Secret messaging apps let you keep private conversations truly private through end-to-end encryption and disappearing messages. Whether you need a dedicated private app or a hidden feature inside a mainstream messenger, the best secret messaging apps fall into two categories: apps built from the ground up for privacy and popular apps that added secret chat options.
Dedicated private messaging apps with disappearing messages
These apps were designed for privacy first. They encrypt everything by default and give you control over message lifespans. The top recommendation is Signal, which offers the clearest documentation for setting messages to vanish automatically.
Signal Private Messenger
Signal does not require logins or pins; it uses your existing mobile number and contact list. Signal lets you set disappearing messages for all new chats at once or for a single conversation. To apply a timer to every future chat, go to Signal Settings > Privacy > Default timer for new chats. For one specific chat, open that chat’s settings and tap Disappearing messages. On Android, press Save; on iOS, press Set. The timer can be turned Off or set to a custom time up to 4 weeks. The countdown starts only after the recipient reads the message, and the setting applies to everyone in the conversation. Signal supports iPhone, Android, and Desktop.
Dust
Dust automatically deletes message history after 24 hours. Dust allows unsending any message anytime and deletes messages from both sender and recipient phones.
CoverMe
CoverMe lets you password-protect any message thread and displays an empty vault screen when someone tries to hack into it.
Wickr Me
Wickr Me deletes timestamps, geotags, and other metadata along with the message, leaving no trace of any communications.
Pryvate Now Messenger
Pryvate Now Messenger uses RSA-4096 level encryption for both free and premium tiers. Pryvate Now Messenger's free version supports self-destructing instant messages; premium adds private calls.
Threema
Threema keeps chats off the radar of hackers and governments with end-to-end encryption. To hide a private chat, use the verified path: Settings > Privacy > Hide Private Chat. This hides the selected conversation from the main chat list, adding an extra layer of protection beyond encryption.
Mainstream apps with a secret chat feature
Popular apps have added private or self-destructing messaging options, so many users don’t need a separate download. These features are built into apps you may already use.
Facebook Messenger’s secret conversation
Facebook Messenger secret conversation activation path: Go to the person's profile, select 'Go to the secret conversation', then click the information icon (i) and select 'Disappearing messages' to choose a timer.
Instagram’s vanish mode
Instagram's vanish mode is activated by swiping up on the bottom of the thread; the chat room turns black when it is working.
Telegram’s secret chat
Telegram allows group chats exceeding 200,000 members. Telegram’s secret chats are end-to-end encrypted and device-specific. To start one, open a contact’s profile, tap the three-dot menu, and select Start Secret Chat. These chats do not sync across platforms; they remain only on the device where you began them.
WhatsApp’s disappearing messages
WhatsApp lets you activate disappearing messages for any chat. Open the target chat, tap the contact or group name, select Disappearing messages, and choose a timer. Messages will automatically delete after the set time.
Viber’s hidden chats
Viber lets you hide a specific chat thread and protect it with a PIN code. Viber hidden chats can also use Touch ID or Face ID as the point of access for iOS device users. Open the app, tap Chats, choose the chat you want to hide, tap Info from the three-dot icon (Android) or chat name (iOS), select Chat info, then tap Hide this chat and enter your PIN. Hidden chats stay invisible from the main chat list. Viber group chats cannot be hidden.
Secret messaging apps disguised as other tools
For users who want to keep the app itself a secret, some apps hide their true function behind a harmless-looking interface. This adds an extra layer of privacy by making the messaging app look like something else entirely.
Calculator Pro+ for Android
Calculator Pro+ disguises itself as a calculator to hide a private messaging inbox. You add someone as a “Private Contact,” and messages from that person are filtered away from your default SMS app into the Calculator Pro+ inbox. This keeps the app and its contents hidden in plain sight, perfect for protecting sensitive conversations like those involving text messaging and T-Mobile texts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use secret messaging apps for group chats?
Yes, Signal’s disappearing messages apply to both one-to-one chats and groups. Telegram’s secret chats are only for two people, but its regular chats offer end-to-end encryption in “Secret Chat” mode for pairs.
Do secret messaging apps work on multiple devices?
Signal syncs across iPhone, Android, and Desktop. Telegram’s secret chats are device-specific and do not sync. WhatsApp works on one phone at a time but can be used on linked desktop devices.
Are these apps free to use?
Signal is free. Telegram is free. WhatsApp is free. Threema costs a small one-time fee. Calculator Pro+ is free with optional in-app purchases.
Can I recover messages after they disappear?
No. Disappearing messages are permanently deleted from all devices once the timer expires. Signal does not store them on its servers.
Do these apps notify if someone takes a screenshot?
Signal does not notify about screenshots.
