Threema vs Wire
Two of the top three secure messaging apps, compared rule by rule on published facts.
In short
- Threema has 79 points and Wire 78, 1 apart on our secure messaging apps rules.
- Threema earns more on source and audits; Wire earns more on encryption, chats and calls, systems and price.
- Cost for one person: Threema $6/yr, Wire $0.
- Only Threema meets: independent audit since 2022 and public bug bounty.
- Only Wire meets: encrypted backups, disappearing messages and Windows works without the phone.
Threema79/100 #2 of 12
Best for: People who want a messenger with no phone number and no subscription.
Wire78/100 #3 of 12
Best for: People who want default encryption and open-source apps without handing over a phone number.
Points by group
| Group | Threema | Wire |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption of 20 | 12 | 16 |
| Source and audits of 26 | 26 | 12 |
| Sign-up and identity of 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Chats and calls of 14 | 7 | 12 |
| Systems of 16 | 12 | 14 |
| Price of 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Total | 79 | 78 |
Rule by rule
What each vendor publishes, and the points it earns. Sources are on each product page.
| Rule (points) | Threema | Wire |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encrypted by default (12) | Yes 12 | Yes 12 |
| Post-quantum key exchange (4) | Not published 0 | Not published 0 |
| Encrypted backups (4) | Not published 0 | Yes 4 |
| Open-source apps (8) | Yes 8 | Yes 8 |
| Independent audit since 2022 (10) | Yes 10 | Not published 0 |
| Public bug bounty (4) | Yes 4 | No 0 |
| Transparency report (4) | Yes 4 | Yes 4 |
| No phone number needed (12) | Yes 12 | Yes 12 |
| Contacts by username (4) | Yes 4 | Yes 4 |
| Disappearing messages (5) | Not published 0 | Yes 5 |
| Largest group chat (4) | 256 2 | 500 2 |
| Encrypted voice and video calls (5) | Yes 5 | Yes 5 |
| Apps (12) | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web 12 | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web 10 |
| Windows works without the phone (4) | No 0 | Yes 4 |
| Cost for one person (8) | $6/yr 6 | $0 8 |
Threema
Threema suits people who want a one-time purchase and an account that is not tied to a phone number. Its code is public, it publishes audit reports, and it lists government requests each year. The catch: the usual desktop app and web client need your phone online, and only a beta works without it. Group chats are capped at 256 members.
Wire
Wire suits people who want encryption by default, open-source apps and an account that does not need a phone number. The free plan covers chats and encrypted calls. The catch: Wire names no outside audit on its pages, has no bug bounty, and the pricing page focuses on teams rather than personal accounts.
Both products are scored by the same rules: how we score secure messaging apps.