At a time when people share their lives through various messaging apps, personal security is paramount. While popular messaging apps like WhatsApp now offer security in the form of end-to-end encryption, they don’t offer any security of the chats, when they are on your device. Also, even though chat history can be convenient, there are some conversations you don’t really want to save. This is where self-destructing messaging apps come into play. These apps automatically destruct messages when they are read or after a certain period of time, that you get to decide. So, without any further ado, here are 7 self-destructing messaging apps you can use:
1. Snapchat
No surprises here! Snapchat originated the self-destruct message idea and that’s the reason it makes it to the top of the list. While the app remains more focused on picture sharing, it also lets you send texts that are destructed when read by the recipient. Moreover, along with self-destructing text, photos and videos, you can even send stickers. While there’s ability to set a timer for photos and videos to self-destruct after the recipient has received it, there’s no such ability when it comes to texts and text messages get destructed the moment they are read.
2. Telegram
Telegram is a highly popular offering that has made a name for itself, thanks to people constantly pitting it against WhatsApp. However, its popularity is also due to the fact that it brings a number of cool features including the likes of Secret Chats. Secret Chats on Telegram incorporates features like end-to-end encryption, screenshot protection and a self-destruct timer. So, basically you can set a timer for messages to self-destruct within secret chats. This results in messages and other data like shared media to destruct after the set time.
Install: Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows PC, OS X, Linux (Free)
3. Bleep
Bleep is another cool messaging app that offers the self-destructing messages feature. It includes the whisper feature (not the one from Google’s new Allo app), which is basically a self-destructing message, which destructs when read by the recipient. Another cool thing is, you can either login to Bleep through your mobile number, email or you can simply go incognito, which is pretty cool. Other cool features include end-to-end encryption, P2P, voice calls etc.
Install: Android, iOS, Windows, OS X (Free)
4. Wickr
Wickr is another very secure messaging app that has been gaining popularity, thanks to some really unique features. It includes end-to-end encryption and the ability to set a self-destructing timer for messages. Moreover, it includes a Shredder feature, which lets you delete all data like chats, media etc. irreversibly. Also, your Wickr ID will be anonymous to anyone not in your contact list.
The developers seem pretty confident about Wickr’s security features, as they have offered a $100,000 bounty for anyone who can find a bug. It’s not all serious though, as the messaging app includes stickers, graffiti and photo filters.
Install: Android, iOS, Windows, OS X, Linux (Free)
5. Confide
After we used Confide, we were thoroughly impressed with its security features and we are sure you are going to love it too. Firstly, the messages are end-to-end encrypted and it self-destructs messages once they are read. It also includes screenshot protection and the ability to retract sent messages, that are unread, which is pretty cool, right? Along with the cool features, we just mentioned, it also packs the usual messaging features like group chats, file sharing and more.
Install: Android, iOS, Windows, OS X (Free)
6. Cover Me
Cover Me, which is known as “Private Text Messaging & Calls” on the Play Store is another cool self-destructing messaging app. The app lets you to embed a ‘self-destruct’ in messages to make them disappear once they are read. That’s not all though, there’s also ability to remotely wipe messages or even recall them if they haven’t been read.
Moreover, the app features different password-protected vaults to secure your pictures and documents. Also, the VoIP calls made on the app are military-grade encrypted. Other features of the app include photo-capture of intruders, disposable phone numbers to mask your real number, password manager and more.
7. SpeakOn
SpeakOn brings the ability set a self-destruct timer in seconds or minutes, after which the messages you sent will be gone. Like some other apps in the list, it packs in the ability to recall unread messages. Plus, it automatically translates messages for you, in case you have a friend who does not speak your language. Along with the cool features we just mentioned, it also packs features like the ability to log out of all sessions remotely, multi-login, customization options and more.
SEE ALSO: 7 Messaging Apps To Keep Your Conversations Secure And Private
Try out these apps to send self-destructing messages
So, if you have been looking for apps that automatically remove your private conversations, these apps should do the job pretty well. So, try them out and let us know what you think of these apps. Sound off in the comments section below. Happy texting!
Abubakar Mohammed
