Free Message Online: Apps That Don't Ask for Your Number
A free message online account doesn't have to start with your phone number. A handful of apps create your account from a random ID, a username or an email address, then work over Wi-Fi or mobile data like any other messenger.
The trade-off is reach: most people you know are on apps built around phone numbers, so you'll have to bring your contacts over yourself.
Why most messengers want your number
Popular messengers such as WhatsApp and Telegram use your phone number as your account name. It lets the app match you with people already in your address book, and the code sent to your number at sign-up makes it harder to create fake accounts in bulk.
The downside is that the number follows you around. Depending on the app's privacy settings, people who have your number can find your profile, and people you meet in group chats may see it.
Signal still needs a phone number to register, but it now lets people reach you through a username, so you don't have to hand out the number itself. If you'd rather not tie your chats to a number at all, look for apps that use an ID instead.
Apps you can join without a phone number
These apps are known for letting you sign up without a phone number. Sign-up rules change, so check each app's current requirements in its app store listing or help pages before you commit.
| App | What identifies you | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Session | A random account ID created on your device | No phone number or email at sign-up. Contacts add you by pasting your ID or scanning its QR code. Save the recovery details it shows you, because there's no number to reset the account with. |
| Element (Matrix) | A username on a Matrix server | You pick a server when you register, and some servers ask for an email address. People on different Matrix servers can still message each other. |
| Threema | A random Threema ID | A paid app. Linking a phone number or email is optional and only helps contacts find you. |
All three focus on encrypted messaging, but each makes different choices about servers, backups and what data is kept. Read the app's own privacy page if those details matter to you.
Email-based ways to stay in touch
Email is the oldest free message online option, and almost everyone you know already has an address. It isn't real-time chat, but it works across every provider and device.
- Plain email: good for longer notes, photos and anything you want to search later.
- Privacy-focused email services: some encrypt messages end to end between their own users. Check what happens when you write to someone at a different provider.
- Community chat platforms: services such as Discord sign you up with an email address. Some communities there require a verified phone number before you can post, which is a separate step from creating the account.
The weak spot is the email account itself: some providers ask for a phone number during sign-up or later as a security check. If a low-stakes service only wants a number for a one-time code, our temporary phone number guide explains when a public number is reasonable. Don't attach one to an email account you plan to keep, since anyone can read the codes sent to it.
What you give up without a phone number
- Fewer contacts out of the box: nobody shows up automatically from your address book. You share your ID or QR code with each person, and they have to install the same app.
- Recovery is your job: with no number to fall back on, losing your device and your recovery details can mean losing the account and its history.
- No texting regular phones: these apps only reach their own users. To text a phone number, see the ways to send free SMS online.
- Not automatically anonymous: your app store account, payment for a paid app, your IP address and what you write can still point to you.
- Confirming who you're talking to: an ID is just a string of characters, so check it with the person in person or through another channel before sharing anything personal.
A practical setup for many people: keep a number-based app for family and friends who won't switch, and use an ID-based app for the conversations you want kept apart from your number.
Need to receive a code? Free numbers
Click a number to open its public inbox, enter the number on the signup form, then press Update Messages on the number's page to fetch the code.
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