Threema GmbH review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Threema GmbH suits teams and anyone who wants private messaging without a tunnel, with a free plan and a paid plan at CHF 3 a month. The trade-off is scope: it secures messages rather than the wider privacy bundle rivals in this lineup sell.
Key facts
- Best for
- A free, open source group messenger for teams and individuals on a small budget.
- Monthly price
- CHF 3 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Long-term plan price
- CHF 3 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- No-logs audit
- Cure53, 2020 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- CH (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- iOS, IPadOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, Linux, Web (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Owner
- Comitis Capital (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Longest plan (months)
- 12 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Threema AG (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Switzerland (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2012 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Audience
- Business
- Pricing model
- Free, Budget
- Official website
- threema.ch
Privacy tools
- Price from
- CHF 3 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan limits
- Unlimited messages, free updates for all platforms, max. 200 users; private app is a one-time 6.00 purchase (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- iOS, IPadOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, Linux, Web (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Logging policy
- Metadata restraint: messages deleted from servers immediately after delivery, connection information not logged, group memberships kept only on devices (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- CH (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Open source
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Threema AG (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Switzerland (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2012 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free, Budget
Pros and cons
Pros
- A free plan with unlimited messages, free updates on all platforms and a cap on users.
- Open source, and the security work has been audited by Cure53, 2020.
- Native apps across iOS, iPadOS and Android, so one account works on phone, desktop and browser.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no live chat or phone line.
- The free plan limits cap the number of users, so a wide rollout moves onto paid seats.
- Paying for the long term plan brings no discount, since CHF 3 on a long term plan sits at the same rate as CHF 3 monthly.
Who it suits
- Anyone comfortable starting on the free plan and paying only once a group outgrows its user cap.
- Organisations that put weight on open source code and an outside audit rather than a privacy promise alone.
- Readers who want group messaging at CHF 3 rather than a network tunnel, and are content without one.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc., listed at $0.99 a month, for anyone who compares on the entry figure alone.
- Sinew Software Systems at $1.99 a month, when the monthly line sets the budget.
- MEGA at $3.99 a month, if you are weighing a higher entry figure before deciding.
How it compares on our data
On monthly price, Threema ranks 24 of 133 brands in the comparison, which places it comfortably inside the field. On the long term plan price the rank moves to 41 of 112, a larger and tougher group to hold a place in.
Audits, logging and jurisdiction
Threema is registered and headquartered in Switzerland, which sets the legal backdrop for anyone using it. Its logging policy rests on restraint: messages come off the servers immediately after delivery, connection information is not recorded, and group memberships stay on the device. The security work was audited by Cure53, 2020, and the company is owned by Comitis Capital.
How Threema GmbH compares
9.0 vs 9.1
9.0 vs 8.8
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 9.5
9.0 vs 9.4
9.0 vs 9.1
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 9.4
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 8.8
9.0 vs 9.3
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 9.4
Where Threema GmbH is available
- Available
- Everywhere except Belarus, Cuba, India, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does Threema cost?+
The paid plan is priced at CHF 3 a month, and the long term plan is CHF 3, the same figure either way. The longest plan runs 12 months. Committing for a longer block changes the total rather than the monthly rate.
Is there a free version of Threema?+
Yes. The free plan comes with unlimited messages and free updates on every platform, alongside a cap on how many users a group can hold. The separate private app is a single purchase, and groups that outgrow the user cap need a paid plan.
Which devices can I use Threema on?+
Apps cover iOS, iPadOS and Android, so the same account works on phones, tablets, desktops and in a browser. Updates on those platforms are included in the free plan, and the message allowance there is unlimited.
Has Threema's privacy been audited?+
The security work was audited by Cure53, 2020, and the app is open source, which lets others read the code. Logging is limited by design: messages come off the servers immediately after delivery, connection data is not recorded, and group memberships stay on the device.
Where is Threema based and who owns it?+
The company behind it is Threema AG, with headquarters in CH and registration in Switzerland. Ownership rests with Comitis Capital, and the service was founded in 2012, so it is a long established operation rather than a recent launch.
Who is Threema built for?+
The plan targets business use and is listed as free and budget, which suits teams wanting a private channel without a large spend. Groups that outgrow the free user cap can move to the paid plan at CHF 3 a month.
How do I get help from Threema?+
Support runs on email and help centre, so questions go by email or through the help centre. There is no live chat or phone line listed, which is worth knowing before a whole team is moved onto the tool.
How does Threema's price compare with the rest of the field?+
On monthly price the brand ranks 24 of 133 in the comparison, and on the long term plan price it ranks 41 of 112. The site median is €7.89 monthly and €3.97 on the long term plans.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threema checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Owner
“Threema was founded in December 2012 by Manuel Kasper.”
- threema.ch/en/download/threema-private checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Platforms
“Below you will find the download links for Threema Private for all platforms.”
- threema.ch/en/impressum checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Jurisdiction, Legal entity, Support channels
“Threema AG, Churerstrasse 82, 8808 Pfaffikon SZ, Switzerland”
- threema.ch/en/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Long-term plan price, Longest plan (months), Monthly price
“Whether for private or business use - Threema offers the ideal solution”
- threema.ch/en/why-threema/security checked September 26, 2026
Backs: No-logs audit
“the renowned company Cure53 conducted a thorough security audit of the mobile apps in October 2020, and in January 2024, the new desktop app was examined”
- threema.com/en/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan, Free plan limits, Pricing model, Price from
“Unlimited number of messages / Free updates for all platforms - Private”
- threema.com/en/why-threema/open-source checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Open source
“the Threema apps are open source ... subject to the GNU Affero General Public License version 3”
- threema.com/en/why-threema/privacy checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Logging policy
“messages are deleted from our servers immediately after delivery, connection information is not logged, and group memberships remain solely on your devices”
Compiled from 8 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Devices, Server countries.
Related by the facts
Threema GmbH
A free, open source group messenger for teams and individuals on a small budget.