Session

Most encrypted messengers still need your phone number to get started. Session skips that entirely. You create an account with a random Session ID and start chatting. No phone number, no email, no personal details handed over.

Your messages travel through three random nodes on a decentralized network using onion routing. Each node only knows the previous and next hop, never the full path. That means no single point in the network can link you to your conversation partner or read what you are saying.

Session runs on thousands of community-operated nodes spread across the globe instead of company-owned servers. If a node goes down, the network keeps working. There is no central database of users or messages for anyone to access or breach.

The app covers the basics well: one-on-one chats, group conversations, voice messages, and file attachments. It works on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. The entire codebase is open source, so anyone can inspect exactly how it works.

Worth knowing

Session started as an Australian project in 2018 and moved to a Swiss foundation in 2025. The onion routing adds a small delay compared to direct-connection messengers. Group chats have a size limit, and there are no voice or video calls yet. The user base is smaller than mainstream messengers, so you will likely need to invite your contacts yourself.