Session review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Session suits anyone who wants a free open-source messenger with end-to-end encrypted chats, calls and attachments on the major desktop and mobile platforms. Pro starts at $2.99, well under the site median of €6.84, so the entry cost stays low at the start.
Key facts
- Best for
- Private messaging on a budget, with end-to-end encryption across messages, attachments and calls.
- Price from
- $2.99 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan limits
- Attachments up to 10MB; longer messages, unlimited pins, animated display pictures and badges are Pro-only (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Logging policy
- No metadata or IP stored by the app; seed node sees IP but does not record it; Cloudflare keeps HTTP request logs for up to 7 days (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- CH (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Open source
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Session Technology Foundation (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Switzerland (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2020 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free, Budget
- Official website
- getsession.org
Secure email
- Price from
- $2.99 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan limits
- Attachments up to 10MB; longer messages, unlimited pins, animated display pictures and badges are Pro-only (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- End-to-end encryption
- 1:1 messages, group chats, attachments and calls are end-to-end encrypted; Communities are only encrypted in transit to a self-hosted server, not end-to-end encrypted (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- CH (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Open source
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Session Technology Foundation (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Switzerland (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2020 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free, Budget
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- WikidataWikipediaXgithub.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- End-to-end encryption covers messages, group chats, attachments and calls, with Communities limited to in-transit encryption
- A free plan is offered, so encrypted messaging and calls cost nothing to start
- Pro starts at $2.99, below the site median of €6.84
- Open source software, which sits with the 56.6% share of listed brands
- The app runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, covering desktop and mobile systems
Cons
- Communities sit outside the end-to-end encryption that covers messages, group chats, attachments and calls
- Longer messages, unlimited pins, animated display pictures and badges are Pro-only under the free plan limits
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, with no live chat or phone line listed
- The free plan caps attachment size, which shapes what the free tier is good for
Who it suits
- People who want encrypted messaging and calls without paying a subscription
- Users who need calls, attachments and group chats covered by one encryption
- Open source supporters, since Session publishes open source software
Who should look elsewhere
- People who need Communities end-to-end encrypted, which the end-to-end encryption listed does not cover
- Teams that want live chat or phone support, since support runs on email, help centre and community
What it does well
End-to-end encryption is the core of what Session does, and it covers messages, group chats, attachments and calls. The exception is Communities, which are only encrypted in transit to a self-hosted server, so anything shared there falls outside that protection. The free plan caps attachments, and longer messages, unlimited pins, animated display pictures and badges sit behind Pro. The app runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, so the same account covers desktop and phone.
Free plan and trial
There is a free plan, and it is usable rather than a trial. Its limits are specific: attachments are capped in size, and longer messages, unlimited pins, animated display pictures and badges are Pro-only. In practice that means everyday messaging and calls stay within the free tier, while the larger attachments and the cosmetic extras are the paid part.
Pricing
Pro starts at $2.99, which puts Session below the site median of €6.84 and near the lower end of the range, where the site minimum is €0.50. For context, Apple Hide My Email starts at $0.99 and EasyOptOuts at $19.99, though those are different products. The free plan means the only cost is optional, and the price to weigh is the Pro tier if you want bigger attachments, longer messages, unlimited pins, animated display pictures and badges.
Who runs it
Session is run by the Session Technology Foundation, with its headquarters in CH and its terms governed by CH. It was founded in 2020. Support runs on email, help centre and community, which places it among the brands offering a help centre rather than a phone line.
How Session compares
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 9.5
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 9.3
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.4
Frequently asked questions
How much does Session cost to start using?+
There is a free plan, so encrypted messaging costs nothing at the start. Pro starts at $2.99, which sits below the site median of €6.84. You only pay if you want the Pro extras, and the free plan covers everyday messaging and calls.
What exactly is end-to-end encrypted in Session?+
Messages, group chats, attachments and calls are all end-to-end encrypted. Communities are the exception: they are only encrypted in transit to a self-hosted server, not end-to-end encrypted. If a conversation needs full end-to-end encryption, keep it out of Communities.
Is there a free plan, and what does it leave out?+
There is a free plan. Its limits are attachment size, and longer messages, unlimited pins, animated display pictures and badges are Pro-only. So the free tier covers regular chats and calls, while large files and the extra features need Pro.
Which platforms does Session run on?+
The app runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. That covers the main desktop systems and both mobile platforms, so a single account works across a laptop and a phone. The same app handles messages, group chats and calls on each of them.
Who runs Session and where does it operate?+
Session is run by the Session Technology Foundation, headquartered in Switzerland, with its terms governed by CH. It was founded in 2020. The software is open source, so the client code can be reviewed outside the company's own description of it.
What kind of support does Session offer?+
Support runs on email, help centre and community, which means email, a help centre and a community forum. Live chat and phone are not in that set. Help centre material and the community cover most questions, with email for anything more specific.
How does Session's price compare with other privacy tools?+
Pro starts at $2.99, against a site median of €6.84 and a site minimum of €0.50. Apple Hide My Email starts at $0.99 and EasyOptOuts at $19.99, but those are separate products. Session also has a free plan, so the paid tier is optional.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_(software) checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Release February 2020”
- getsession.org checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Open source
“Anyone can view, audit, and contribute to Session's code.”
- getsession.org/faq checked September 26, 2026
Backs: End-to-end encryption
“messages are only encrypted in transit to the server rather than being fully end-to-end encrypted”
- getsession.org/privacy-policy checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Logging policy
“We don't store any identifying information about your device, such as your IP address or your user agent.”
- getsession.org/pro checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan, Free plan limits, Pricing model, Price from
“Is Session still free?”
- getsession.org/terms-of-service checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Jurisdiction, Legal entity, Platforms, Support channels
“The laws of Zug, Switzerland govern our Terms”
- play.google.com/store/apps/details checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters
“Bahnhofstrasse 7 6300 Zug Switzerland”
Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Related by the facts
Session
Private messaging on a budget, with end-to-end encryption across messages, attachments and calls.