Looking for a Free and Simple Instant-Messaging App, That Works on Android and iPhone, and Doesn't Have Intrusive Permissions

Russ on 24/06/2023 - 14:49
Last edited 24/06/2023 - 22:29

Edit: I now have several options that do everything I asked for, thanks everyone!

The options are:
Slack
Session - Private Messenger
SimpleX Chat
Linphone

I'm trying to find a free and SIMPLE instant messaging app, just for text communication between family members and relatives, that works via WiFi or mobile data, and works on Android and Apple devices.

I don't mind if the app has voice and video messaging as an option, as long as they are easy to ignore when I just want to send a text IM.

I DON'T want an app with intrusive permissions and non-free parts like:

  • Close other apps (Viber)
  • Change network connectivity (Viber, Skype)
  • Connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi (Skype)
  • Location (WhatsApp Messenger, Signal, Telegram, Zoom)
  • Directly call phone numbers (Skype, Signal, Telegram, Zoom)
  • In-app purchases (Viber, Telegram, Zoom)
  • Send SMS messages (WhatsApp Messenger, Signal)

What the App MUST have:

  • Free to install, free to use
  • Works on Android phones and tablets
  • Works on iPhone and iPad
  • Can use WiFi (so it's usable on iPads and Android tablets that don't have mobile data)
  • Can use Mobile Data when mobile data is enabled
  • Can send text instant messages
  • Privacy, I see some apps say they share messages with third parties.

Preferably I'd like to avoid in-App advertising too, and spam from the provider.

Surely there are still simple messaging apps that just do basic text messaging? I just can't find anything simple when looking through the Google Play Store. Probably I'm using the wrong search terms, or Google is only showing me sponsored results. I've also tried searching the internet, and keep finding five-year-old articles recommending apps that don't exist anymore.

Anyone know a suitable app?

Mobile

Comments

    • Chandler on 26/06/2023 - 06:52

      your data should be safe if you are using the right app

      Safe… for a time. Utilising a third-party relay means they have a copy of your encrypted message that they can hack away at for all time. The encryption will eventually get broken, and your messages made readable.

      Not saying they will do this, but they can.

      • Russ on 27/06/2023 - 00:52
        -1

        I've always wondered if there's a way around this. Maybe send two or more encrypted messages, saying different things. Only one of them is correct, the other messages are misleading. The correct one has the encryption the receiver is expecting, the other messages won't decrypt for the receiver, but can be decrypted by anyone who intercepts your messages.

        • whyisave on 27/06/2023 - 02:41

          there's a way around this.

          Invent a language, that only you & your users will know.
          No one will understand it, even in plain-sight !

        • Chandler on 27/06/2023 - 12:16

          When we get to this level of what I'll dub as "crypto-paranoia" (not implying you are paranoid), I generally point people to XKCD # 538 - Security.

  • Chandler on 26/06/2023 - 07:00
    +1

    Location (WhatsApp Messenger, Signal, Telegram, Zoom)

    Easily blockable, and if you're that concerned about privacy you shouldn't be using Android or iOS - especially Android. On the 'droids you should roll a custom ROM like Graphene, Calyx or Lineage.

    Directly call phone numbers (Skype, Signal, Telegram, Zoom)
    …
    Send SMS messages (WhatsApp Messenger, Signal)

    So you want a messaging app that can't use one of the most common messaging protocols in the world, and can't give you a button to easily call the contact you've been messaging.

    Like others have said, if you've got such prescriptive demands, consider building your own - then at least you know you can trust it.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 26/06/2023 - 08:02
    +3

    All of OP's concerns are irrelevant unless they intend to install custom ROMs on all their family's phones and and lock those down to use nothing but a VPN and the messenger app of choice.

    Privacy is important, sure, but no one gives a shit if your Aunt messages your family asking if anyone knows where her TV remote is.

  • MrThing on 26/06/2023 - 08:43
    +2

    Just get whatsapp and fukn relax brah

    Xi jing ping and his troll farm dont care about where your mum hid your undies

    • idonotknowwhy on 26/06/2023 - 09:53
      +2

      where your mum hid your undies

      Wait why is she hiding his undies??

  • alwaysroombas on 26/06/2023 - 09:07
    +1

    I am not a tech kinda guy. But I know a few healthcare worker that use Signal Messanger…. could it be an option? https://signal.org/en/

    • kaleidoscope on 26/06/2023 - 10:11

      op has a big list of don’t where they mention signal twice in that list

      DON'T want an app with intrusive permissions and non-free parts like:

      Close other apps (Viber)
      Change network connectivity (Viber, Skype)
      Connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi (Skype)
      Location (WhatsApp Messenger, Signal, Telegram, Zoom)
      Directly call phone numbers (Skype, Signal, Telegram, Zoom)
      In-app purchases (Viber, Telegram, Zoom)
      Send SMS messages (WhatsApp Messenger, Signal)

      • Fuzzy Toaster on 26/06/2023 - 11:00
        +2

        He's also wrong about it needing those.

        • kaleidoscope on 26/06/2023 - 11:17
          +1

          I know… But… the list!

  • kaleidoscope on 26/06/2023 - 09:51

    Better make your own with that kind of bucket list. Good luck

  • xrayed giraffe on 26/06/2023 - 09:57
    +7

    Smells of ASIO Staff doing some research for his next big presentation on terrorism communication modes. Must have forgotten to do his homework

  • Fuzzy Toaster on 26/06/2023 - 11:02
    +3

    Signal doesn't need any of those permissions, it works quite happily without (and they discontinued SMS support awhile ago). However you do need a phone number for an account so that rules out your 'wifi only devices' requirement. They keep saying they're working on removing the phone number thing but we haven't seen it yet.

  • SwampCrack on 26/06/2023 - 15:44
    +2

    I've heard AN0M is really good.

  • Droz on 26/06/2023 - 16:40
    +3

    Sounds a little like you might not quite understand how this stuff works…

    You can go here for an (admittedly old) review of apps and security from EFF.org

    https://www.eff.org/pages/secure-messaging-scorecard

    Signal is the winner for privacy and everything.

    Don't give apps permissions on Android that they don't need.

    A newer version - https://ssd.eff.org/module-categories/tool-guides

    • Russ on 26/06/2023 - 22:31
      +2

      Thanks, I found both of those pages while surfing, and I was surprised/disappointed that the EFF wasn't keeping them up to date.

      Don't give apps permissions on Android that they don't need.

      I agree, but Google/Android don't make it easy. Here's what I see when I use settings to look at the permissions of Chrome: https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/58622/104681/screensho…

      That's everything, only five permissions are visible. If I believe this list, Chrome doesn't use "Internet" permission!

      When I use a third-party app to view the permissions, Chrome has 45 permissions, here's a sample: https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/58622/104685/screensho…

      Chrome was preinstalled, but it's no different for apps from the app store. DuckDuckGo Browser shows four permissions in settings, 19 in the third-party app.

      • [Deactivated] on 27/06/2023 - 10:19

        First thing for you is switch from Google to Apple. Google is monster Ad company, uses your data for profit and stock Android is not open source. Once done, just use iOS Messages/Facetime.

  • hasher22 on 26/06/2023 - 17:06

    The first app that came to mind is whatsapp and that's off your list? That is the most basic and simple app to use and it has message encryption.

  • StalkingIbis on 26/06/2023 - 17:15
    +1

    signal

  • closey on 26/06/2023 - 20:04

    Briar for the super paranoid also waiting for the government to turn off the internet

  • Black Brown Blue on 26/06/2023 - 21:42

    Messaging, WhatsApp, Messenger
    They work 10/10
    Every app out their will make profit some way, nothing is free in this world.
    App has to pay for their company's expenses, employees, servers, data storage, cloud storage, etc - can you contribute this?

  • Subere on 26/06/2023 - 22:07
    +1

    WhatsApp acts like it's encrypted but then reads your messages and uses it for advertising. Have seen it first hand where something is mentioned in a group chat and then suddenly it appears in Instagram ads or suggestions. Good ole Zuck.

  • d86 on 26/06/2023 - 22:18
    -1

    MIRC

  • Russ on 26/06/2023 - 23:15
    +2

    OP here, posting a follow-up.

    Many people who replied have over-interpreted what I was asking for. For example, for privacy, I just want something with a reasonable privacy policy, that don't share everything with multiple other companies. Many people apparently thought I wanted end-to-end encryption, when I didn't ask for that.

    Could I have explained myself better? Undoubtedly. But that would require a longer explanation, and as is visible from many of the replies, a lot of people didn't read even half of my post, as they recommended apps that I had explained were unsuitable. And they're still making unsuitable recommendations, two days after I said I had found suitable apps.

    Why don't I want those permissions? Well, the ones that can cost money are the most problematic. My parents-in-law go overseas sometimes, are elderly, and barely know how to use their smartphones. I'd like to give them an app and say "just use this when overseas", and not have to worry about them trying random things that cause in-app purchases or activate roaming on their phone. Even better if we use it as our regular communications method, so they're familiar with using the app.

    Other permissions, such as "Change network connectivity", could cause problems. As they're going overseas, I can disable roaming data by changing the APN. I don't want an app that tries to turn on mobile data, it'll just result in nothing transmitted, and cause delay and confusion.

    Not wanting "location" permission? Well, that's just me. I've seen flashlight apps that want location and internet permissions, and there's no way I'm installing one of those. An instant messenger app, for use as a replacement for SMS messaging, won't need location permission, so perhaps naively I asked for an app without that permission.

    Yes, I do use free email services - Yahoo in particular. But I access it through an email client on my phone, and I've seen no evidence that any of my emails have influenced any of the ads I see when browsing the internet, so I don't know if they make any money off me. I also use Gmail, and Google do make a little money from me, as I occasionally click on a sponsored link in a Google search, and buy something.

    The three apps I eventually found do apparently have end-to-end encryption, and although it's not something I asked for, it looks like that's the only way to get a simple, worry-free app.

    • bobolo on 27/06/2023 - 09:58

      Well you could have just included this in your initial post. Problem solved.

      And whoever you think you're hiding from, most likely already has all your details. GL

      • resisting the urge on 27/06/2023 - 12:55

        I feel for all those trying to help.

        As the apps and networks aren't the only problem.

        There is the device, and all the (ab)users, too.

  • bobolo on 27/06/2023 - 00:42
    +1

    Telepathy

    Same results since whoever you try to communicate to won't respond anyway

  • jsparky77 on 27/06/2023 - 09:21

    IDK what it's like on Iphone, but I have Whatsapp on android and have location and SMS permissions blocked. It's a non-issue.

    TBH the engineer in me loves the requirements driven approach you have drawn up but you have just executed the process wrong and struck out apps after too-brief research.

  • xdigger on 27/06/2023 - 12:22
    +1

    Are you a drug dealer?

  • ferguson on 27/06/2023 - 20:09

    The answer is simple. Stripper-gram.

    They have nothing left to hide.

  • Mibo on 27/06/2023 - 23:35
    +1

    Have you looked at Element?
    There are other clients available if the element app doesn't meet your requirements.
    You can host your own server or use a free public server.

  • djsweet on 28/06/2023 - 10:08

    Signal can work in a mode that doesn't integrate with your phone book. You do need a phone number to activate it though.

  • TheFreaK on 28/06/2023 - 10:46
    +1

    I've never seen someone be so privacy conscious whilst also being willing to forfeit all their data

  • groundward on 29/06/2023 - 21:55

    Wechat

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