Hi - I’m looking for an application that works on all devices with chat and task management that adheres to privacy but avoiding whatsapp, chanty or typical non open-source and more secure options. If signal or session had event/task management integration it would be great. Let me know suggestions etc. Thanks.
I’m looking at BAND (Is the BAND App free? – BAND Blog)
Is the app open-sourced?
I cannot find a repo and website doesn’t indicate its open source, so its not. Its doe have open APIs: https://developers.band.us/ but thats it as far as I can see.
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I don’t think BAND is open source, plus it has lot of ads. Have you heard of SIMPLEX? Haven’t tried it myself, but just looking into it now as an alternative to Whatsapp because BF needs it for his bands. My Experience With SimpleX Chat: Is It The Ultimate Open Source Private Messaging App?
Github: simplexmq/protocol/overview-tjr.md at stable · simplex-chat/simplexmq · GitHub
How does Simplex compare to Whatsapp? (according to AI)
SimpleX and WhatsApp differ fundamentally in their design philosophy, particularly regarding user identity, data collection, and privacy. Unlike WhatsApp, which requires a phone number for account creation and uses it as a primary identifier, SimpleX does not assign any user identifiers such as phone numbers, usernames, or public keys.
Instead, SimpleX uses unidirectional message queues, which are essentially unique addresses for each conversation direction, to route messages without linking senders and recipients at the network level.
This design aims to protect metadata, a key privacy concern, by making it difficult for servers to track who is communicating with whom.
SimpleX is built on a decentralized network where messages are relayed through servers that do not store messages or user data once delivered, and users can even run their own servers for greater control.
In contrast, WhatsApp relies on centralized servers for message routing, and while it uses end-to-end encryption for message content, its servers have access to metadata like sender and recipient information for purposes such as message delivery and spam prevention.
SimpleX’s approach is designed to minimize metadata exposure, a feature that sets it apart from most mainstream messengers, including WhatsApp.
Both platforms offer end-to-end encryption for message content and support features like group chats, file sharing, and voice calls.
However, SimpleX does not require a phone number or email address to create an account, which enhances privacy by avoiding the collection of personal information.
WhatsApp, on the other hand, has increasingly integrated ads and data collection practices, which has raised concerns about surveillance capitalism and user privacy.
SimpleX, being open-source and focused on privacy by design, does not display ads or use tracking methods.
While WhatsApp has a massive user base of 2 billion users, SimpleX has a much smaller but growing community, with over 100,000 users reported.
SimpleX is available on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux, but its desktop app requires a connected smartphone, and there is no standalone web app.
WhatsApp, in contrast, offers a robust web and desktop client. SimpleX’s unique architecture, including the use of temporary anonymous identifiers and the ability to change message queues between servers for enhanced privacy, represents a significant departure from the traditional messaging model used by WhatsApp.
Thanks for the info as I haven’t heard of simpleX. Although I do use Session and they seem somewhat similar and both are great options for messaging. However, I’m looking for the next level where you want to allow for events, rsvp, messaging but a privacy solution alternative to BAND. I don’t think anything like it exists.
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I found Spond https://spond.com/
Its free, ad free, only makes money through payments and doesn’t sell your data.
Has a very simple and easy to use interface for both web and mobile.
So, you don’t even need a phone. They don’t request your personal info. I like it!
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