---
title: Wire
canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/wire/
category: Secure Messaging Apps
points: 78
rank: 3 of 12
facts_checked: 2026-10-08
---

# Wire

Open-source messenger with end-to-end encryption always on, a free plan and email sign-up.

78 points out of 100. #3 of 12 secure messaging apps. Vendor: Wire Swiss GmbH. Website: https://wire.com/

- End-to-end encryption is always on and cannot be switched off [3].
- A free plan is listed at no cost, with up to 8 devices per account [1].
- Apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, plus a web app; the Linux build is labelled experimental [2].
- The apps are open source under GPL-3.0 on GitHub [5].
- The vendor publishes government-request figures through 2025 [6].

Verdict: Wire suits people who want encryption by default, open-source apps and an account that does not need a phone number [3][5][9]. The free plan covers chats and encrypted calls [1][3]. 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 [1][7][11]. Best for: People who want default encryption and open-source apps without handing over a phone number.

## Points

| Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Encryption | End-to-end encrypted by default | Yes | 12/12 | Wire says end-to-end encryption is always enabled by default and cannot be disabled; it covers messages, calls and files [3]. |
| Encryption | Post-quantum key exchange | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's MLS page [8]; it says only that newer post-quantum algorithms can be swapped in later. |
| Encryption | Encrypted backups | Yes | 4/4 | Whitepaper (July 2021): iOS and Android backups are encrypted with XChaCha20-Poly1305, using a key derived from a password you choose [9]. |
| Source and audits | Open-source apps | Yes | 8/8 | Android, iOS, web and desktop app repositories on GitHub are all GPL-3.0 [5]. |
| Source and audits | Independent audit since 2022 | Not published | 0/10 | Not published on the vendor's security page [3]. Its whitepaper page says code is "frequently independently audited" but names no firm or date [11]. |
| Source and audits | Public bug bounty | No | 0/4 | The vulnerability reporting page says Wire has no bug bounty programme in place yet [7]. |
| Source and audits | Transparency report | Yes | 4/4 | The transparency report lists request counts by year, 2014 to 2025 [6]. |
| Sign-up and identity | No phone number needed | Yes | 12/12 | Whitepaper (July 2021) describes registration with a profile name and email address, as an alternative to a phone number [9]. |
| Sign-up and identity | Contacts by username | Yes | 4/4 | Whitepaper (July 2021): people can be found by name or by username [10]. |
| Chats and calls | Disappearing messages | Yes | 5/5 | Timers remove texts, files and other messages in one-to-one and group chats [4]. |
| Chats and calls | Largest group chat | 500 | 2/4 | Pricing table lists 500 for the free plan and 2,000 for the business plans with MLS; the free-plan figure is used [1]. |
| Chats and calls | Encrypted voice and video calls | Yes | 5/5 | One-to-one calls use SRTP and conference calls use Insertable Streams, both end-to-end encrypted by default [3]. |
| Systems | Apps | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web | 10/12 | Download page lists these as apps or web app. Linux is labelled community-supported and experimental, so not counted [2]. |
| Systems | Windows works without the phone | Yes | 4/4 | Accounts are created with an email address, not linked to a phone, so the desktop and web apps run on their own [9]. |
| Price | Cost for one person | $0 | 8/8 | Pricing page lists Wire for Free at no cost and shows no fee for personal accounts [1]. |

## Plans

| Plan | Price | Per month (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Wire for Free | Free [1] | $0 |
| SMB | €7.45/person/month, billed yearly [1] | - |

The pricing page links personal accounts to the app download and shows no fee for them [1]. The SMB plan is priced in euros and is a business plan [1].

## Strengths

- Encryption is on by default for messages, files and calls, and cannot be disabled [3].
- Timed self-deleting messages work in one-to-one and group chats [4].
- Accounts can be created with an email address, so no phone number is needed [9].
- Publishes a transparency report with request counts for each year up to 2025 [6].

## Limits

- No outside audit is named on its security pages; it says only that code is "frequently independently audited" [3][11].
- Wire states it has no bug bounty programme yet [7].
- The Linux app is labelled community-supported and experimental [2].
- Post-quantum key exchange is not documented; the MLS page says only that newer algorithms can be swapped in later [8].

## Vendor claims (not scored)

- Wire says its source code is fully transparent and 100% open source [3].
- Wire says it is the only platform fully secured by MLS [3].

## Sources

1. [Wire pricing](https://wire.com/en/pricing), Wire, accessed 2026-10-08
2. [Download Wire](https://wire.com/en/download), Wire, accessed 2026-10-08
3. [Wire security](https://wire.com/en/security), Wire, accessed 2026-10-08
4. [Wire features](https://wire.com/en/features), Wire, accessed 2026-10-08
5. [wireapp on GitHub](https://github.com/wireapp), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08
6. [Wire transparency report](https://wire.com/en/transparency-report), Wire, accessed 2026-10-08
7. [Wire vulnerability reporting](https://wire.com/en/vulnerability-reporting), Wire, accessed 2026-10-08
8. [Messaging Layer Security](https://wire.com/en/messaging-layer-security), Wire, accessed 2026-10-08
9. [Wire Security Whitepaper (July 19, 2021)](https://wire-docs.wire.com/download/Wire+Security+Whitepaper.pdf), Wire, accessed 2026-10-08
10. [Wire Privacy Whitepaper (July 19, 2021)](https://wire-docs.wire.com/download/Wire+Privacy+Whitepaper.pdf), Wire, accessed 2026-10-08
11. [Wire security whitepaper](https://start.wire.com/wire-security-whitepaper), Wire, accessed 2026-10-08