I use Signal, and it definitely seems like the most privacy-friendly messaging app, but I'm not a fan of MobileCoin, the cryptocurrency its founder started, and I really don't like that Signal supports MobileCoin for in-app payments. I feel a little conflicted, because I don't know of a better alternative out there.
Matrix/Element isn't into crypto, but it leaks metadata and surveillance basically relies mainly on metadata anyway. Still, it's my favorite alternative despite the metadata thing because it's not sus and you don't need to give your phone number for it
Session is into crypto, but doesn't require a phone number and maybe doesn't leak metadata
Briar is limited
Signal has the best user experience out of all of them
I use Signal, and it definitely seems like the most privacy-friendly messaging app, but I'm not a fan of MobileCoin, the cryptocurrency its founder started, and I really don't like that Signal supports MobileCoin for in-app payments. I feel a little conflicted, because I don't know of a better alternative out there.
Matrix/Element isn't into crypto, but it leaks metadata and surveillance basically relies mainly on metadata anyway. Still, it's my favorite alternative despite the metadata thing because it's not sus and you don't need to give your phone number for it
Session is into crypto, but doesn't require a phone number and maybe doesn't leak metadata
Briar is limited
Signal has the best user experience out of all of them