What is ChatSecure used for?

ChatSecure is a free, open-source encrypted XMPP chat client for iOS, with OTR and OMEMO encryption and optional Tor connectivity for private messaging. It is a good fit for private messaging over XMPP on iOS and encrypted chat with Tor-routed connections.

Is ChatSecure open source?

Yes. ChatSecure is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at ChatSecure/ChatSecure-iOS and is written mainly in Objective-C.

Yes. ChatSecure is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.

Can I self-host ChatSecure?

Yes. ChatSecure can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.

What is ChatSecure an alternative to?

ChatSecure is an open-source alternative to WhatsApp and Signal. Other open-source alternatives to WhatsApp include SimpleX Chat, Element Android and Session.

Is ChatSecure actively maintained?

The most recent commit to ChatSecure was on 1 August 2024, and the latest release is v5.0.2, published on 16 April 2020. The project has 3.2k stars on GitHub.

ChatSecure: open-source alternative to WhatsApp, Signal

About ChatSecure

ChatSecure is a messaging client for iOS that uses the open XMPP protocol and focuses on encrypted communication. It is aimed at privacy-conscious users and developers who want a free, inspectable alternative to closed messaging apps, with the ability to connect to any XMPP-compatible chat service rather than a single vendor's network.

It integrates OTR and OMEMO encrypted messaging, the same protocols used by other secure clients such as Conversations on Android and Dino on desktop, and offers optional integrated support for routing connections over the Tor network for additional anonymity. The app is free to download, since the project considers privacy tools something everyone should be able to access regardless of ability to pay, and development is supported through GitHub Sponsors and PayPal donations.

The README notes that although the code is open source, redistributing it in closed-source commercial products on the App Store requires contacting the maintainers first, with an exception process for other open-source projects. ChatSecure is written in Objective-C and Swift, built with CocoaPods, and released under a license listed as Other, so check the license file before reuse.

Key features

OTR and OMEMO encrypted XMPP messaging
Optional Tor network connectivity
Free download for all users
Interoperable with other OMEMO/OTR clients
SQLCipher-backed encrypted local storage

Good fit for

→Private messaging over XMPP on iOS
→Encrypted chat with Tor-routed connections

Built with: Objective-C; Swift
Tags: encryption; xmpp; messaging; ios; privacy; omemo; otr; tor

ChatSecure: questions and answers

What is ChatSecure used for?: ChatSecure is a free, open-source encrypted XMPP chat client for iOS, with OTR and OMEMO encryption and optional Tor connectivity for private messaging. It is a good fit for private messaging over XMPP on iOS and encrypted chat with Tor-routed connections.
Is ChatSecure open source?: Yes. ChatSecure is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at ChatSecure/ChatSecure-iOS and is written mainly in Objective-C.
Is ChatSecure free?: Yes. ChatSecure is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.
Can I self-host ChatSecure?: Yes. ChatSecure can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What is ChatSecure an alternative to?: ChatSecure is an open-source alternative to WhatsApp and Signal. Other open-source alternatives to WhatsApp include SimpleX Chat, Element Android and Session.
Is ChatSecure actively maintained?: The most recent commit to ChatSecure was on 1 August 2024, and the latest release is v5.0.2, published on 16 April 2020. The project has 3.2k stars on GitHub.