# Session - Private Messenger

> Privacy you can trust

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1470168868](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1470168868)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id1470168868`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** The Loki Project
- **Category:** Social Networking
- **Rating:** 4.40 / 5 (5,046 ratings)
- **Version:** 2.15.4
- **Last updated:** 2026-07-29
- **First published:** 2020-02-06
- **Size:** 96 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-24
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/session-private-messenger/id1470168868)
- **Website:** [https://getsession.org/](https://getsession.org/)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://getsession.org/privacy-policy/](https://getsession.org/privacy-policy/)

## Description

Session is a private messenger built on a decentralized network of user-operated servers worldwide. With no central servers, it can’t leak or sell your data. Private routing and end-to-end encryption keep messages secure, and there are no trackers or metadata to expose who you talk to.

Key features include anonymous account creation (no phone or email), IP address protection, private group chats for up to 100 people, secure attachments, and a fully open-source codebase. It’s ad-free and stewarded by the Swiss-based Session Foundation.

## Rankings

- #26,581 — Overall
- #1 — section
- #1 — session
- #18 — message
- #21 — privacy
- #34 — messenger

## Review summary

Users praise Session for strong privacy and security, no-phone-number onboarding, and a simple, clean interface. Repeated concerns center on funding/shutdown risk, performance bugs (lag, hangs), notification glitches, and occasional reliability issues (avatar, search, calls). Some users also wish for features like channels. Overall, privacy and ease of use are the main positives, while reliability and funding stability are the main drawbacks.

### Pros

- Strong privacy and security focus, with users noting high privacy compared to alternatives.
- Works without a phone number or SIM and can be used with just an email, enabling easy onboarding.
- Easy-to-use, clean, simple interface that many users find intuitive.
- Supports cross-platform use without requiring a traditional phone number, appealing to users who don’t have a phone.

### Cons

- Funding issues raise concerns about potential shutdown or sustainability of the app.
- Frequent performance problems, including lag and hanging when sending messages.
- Notification glitches with false or phantom alerts.
- Reliability bugs (e.g., avatar changes failing, search loading issues, occasional call problems).

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1470168868)
