What each app's servers can see or keep, side by side. Last checked: 11 October 2026.
| App | E2EE on by default | What the server can hold | Phone number or account | Cloud backups | Reporting access | Open source | Disappearing messages | Screenshot blocking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinder (today) | Not applicable: single-device demo, nothing is sent | Nothing. There are no Cinder servers | No account, no phone number | None. No export or backup at all | None (no server) | Not yet published | Yes (Once, 10s, 1m timers) | Yes, inside the app (Android) |
| Cinder (planned) | Yes planned | Sealed blobs only, deleted on delivery planned | No account planned | None. A lost phone means lost messages | Planned: user chooses to forward a message they received | Planned | Yes | Yes, inside the app |
| Yes[9] | Usage, device and connection data incl. IP[10] | Phone number | Optional E2EE backup; off by default[9] | Reporting sends up to the last 5 messages to WhatsApp[11] | No | Optional | Not covered here | |
| Signal | Yes[6] | Account creation date and last connection date[6] | Phone number to register | Optional E2EE Secure Backups[7] | Not covered here | Yes | Optional | Optional on Android (Screen Security)[8] |
| Telegram (cloud chats, the default) | No[3] | Messages and media stored on Telegram servers[3]; may disclose IP and phone number on valid orders[5] | Phone number | Chats live in Telegram's cloud[3] | Not covered here | Apps yes, server no | Optional | No |
| Telegram (secret chats) | Yes, but must be started manually, 1:1[3][4] | Not stored on servers[3] | Phone number | Not synced; this device only[4] | Not covered here | Apps yes, server no | Yes (self-destruct timers)[4] | Not covered here |
| iMessage | Yes[1] | Messages in iCloud is E2EE only if iCloud Backup is off[2] | Apple Account | iCloud Backup not E2EE in the UK: ADP withdrawn for new UK users[1] | Not covered here | No | No (unsend/edit only) | No |
| Facebook Messenger | Yes for personal chats (rolled out from Dec 2023)[12] | Encrypted chat history in 'secure storage' on Meta servers, PIN-protected[13] | Facebook/Meta account | Secure storage (E2EE)[13] | You can report messages to Meta[12] | No | Yes[12] | No |
| Snapchat | E2EE for text chats not stated in Snap's privacy pages[14] | Snaps and Chats deleted by default after viewing/expiry[15] | Snapchat account | Not covered here; My Eyes Only is password-encrypted[14] | Not covered here | No | Yes, by default[15] | Not covered here |
| Session | Yes[16] | Onion-routed; hides IP from nodes[16] | No: random Account ID[16] | Not covered here | Not covered here | Yes[16] | Optional | Not covered here |
| Threema | Yes[17] | Not covered here | No: random Threema ID; paid app[17] | Optional encrypted Threema Safe | Not covered here | Yes (apps)[18] | Optional | Not covered here |
App names are used for identification only. Cinder isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any of these companies. If anything here is out of date, tell us and we'll correct it.