Nowadays, encryption is the top choice for anyone looking to download a new text messaging app. While security is important, the need for a phone number when you want to chat reduces privacy by that much. So, if you’re someone like me who’d rather show a custom username than your personal phone number, here some secret texting apps for mobile and desktops to keep your identity secret.
Secret Texting Apps
There are pros and cons of everything. While certain text messaging apps do not required you to enter your phone number for verification, this reduces accountability. People think they can get away with anything just because they are anonymous. Be responsible and use it sensibly.
1. Telos App with WhatsApp
WhatsApp recently saw a major backlash for forcing users to accept a new privacy policy where WhatsApp user data will be shared with Facebook. Keeping that aside, a lot of users will hardly make the permanent shift because of the features and the user base that WhatsApp enjoys. But did you know you can stay anonymous on WhatsApp as well?
Technically, you do need a phone number, but not yours. Confused? We can easily generate a random phone number using an app called Telos. You need an e-mail or Facebook ID but once you register for WhatsApp, you’re literally anonymous as you don’t need your number to create a WhatsApp account.
Get Telos app for Android | iOS
2. Telegram
Telegram is another alternative for Signal and WhatsApp if anonymity is on your mind. You do require a phone number to register for Telegram but not to chat. I’m talking about the username feature that allows users to search for anyone using their unique username. The best part about the username is that you can change it anytime you want.
If you’re not sure about switching to Telegram, learn more about what Telegram is and why everyone is adopting it.
To create a username, tap on the menu section on the top left corner of the screen. Now go to Settings, tap on Username and give a username of your choice. That’s it. The app is available on mobile and all desktop platforms.
Get Telegram
3. Element Secure Messenger
If you’re extremely serious about anonymity, Element is a must-try. Forget phone number, you don’t even need an e-mail ID to sign up. The secret texting app is open source and allows group chats. You can also use video or voice service without any limit which is great for users moving from WhatsApp.
The app makes use of Matrix’s open-source framework for decentralizing chats making it even more secure. Moreover, if you’re someone who is too sensitive about your conversations, you also have the option to self-host Element. These upgrades start from $2/month with a 30-day free trial.
4. Discord
It’s very unusual to see a community chat app on this list, but with increasing users, it has become a platform for personal chats as well. Similar to Telegram’s username feature, you can generate one on Discord too.
In addition, you can play songs from Spotify, add bots and build communities without giving away your phone number or identity. Discord is particularly popular with gamers.
Get Discord
5. Session Private Messenger
Another open-source secret text messaging app that doesn’t require your phone number or e-mail ID. Each user is assigned a unique key which is randomly generated when you sign up. Moreover, you can choose any unique username that won’t reveal your identity. You can easily start a chat and add contacts using a special Session ID.
Another interesting feature is the conversation length limit. It’s similar to Slack’s 10,000 message limit and allows you to delete messages automatically after a limit. The only drawback for most of you (coming from WhatsApp) will be the missing voice and video calling feature.
6. Bridgefy – Offline Messaging
We have a long list of chat apps that require you to have an active internet connection. But what if you wish for something that’s secure, offline, and would work in a crowd as well? This is where Bridgefy comes in.
It uses Bluetooth and builds a network with other Bridgefy users up to 330ft. You can talk to friends in private chats and even form a group using the broadcast feature. Two use case scenarios would be using the app with friends in a concert with a poor network or in a public protest with network curbs.
Get Bridgefy – Offline Messaging
Closing Remarks: Secret Texting Apps
So these were the best apps for secret texting whether you’re on mobile or desktop. If you’re concerned about encryption and don’t have any problem sharing your phone number, see how Signal fares when compared to WhatsApp.
Also Read: 10 Best Anonymous Chat Apps
