept it on the way. Based on free and open-source software, the encrypted messenger has also been frequently favoured by the NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

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Because Signal’s underlying code is open-source, it has been scrutinised by security and privacy experts. The encryption tech is also used by Facebook and Google within their messaging apps.

In February 2018, WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton – who left Facebook in September 2017 – announced Signal would be expanded to have its own Foundation, a nonprofit with the aim of making private communication accessible to everyone.


Signal is our recommended encrypted messenger of choice, but it you’re after a few more options, keep reading. iOS | Android

Viber

Originally developed by the Israeli company Viber Media, the cross-platform messaging app was bought by the Japanese firm Rakuten in 2014. End-to-end encryption means that one-on-one messages, group messages and media sharing are only stored on individual’s devices and are not held in central Viber servers. The app is popular in Russia, where it has a reported 100 million users. iOS | Android

Telegram

In March 2018, Telegram reached 200m monthly active users, making it one of the most popular messaging apps outside of China. First released in August 2013 by the Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov, Telegram is popular in countries such as Iran and Russia where governments have attempted to ban it several times.

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Although it’s a popular app in parts of the world where government surveillance and censorship is rife, Telegram’s security protocols have been criticised. iOS | Android


Line

Launched in Japan in 2011, Line is popular in Asia. Although initial versions of the app didn’t include default end-to-end encryption, its owners turned this function on for all messages, group chats, voice and video calls in August 2016. Despite this, in China Line acts in concord with the Chinese government, banning users from sending or receiving words that appear on a list provided by Chinese officials. Viber servers. iOS | Android

Kik

Unlike most encrypted messengers, Kik allows users to sign up without providing a telephone number, helping preserve its users anonymity. The app allows users – identified only by their usernames – to exchange messages, video and voice calls.

This anonymity has also led to serious problems. The app has frequently been criticised for allowing the spread of child abuse images while also raising concern about minor’s use of the messenger. Viber servers. iOS | Android

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