Wire review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Wire suits small teams and privacy minded readers who want open source messaging with end to end encryption on messages, calls and files. Paid plans start at €8.94 and the free plan covers small teams and several devices, so teams can test it before paying.
Key facts
- Best for
- Small teams wanting open source encrypted messaging with a usable free tier.
- 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, Android, Windows, MacOS, Linux, Web browser, F-Droid (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
- Germany (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
- Official website
- wire.com
Secure email
- Price from
- €8.94 (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)
- End-to-end encryption
- Messages, conference calls and files; Wire Drive and other data storage features use different encryption models (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
- Germany (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
Pros and cons
Pros
- A free plan is included, covering small teams, several devices and collaboration essentials on all platforms
- Messages, conference calls and files are end to end encrypted, with no access to conversation content and no backdoors
- The service is open source, with clients published for iOS, Android and Windows across phones, desktops and the browser
- The logging policy sets deletion limits for technical log files, website IP data and pseudonymous usage data, and data is never rented or sold
Cons
- Wire Drive and other data storage features use different encryption models, so stored files sit apart from message encryption
- The free plan limits cap calls at small groups and leave feature configurations out of the tier
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so reaching a person means email or the help centre
Who it suits
- Small teams that want encrypted group messaging, calls and file sharing without paying from the first day
- Privacy minded readers who read open source code and want clients on phones, desktops, the browser and F-Droid
- Organisations that want a business messaging provider run from DE under CH rules
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email readers, since it starts at $0.99 and covers email aliases rather than team messaging
- EasyOptOuts users, because it starts at $19.99 for removal work rather than encrypted calls and file sharing
- Apple Inc. subscribers, since its $0.99 tier buys iCloud storage rather than a team messaging service
Audits, logging and jurisdiction
Wire's jurisdiction is CH. The logging policy states that conversations are end to end encrypted, with no access to conversation content and no backdoors. Technical log files, website IP data and pseudonymous usage data each carry a set retention limit, and data is never rented or sold, with no targeted advertising. End to end encryption covers messages, conference calls and files, while Wire Drive and other data storage features use different encryption models.
How Wire 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
Frequently asked questions
Does Wire have a free plan?+
Yes. The free plan covers small teams, several devices and collaboration essentials on all platforms, and free is listed among the plans at free. Feature configurations sit outside the free tier, and calls stay small.
What does Wire cost?+
Paid plans start at €8.94, above the site median of €6.84. On price from, Wire sits at 85 of 131 brands. A free plan is also available, so a small team can start free.
Is Wire messaging end to end encrypted?+
Yes, for messages, conference calls and files. Wire Drive and other data storage features use different encryption models instead. The privacy policy adds that there is no access to conversation content and no backdoors, and the clients offered for iOS, Android and Windows are open source.
How long does Wire keep data?+
Technical log files, website IP data and pseudonymous usage data all sit under set retention and deletion limits in the logging policy. Data is never rented or sold, and there is no targeted advertising, with the policy published by Wire Swiss GmbH.
Which platforms does Wire support?+
Clients are published for iOS, Android and Windows, so the same account works on phones, desktop systems, a web browser and F-Droid. That spread suits teams that mix personal and work devices.
Who runs Wire and where is it based?+
The legal entity is Wire Swiss GmbH, headquartered in Germany and governed by CH. The company has been running since 2012, which gives it a long record in encrypted messaging for organisations.
How does support work?+
Support runs on email and help centre only, which means help arrives by email or through the help centre. That suits readers who prefer written answers they can search and quote back later.
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, Headquarters
“Wire was founded in 2012 with roots in Germany and Switzerland.”
- wire.com/en/app-download checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Platforms
“Get the Wire app for desktop or mobile ... iPhone, iPad, Android, F-Droid, macOS, Windows, Browser, Linux”
- wire.com/en/imprint checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity, Support channels
“Wire Swiss GmbH, Untermüli 9, 6300 Zug (Switzerland), VAT-ID: CHE-432.881.146”
- wire.com/en/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan, Free plan limits, Pricing model, Price from
“Wire for Free - Free - For small teams (up to 5 people)”
- wire.com/en/privacy-policy checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Jurisdiction, Logging policy
“As a company based in Switzerland, Wire and its data processing activities are subject to Swiss data protection law”
- wire.com/en/security checked September 26, 2026
Backs: End-to-end encryption
“All communication through Wire is end-to-end encrypted - messages, conference calls, and files.”
Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Related by the facts
Wire
Small teams wanting open source encrypted messaging with a usable free tier.