Molly review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Molly suits Android users who want private messaging and calls without a subscription. It is open source, runs on Signal's protocol with the local database encrypted at rest, and No paid tiers; all features free, AGPL-3.0-only licensed means every feature comes at no cost, so the entry price never changes at renewal.
Key facts
- Best for
- Android users who want Signal-protocol messaging and no paid tier at all
- Free plan
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan limits
- No paid tiers; all features free, AGPL-3.0-only licensed (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- Android, F-Droid, Accrescent, GitHub releases (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Logging policy
- Connects to Signal servers; in-app debug logging is optional and can be disabled (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Open source
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Molly Instant Messenger (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2019 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free
- Official website
- molly.im
Secure email
- Free plan limits
- No paid tiers; all features free, AGPL-3.0-only licensed (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- End-to-end encryption
- Messages and calls handled by Signal's protocol (Molly connects to Signal's servers); local database additionally encrypted at rest with a passphrase (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Open source
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Molly Instant Messenger (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2019 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- Wikidatafosstodon.orgaccrescent.app
Pros and cons
Pros
- Every feature is included at no cost, as No paid tiers; all features free, AGPL-3.0-only licensed sets out
- Messages and calls use Signal's protocol, and the local database is additionally encrypted at rest with a passphrase
- Open source, with builds listed as Android, F Droid and Accrescent
- Support runs on email and community
Cons
- Molly connects to Signal servers, so messages and calls rely on Signal's infrastructure
- Support runs on email and community only, so a help centre and live chat are not among the listed routes
- Platforms are listed as Android, F Droid and Accrescent, so builds for other phones are not among them
Who it suits
- Android users who already rely on Signal's protocol for messaging and calls
- People who want an open source messenger with every feature free (No paid tiers; all features free, AGPL-3.0-only licensed)
- Users who install from Android, F Droid and Accrescent and want a passphrase on the local database
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email or Apple Inc., which cover email aliases rather than messaging
- EasyOptOuts, which handles data removal instead of encrypted chat
- Anyone who needs an iOS build, since Android, F Droid and Accrescent lists Android routes
Privacy and jurisdiction
Molly handles messages and calls with Signal's protocol and connects to Signal's servers, so encryption follows that protocol rather than a proprietary scheme. The local database is additionally encrypted at rest with a passphrase, which protects stored chats on the device itself. On logging, in-app debug logging is optional and can be disabled. Molly is therefore a thin, inspectable layer over a known messaging protocol, and every feature arrives at no cost (No paid tiers; all features free, AGPL-3.0-only licensed).
Who runs it
Molly is published by Molly Instant Messenger and dates from 2019. The project is open source, so the code behind each release can be read rather than taken on trust, and there is no paid tier to negotiate (No paid tiers; all features free, AGPL-3.0-only licensed). Help is limited to email and community, which suits self-sufficient users but leaves account questions to email and the community alone, with no separate billing desk behind them.
How Molly 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 9.4
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
Is Molly really free, or is there a paid tier?+
There is a free plan, and it is the only plan: No paid tiers; all features free, AGPL-3.0-only licensed puts every feature at no cost under a copyleft open source licence. Nothing changes at renewal, because there is no subscription to renew.
How are messages and calls encrypted?+
Messages and calls are handled by Signal's protocol, and Molly connects to Signal's servers rather than running its own. The local database is additionally encrypted at rest with a passphrase, and the app reaches Android through Android, F Droid and Accrescent.
Does Molly keep logs of my activity?+
Molly connects to Signal servers, and in-app debug logging is optional and can be switched off, so nothing forces it on. No paid tiers; all features free, AGPL-3.0-only licensed means every feature is included at no cost, the logging switch included.
Which platforms can I install Molly on?+
Builds are listed as Android, F Droid and Accrescent, so the app is Android only. That covers F-Droid and Accrescent users alongside anyone who prefers a GitHub release, and it is the only route on offer.
Who runs Molly and when was it founded?+
Molly is published by Molly Instant Messenger and dates from 2019. The project is open source, so the code behind the app is published and readable, which matters for readers who weigh open source projects on transparency.
What support can I get from Molly?+
Support runs on email and community only, so email and the community are the routes on offer. Install and device questions fit the community, while account questions go by email, and no help centre is listed.
Does Molly replace Signal, and where does it run?+
Molly connects to Signal's servers and uses Signal's protocol for messages and calls, so it sits alongside a Signal account rather than replacing the service. It is a client for that protocol, and installs come through Android, F Droid and Accrescent.
Is Molly open source, and what licence does it use?+
Open source, yes. No paid tiers; all features free, AGPL-3.0-only licensed states the licensing alongside the pricing, with every feature free under a copyleft open source licence. Installs come from Android, F Droid and Accrescent, so readers can sidestep any app store and read the code first.
Is Molly an email alias or removal service?+
Neither. Molly is an instant messenger: it handles encrypted messages and calls, and every feature is included at no cost (No paid tiers; all features free, AGPL-3.0-only licensed). Readers after email aliases would do better with Apple Hide My Email, and those after data removal with EasyOptOuts.
Sources
- github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android checked September 26, 2026
Backs: End-to-end encryption, Free plan limits, Logging policy, Pricing model, Open source
“Data encryption at rest - Protect your app database with passphrase encryption”
- molly.im checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“mailto:support@molly.im”
- molly.im/get.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Platforms
“From our official sources”
- opencollective.com/mollyim checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Started in 2019 as a contribution to Signal to support password encryption”
- raw.githubusercontent.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/main/LE... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan, Legal entity
“Molly is free software licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License, version 3 only (`AGPL-3.0-only`).”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Price from.