Wire Swiss GmbH review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Wire Swiss GmbH is a Swiss secure messaging service rather than a traditional VPN, aimed at business teams that need end-to-end encrypted calls and chat across desktop and mobile. It scores 2.8 here, with a free plan that covers small groups and the paid plan starting at €8.94 a month.
Key facts
- Best for
- Business messaging with end-to-end encryption, open-source clients and a usable free tier
- Monthly price
- €7.45 to €8.94 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Long-term plan price
- €7.45 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Devices
- 8 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Server countries
- 2 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- CH (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Protocols
- Proteus, Messaging Layer Security (MLS), SRTP, DTLS (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- iOS, IPadOS, Android, F-Droid, MacOS, Windows, Browser, Linux (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Owner
- Wire Group Holdings GmbH (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Longest plan (months)
- 12 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Wire Swiss GmbH (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
- Official website
- wire.com
Privacy tools
- Price from
- €8.94 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan limits
- Teams up to 5 people, up to 8 devices, collaboration essentials on all platforms; no feature configurations, no calls with more than 2 participants (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- iOS, IPadOS, Android, F-Droid, MacOS, Windows, Browser, Linux (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Protocols
- Proteus, Messaging Layer Security (MLS), SRTP, DTLS (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Logging policy
- End-to-end encrypted, no access to conversation content and no backdoors; technical log files kept max 90 days; website IP data deleted within 30 days; pseudonymous usage data deleted after 365 days; no data rented or sold, no targeted advertising (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- CH (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Open source
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Wire Swiss GmbH (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
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
- Elsewhere
- WikidataWikipediaXLinkedIngithub.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- A free plan for small teams, plus a paid plan for larger groups
- Open source clients published for iOS, iPadOS and Android
- End-to-end encrypted conversations with no provider access, built on Proteus, Messaging Layer Security (MLS) and SRTP
- A Swiss operator, Wire Swiss GmbH, founded 2012
Cons
- Server reach is 2 countries, against a site median at 46.5
- Device coverage stops at 8, where the site reaches 50
- Support runs on email and help centre only
Who it suits
- Business teams that need end-to-end encrypted chat and calls across iOS, iPadOS and Android
- Organizations that want open-source client code and a Swiss operator, Wire Swiss GmbH
- Small groups that fit inside the free plan's limits and 8 devices
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams needing more device coverage than 8, where ESET Brasil spans 3 to 25 devices
- Buyers after the cheapest subscription, since Sinew Software Systems lists $1.99 a month
Core features
Wire covers 8 devices per account and ships clients for iOS, iPadOS and Android, covering desktop, mobile and browser use. Conversations run on Proteus, Messaging Layer Security (MLS) and SRTP, which handle the encryption on calls and messages. Server reach is the weak point at 2 countries, so users have few places to connect from.
The company behind it
The service is run by Wire Swiss GmbH, a Swiss company founded 2012 and headquartered in Switzerland. Its jurisdiction is Swiss, which matters for readers weighing European privacy rules. Support is limited to email and help centre, so help arrives by email or through the help center rather than by phone.
How Wire Swiss GmbH compares
8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 8.8
8.8 vs 8.5
8.8 vs 9.5
8.8 vs 9.4
8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 9.2
8.8 vs 9.4ESET Brasil covers 3 to 25 devices, wider than Wire's 8, for readers who need a wider device footprint.
8.8 vs 9.2
8.8 vs 8.8
8.8 vs 9.3
8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 9.4
Frequently asked questions
How much does Wire cost?+
Wire's paid plan runs €7.45 to €8.94 a month, and the paid plan's entry point is €8.94. On the longest commitment of 12 months, the paid plan works out to €7.45 a month. Wire's free plan is also available, so a team can start on the free plan.
Is there a free plan, and what does it leave out?+
Yes, a free plan covers small teams with collaboration basics on every platform. It skips feature configurations and limits calls to a small group of participants, so it suits quick chats rather than larger meetings. Paid plans lift those limits and start at €8.94 a month.
How many devices can one account cover?+
One account covers 8 devices, and the free plan holds the same 8. Apps are published for iOS, iPadOS and Android, so desktops, phones and browser access mix freely. Teams needing far more endpoints will want a different product.
Which platforms are supported?+
Wire publishes apps for iOS, iPadOS and Android. That covers the main desktop and mobile systems plus F-Droid and a browser client for lighter use. Support runs on email and help centre, so most questions are handled by email or answered in the help center.
Who operates Wire, and where?+
The service is operated by Wire Swiss GmbH, a Swiss company founded 2012 and headquartered in Switzerland. Swiss jurisdiction is the point for readers weighing European privacy rules, and the open source client code lets outsiders inspect what the apps send and store.
What data does Wire keep?+
Conversations are end-to-end encrypted using Proteus, Messaging Layer Security (MLS) and SRTP, and the provider states it has no access to conversation content and no backdoors. Technical log files are kept only briefly, website IP data is deleted quickly, and pseudonymous usage data is cleared later. Nothing is rented or sold, and there is no targeted advertising.
How many server countries does Wire cover?+
Reach is limited to 2 countries, well below the site median at 46.5. Wire is built for encrypted messaging rather than routing traffic through distant servers, so readers who need broad location choice should look elsewhere.
Is Wire open source?+
Yes. The client apps are open source, so security teams can read the encryption implementation rather than take it on trust. That sits alongside a Swiss operator, Wire Swiss GmbH, and an end-to-end encrypted design with no provider access to message content.
Sources
- wire.com/en checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Open source
“Fully end-to-end encrypted, open source, and trusted by governments, critical national infrastructure, and 1,800+ organizations worldwide.”
- wire.com/en/about-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Owner
“Wire was founded in 2012 with roots in Germany and Switzerland.”
- wire.com/en/app-download checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Platforms
“iPhone ... iPad ... Android ... F-Droid ... macOS ... Windows ... Browser ... Linux”
- wire.com/en/imprint checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Jurisdiction, Legal entity, Support channels
“Wire Swiss GmbH Untermüli 9 6300 Zug (Switzerland)”
- wire.com/en/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Devices, Free plan, Free plan limits, Long-term plan price, Longest plan (months), Pricing model, Price from, Monthly price
“For organizations (more than 100 people)”
- wire.com/en/privacy-policy checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Logging policy
“Wire does not have access to encryption keys and does not use backdoors. ... Logs are kept for a maximum of 90 days”
- wire.com/en/security checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Protocols, Server countries
“Wire employs the Proteus protocol, its implementation of the Axolotl/Double Ratchet protocol, to secure messages between clients.”
Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: No-logs audit.
Related by the facts
Wire Swiss GmbH
Business messaging with end-to-end encryption, open-source clients and a usable free tier