# simplex-chat/simplex-chat

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10,474 stars · 566 forks · Haskell · agpl-3.0

## Links

- GitHub: https://github.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat
- Homepage: https://simplex.chat
- awesome-repositories: https://awesome-repositories.com/repository/simplex-chat-simplex-chat.md

## Topics

`chat` `double-ratchet` `e2ee` `encryption` `haskell` `messaging` `privacy` `protocol` `security`

## Description

This project is a decentralized, privacy-focused messaging platform designed to eliminate reliance on central servers and persistent user identifiers. By utilizing a metadata-minimizing protocol, it ensures that all communication remains end-to-end encrypted and that user identities are stored exclusively on the local device. The architecture relies on relay-based message routing and identity-free network addressing to maintain data sovereignty and prevent the correlation of user activity.

What distinguishes this platform is its commitment to traffic isolation and anonymity. Each conversation is assigned a distinct network circuit, and users can further mask their activity by routing traffic through the Tor network or custom SOCKS proxies. The system supports multi-persona identity management, allowing users to maintain separate profiles that remain decoupled from any global identity, while incognito connection modes ensure that new contacts cannot link different conversations to the same user.

The platform provides a comprehensive suite of communication tools, including end-to-end encrypted audio and video calls, decentralized group spaces, and standard media exchange. Group interactions are managed without a central authority, offering granular moderation controls and automated membership management. Users maintain full control over their data through local database encryption, automated message expiration, and secure backup procedures.

The application includes a diagnostic console for advanced system monitoring and troubleshooting. It is designed for local installation, with all configuration and history managed directly within the user-controlled environment.

## Tags

### Security & Cryptography

- [Secure Messaging Applications](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/secure-messaging-applications.md) — Exchanges end-to-end encrypted messages without central servers or persistent identifiers to ensure metadata privacy. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/https%3A//github.com/simplex-chat/simplex-chat/blob/stable/simplex-chat/README.md))
- [Encrypted Database Managers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/data-encryption/encrypted-database-managers.md) — Protects stored chat data using encrypted local databases managed by hardware security modules or user passphrases. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/privacy-security.html))
- [End-to-End Encrypted Messaging Frameworks](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/end-to-end-encrypted-messaging-frameworks.md) — Provides a decentralized messaging platform that eliminates central server metadata and user identifiers.
- [Privacy-Focused Communication](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/privacy-preserving-utilities/privacy-focused-communication.md) — Functions as a privacy-focused chat client that stores all identities and history locally.
- [User Identity Management](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/user-identity-management.md) — Stores all user identities and cryptographic keys exclusively on the local device to eliminate reliance on central servers. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/readme.html))
- [Anonymization Proxies](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/anonymization-proxies.md) — Ships anonymous communication software that routes traffic through relays and Tor to ensure privacy.
- [Identity Verification](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/identity-verification.md) — Verifies connection authenticity by comparing security codes between users to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/privacy-security.html))
- [Traffic Isolation](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/account-management/traffic-isolation.md) — Isolates conversation traffic into distinct network circuits to prevent metadata analysis from linking contacts.
- [Call Encryption](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/call-encryption.md) — Provides secure, end-to-end encrypted audio and video calling with relay-based IP masking.
- [Incognito Modes](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/identity-provider-connections/incognito-modes.md) — Provides anonymous, temporary profile identities for new contacts to prevent identity correlation across conversations. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/app-settings.html))
- [Tor Routing](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/network-infrastructure-security/web-network-security/network-security/network-routing-access-control/tor-gateways/tor-routing.md) — Connects to messaging relays via the Tor network to mask user IP addresses and enhance communication privacy. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/privacy-security.html))
- [Application Access Controls](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/application-access-controls.md) — Requires device-level authentication to unlock the application and protect sensitive features. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/app-settings.html))
- [Identity Switching](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/identity-switching.md) — Supports multi-persona identity management by allowing users to maintain and switch between distinct local profiles. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/chat-profiles.html))
- [Interface Privacy](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/privacy-protection/interface-privacy.md) — Hides application content in the system task switcher and prevents unauthorized screenshots of the interface. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/app-settings.html))
- [Password Access Restrictions](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/domain-access-restrictions/request-access-restrictions/password-access-restrictions.md) — Restricts access to specific chat profiles by requiring a password for viewing or interaction. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/privacy-security.html))
- [Identity Concealment](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/security-cryptography/data-privacy-controls/identity-concealment.md) — Conceals specific chat identities from the interface and silences notifications to maintain privacy and reduce distractions. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/chat-profiles.html))

### Networking & Communication

- [End-to-End Encrypted Messengers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/distributed-systems-p2p/distributed-computing/communication-protocols/real-time-messaging-frameworks/end-to-end-encrypted-messengers.md) — Enables anonymous, end-to-end encrypted messaging without central servers or persistent identifiers.
- [Group Discussion Architectures](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/group-discussion-architectures.md) — Supports decentralized group communication spaces managed without a central authority.
- [Group Messaging Systems](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/group-messaging-systems.md) — Delivers encrypted group messages individually to members to prevent external tracking of group activity. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/secret-groups.html))
- [Anonymous Addressing](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/network-addressing/anonymous-addressing.md) — Uses temporary, unidirectional addresses to prevent the correlation of user identities across network sessions.
- [Network Traffic Routing](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/network-traffic-routing.md) — Implements metadata-resistant networking by routing traffic through Tor or custom relay infrastructure.
- [Disappearing Messages](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/communication-platforms-services/messaging-notification-systems/messaging-services/message-broker-infrastructure/publish-subscribe-messaging/client-to-client-messaging/disappearing-messages.md) — Implements automated message deletion policies to enhance privacy and manage storage. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/send-messages.html))
- [Traffic Separators](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/network-traffic-processors/traffic-separators.md) — Isolates communication streams for each contact into distinct network circuits to prevent traffic correlation. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/privacy-security.html))
- [Relay Communication Protocols](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/relay-communication-protocols.md) — Routes messages through independent relay servers that store data temporarily without knowing sender or recipient identities.
- [Relay Server Configurations](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/relay-server-configurations.md) — Routes traffic through custom relay infrastructure to ensure reliable message delivery and verify connectivity. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/app-settings.html))
- [Connection Establishment Protocols](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/communication-protocols-architectures/communication-protocols-standards/network-protocols/connection-establishment-protocols.md) — Establishes secure connections using one-time invitation links and QR codes to avoid revealing permanent identifiers. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/readme.html))
- [Invite Link Management](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/invite-link-management.md) — Generates shareable links for group access and manages default member roles for new participants. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/secret-groups.html))
- [Peer-to-Peer Networking Extensions](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/peer-to-peer-networking-extensions.md) — Balances network performance and anonymity by switching between direct peer-to-peer and relayed traffic. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/audio-video-calls.html))
- [SOCKS Proxies](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/socks-proxies.md) — Supports routing network traffic through local SOCKS proxies for enhanced anonymity via overlay networks. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/app-settings.html))
- [Group Membership Management](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/communication-protocols-architectures/communication-paradigms/group-membership-management.md) — Manages group participation through actions like inviting contacts, accepting invitations, and leaving conversations. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/secret-groups.html))
- [Participant Management](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/communication-protocols-architectures/communication-paradigms/group-membership-management/participant-management.md) — Facilitates joining decentralized discussion spaces via invitation links or QR codes. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/readme.html))
- [Contact Management](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/contact-management.md) — Manages contact addresses and connection requests through reusable, privacy-preserving invitation links. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/app-settings.html))

### Software Engineering & Architecture

- [Metadata-Minimizing Protocols](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/software-engineering-architecture/communication-protocols/metadata-minimizing-protocols.md) — Structures communication protocols to avoid exchanging persistent identifiers or global user IDs during message delivery.

### Data & Databases

- [Local-First Storage](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/data-databases/local-first-storage.md) — Stores all user profiles and cryptographic keys exclusively on the local device to ensure data sovereignty.
- [Anonymization](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/data-databases/contact-management/anonymization.md) — Generates unique, random profile names for each new contact to prevent identity correlation across different conversations. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/privacy-security.html))
- [Content Expiration Policies](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/data-databases/data-governance-modeling/data-management-governance/data-lifecycle-retention/data-lifecycle-management/key-expiration-policies/access-link-expiration/content-expiration-policies.md) — Enforces automated message expiration policies to maintain privacy and storage efficiency. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/managing-data.html))
- [Data Migration and Synchronization](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/data-databases/data-management/data-migration-synchronization.md) — Facilitates secure migration and synchronization of chat history and configuration between devices. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/managing-data.html))

### Development Tools & Productivity

- [Peer-to-Peer Networks](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/development-tools-productivity/platforms-runtimes-language-services/development-platforms/decentralized-systems/peer-to-peer-networks.md) — Implements decentralized group communication where messages are delivered via individual peer-to-peer connections to ensure privacy.
- [Application Backups](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/development-tools-productivity/application-backups.md) — Provides secure, encrypted backup functionality for application state and data recovery. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/managing-data.html))

### Part of an Awesome List

- [Communication Platforms](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/awesome-lists/media/communication-platforms.md) — Privacy-focused terminal-based chat without global user identifiers.
- [Communication Systems](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/awesome-lists/media/communication-systems.md) — Private messaging platform with double-ratchet encryption.
- [Messaging and Chat](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/awesome-lists/media/messaging-and-chat.md) — A private-by-design chat platform with no central connection graph.

### System Administration & Monitoring

- [Group Access Controls](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/system-administration-monitoring/group-access-controls.md) — Provides granular permission management for group members, including roles for observers, members, and administrators. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/secret-groups.html))

### Content Management & Publishing

- [Content Moderation Tools](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/content-management-publishing/content-moderation-tools.md) — Provides administrators with tools to remove inappropriate messages and maintain conversation standards. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/send-messages.html))

### Graphics & Multimedia

- [Media and Hyperlink Embedders](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/graphics-multimedia/graphics-and-media/media-and-hyperlink-embedders.md) — Supports the exchange of text, files, and media attachments within secure chat conversations. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/send-messages.html))

### Web Development

- [Link Preview Services](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/web-development/link-preview-services.md) — Toggles automatic media downloading and link preview generation to prevent external tracking of user activity. ([source](https://simplex.chat/docs/guide/app-settings.html))