sChat is a private chat messaging app that prides itself on its guiding principle: the restraint on metadata. To ensure that no data is misused, sChat’s servers permanently delete a message after it has been delivered to the recipient. Information usually managed on a server is managed locally on the user’s device, meaning that any type of conversation is protected against eavesdropping. By design, there is no fallback to decrypted connections, so nobody else except for the intended recipient can read a sChat message.

End-to-end encryption provides the gold-standard for protecting communication. In an end-to-end encrypted system, the only people who can access the data are the sender and the intended recipient(s) – and no one else. Neither hackers nor unwanted third parties can access the encrypted data on the server.

Groups chats on sChat are much like WhatsApp group chats. They can be created instantly, and any other sChat users can be added to a group. Again, the only requirement for use is to have registered phone number. After joining a group, all members can exchange real-time messages that are can be read by everyone. You can create as many groups as you want. Unlike most chat clients, this WhatsApp alternative shows three small consecutive points when another user is typing a message.

Of course, you can also exchange one-on-one private messages with sChat in either text form or as voice messages. Additionally, sChat can be used to make video calls. The sChat team really prioritizes data protection, which is why all data is automatically encrypted before transmission using AES-256 and is stored encrypted on the servers. Each message receives its own unique key. One of the biggest advantages sChat has is that the communication tool can be used, not just through the cross-platform web app but also through native apps for iOS, Android, Windows and macOS. Once the account is set up, private and group conversations can easily be tracked and held from any device. All versions of sChat are free for private use.

A special feature are the self-destructive messages: pictures, videos, and chat messages can be removed automatically as soon as the recipient has seen them. It is also possible to send messages at a pre-determined time.