Reviews of ChatSecure Messenger

By: Chris Ballinger App

List of user reviews and ratings for ChatSecure Messenger

Total ratings

4.20 (Rating count: 282)

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Review summary

ChatSecure Messenger is lauded for its XMPP/Jabber support with strong encryption (OMEMO, OTR) and its privacy-first, free model that doesn't require a phone number, with an easy-to-use interface. However, users report serious reliability problems: frequent freezes/crashes, spinning wheels, and inconsistent message delivery; notification background delays; and a controversial removal of Tor support. Some also encounter signup barriers and missing media messaging (no image/GIF sending).

Pros

Strong XMPP/Jabber support with OMEMO and OTR encryption
Privacy-focused and free; does not require a phone number
Easy to use with a simple interface
OMEMO support on iOS (unique pro)

Cons

Tor support removed; privacy feature previously offered
Unreliable push notifications and message delivery; background refresh issues
Signup barriers or unclear pricing; cannot create an account
Stability problems: freezes, crashes, spinning wheel
Missing media messaging: cannot send image messages or GIFs

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 4.40

All time rating average: 4.20

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30% (15)

Date	Author	Comment
2026-04-08	Ou*****	💕
💕
2024-07-27	pi*****	Great app
Great app
2024-07-19	Mi*****	Easy to use. Allows for OTR. Used it for years.
Easy to use. Allows for OTR. Used it for years.
2022-10-02	i9*****	After gather some info on this app, I decided to give it a try instead of always secured signal. Wondering how the calls would sound considering different protocols being used.
After gather some info on this app, I decided to give it a try instead of always secured signal. Wondering how the calls would sound considering different protocols being used.
2022-08-01	De*****	Good
Good
2022-07-29	mi*****	🫶
🫶
2022-07-25	De*****	XMPP/Jabber with it without security
XMPP/Jabber with it without security
2021-12-28	Co*****	Great. Free. Private. The trifecta.
Great. Free. Private. The trifecta.
2021-10-06	js*****	Great xmpp/jabber app. Only complaint is that someone’s notifications aren’t sent until the app is loaded. Please work on the background refresh so notifications always come in when a new message arrives
Great xmpp/jabber app. Only complaint is that someone’s notifications aren’t sent until the app is loaded. Please work on the background refresh so notifications always come in when a new message arrives
2021-09-20	Bu*****	Messages from one of my contacts completely fails to receive. Nothing in my chat history, no notification. He uses an iPhone and I'm on a MacBook Air M1. Inbound messages from ANY contact fail to show up when I resume if my laptop is off/sleeping. I never had this problem with Gajim (Windows & Linux) or ChatSecure (Android). I'm having some of the same problems with Monal, but not as consistently. I'm convinced that there are no XMPP apps for Mac that actually work 100%.
Messages from one of my contacts completely fails to receive. Nothing in my chat history, no notification. He uses an iPhone and I'm on a MacBook Air M1. Inbound messages from ANY contact fail to show up when I resume if my laptop is off/sleeping. I never had this problem with Gajim (Windows & Linux) or ChatSecure (Android). I'm having some of the same problems with Monal, but not as consistently. I'm convinced that there are no XMPP apps for Mac that actually work 100%.