EU Secure Messengers: Signal vs Element vs Threema vs Wire

Read time: 9 min | Last updated: January 2026

TL;DR: Signal for most people (free, excellent UX). Threema if you don’t want to share your phone number. Element if you need self-hosting or Matrix federation. Wire for business with compliance requirements.

WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted. So is Telegram (sort of). But encryption doesn’t mean privacy.

WhatsApp shares metadata with Meta. Telegram stores most chats unencrypted on their servers. Both are US companies or US-connected. Both fall under US jurisdiction.

If you want actual privacy, there are better options. Most of them come from Europe.

The Quick Comparison

	Signal	Threema	Element	Wire
Country	US (but open-source)	Switzerland	UK/Germany	Switzerland
Phone number required	Yes	No	No
Self-hosted option	No	No	Yes	Enterprise
Free tier	Yes (fully free)	€4.99 one-time	Yes	Yes (personal)
Group video calls	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Business version	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

Signal: The Gold Standard

US-based, but here’s why it’s on this list anyway.

What Makes It Different

Fully open-source. Non-profit. No business model based on your data. The encryption protocol is so good that WhatsApp licensed it.

What’s Good

Best-in-class encryption. Signal protocol is the industry standard. Even cryptographers use it.

Actually usable. Unlike most secure messengers, Signal doesn’t make you choose between security and convenience. It works like any modern chat app.

Free forever. Runs on donations. No premium tier, no business model that requires selling access to your data.

Disappearing messages. Set timers per-conversation. Messages auto-delete everywhere.

No metadata storage. Signal stores almost nothing. A court subpoena in 2016 returned: last connection date and account creation date. That’s it.

What’s Not

Requires phone number. Your phone number is your identity. Can’t create an anonymous account.

US jurisdiction. While Signal stores almost nothing, they’re still subject to US court orders.

No federation. You use Signal’s servers or you don’t use Signal.

Feature limitations. No usernames for discovery. No native desktop client that works without phone.

Best For

Personal conversations with friends and family
People switching from WhatsApp who want familiar UX
Anyone who wants security without friction

Threema: No Phone Number Required

Swiss company, founded 2012. Designed from the ground up for anonymity.

What Makes It Different

You don’t need a phone number or email to register. Generate an ID, start chatting. Complete anonymity if you want it.

What’s Good

True anonymity. Random 8-character ID is all you need. Optionally link email or phone for discoverability.

Swiss jurisdiction. Not US, not EU. Some of the strongest privacy laws in the world.

No data collection. Threema can’t identify users even if forced. They don’t have the data.

Paid model = aligned incentives. You pay once, they work for you. No ads, no data mining, no venture capital pressure to monetize.

Business version. Threema Work offers admin features, compliance tools, MDM integration.

What’s Not

€4.99 upfront. Not expensive, but it’s a barrier. Hard to convince others to pay for a chat app.

Smaller user base. Most people haven’t heard of it. Harder to get friends to switch.

Closed-source apps. The protocol is public, but apps aren’t fully open-source (though partially audited).

Best For

People who don’t want to share their phone number
Journalists, activists, anyone needing true anonymity
German-speaking markets where Threema is more popular

Element: The Self-Host Option

UK/Germany based, built on the Matrix protocol. Decentralized by design.

What Makes It Different

Matrix is a protocol, not a company. Element is just one client. You can host your own server, choose a different server, or use Element’s default.

What’s Good

Federation. Like email, Matrix servers talk to each other. You can message anyone on any Matrix server.

Self-hosting. Run your own server. Complete control over your data. No trust required.

Bridges. Connect Matrix to Slack, Discord, Telegram, WhatsApp. One app for everything.

Open-source everything. Clients, servers, protocol. Fully auditable.

Rich features. Threads, spaces (like Discord servers), unlimited history, file sharing.

What’s Not

Complex setup. Self-hosting requires technical knowledge. Default servers work, but defeats some benefits.

Less polished. Matrix ecosystem moves fast. Apps can feel rougher than Signal or Threema.

Performance issues. Large rooms can be slow. Syncing takes time.

UX learning curve. Spaces, rooms, Matrix IDs. More concepts to learn than simple messengers.

Best For

Organizations wanting self-hosted chat
Tech-savvy users who want control
Teams already using Discord/Slack wanting open alternative
Anyone who needs bridges to other platforms

Wire: Business-Grade Security

Swiss company, founded 2012. Built for enterprises who need secure communication.

What Makes It Different

Enterprise focus from the start. Designed for compliance, admin control, and business workflows.

What’s Good

Business-ready. Admin console, SSO, guest access, compliance exports. Built for regulated industries.

Cross-platform. Desktop, mobile, browser. Works everywhere.

No phone number needed. Register with email alone.

Audio/video quality. Originally founded by Skype co-founders. Communication quality is excellent.

Open-source clients. Apps are fully auditable.

What’s Not

Business pricing. Free personal tier exists, but company focus means features go to paid tiers first.

Smaller user base. Enterprise focus means fewer casual users.

Mixed history. Company has changed ownership multiple times. Some privacy advocates are cautious.

Login required. Unlike Signal, you can’t just use phone number. Email account needed.

Best For

Businesses needing compliant secure chat
Teams that need video conferencing built-in
Organizations with IT admin requirements

The Privacy Comparison

Feature	Signal	Threema	Element	Wire
End-to-end encryption	Yes (default)	Yes (default)	Yes (default)	Yes (default)
Metadata stored	Minimal	Minimal	Depends on server	Minimal
Open-source	Fully	Partially	Fully	Clients only
Anonymous signup	No	Yes	Yes	No
Self-hosted option	No	No	Yes	Enterprise

Migration Reality Check

Switching messengers is hard. Your contacts need to switch too.

Practical Approach

Install alongside WhatsApp. Don’t delete anything yet.
Start with close contacts. Ask 5-10 people to try it.
Use for new groups. Create family or project groups on new platform.
Gradual transition. After 6 months, most conversations naturally moved.

What Usually Happens

You’ll probably end up with multiple messengers. That’s okay. Use Signal for close contacts, WhatsApp for the rest, Threema for anonymous needs.

The Metadata Question

Encryption protects content. Metadata is everything else.

What metadata reveals:

Who you talk to
When you talk
How often
Where you are

Signal stores almost none. Threema stores none. WhatsApp stores everything and shares it with Meta.

This matters more than message encryption. Intelligence agencies often care more about who you know than what you say.

My Recommendation

Choose Signal if:

You want the best balance of security and usability
You’re migrating friends and family from WhatsApp
You don’t mind sharing your phone number
You want something that just works

Choose Threema if:

You need anonymity (no phone number)
You’re in Germany/Switzerland (larger user base)
You’re willing to pay for aligned incentives
You’re a journalist or have specific privacy needs

Choose Element if:

You want to self-host or control your data completely
You need bridges to other platforms
You’re comfortable with technical complexity
Your organization needs custom infrastructure

Choose Wire if:

You’re a business needing secure team chat
You need admin controls and compliance features
Video conferencing quality is important
You want enterprise support

FAQ

Is Signal really US-based?

Yes, the Signal Foundation is in California. But they store almost nothing, everything is open-source, and encryption keys are client-side only. US jurisdiction matters less when there’s nothing to subpoena.

Why not Telegram?

Telegram is not end-to-end encrypted by default. Regular chats are stored on their servers in readable form. Only “Secret Chats” are encrypted, and those don’t work on desktop or sync across devices.

Is Threema worth paying for?

€4.99 once, forever, with no ads or data collection. Yes. The challenge is getting your contacts to also pay.

Can I use multiple messengers?

Yes, and you probably will. Most people use Signal for privacy-conscious contacts and WhatsApp for everyone else.

What about Matrix vs Element?

Matrix is the protocol. Element is an app that uses Matrix. You can use other Matrix apps like FluffyChat, Nheko, or SchildiChat with the same account.

Try Them

Signal: signal.org - Free, all platforms
Threema: threema.ch - €4.99 one-time
Element: element.io - Free, or self-host
Wire: wire.com - Free personal tier

See also:

Last updated: January 2026

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