Wire is an end-to-end encrypted messaging application. Unlike Signal, Wire does not require a phone number to register; an email address or username is sufficient. This makes it more suitable for contexts where linking communications to a phone number is undesirable.
What it means in practice
Wire is used by some journalists, legal professionals, and organizations that need encrypted communication without phone number linkage. It offers text, voice, and video calls with end-to-end encryption. The company is headquartered in Switzerland.
For most threat profiles, Signal is the stronger recommendation because it has a longer track record of security audits and a larger user base, which provides some anonymity in itself. Wire is a credible alternative when phone number linkage is the primary concern.
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