X Chat wants to replace your DMs with end-to-end encryption — and maybe your other messaging apps too 💬

X is ramping up its messaging ambitions. The platform is gradually phasing out its classic DMs and rolling out Chat, a new end-to-end encrypted messaging system currently in beta on iOS and the web, with Android support on the way. The goal is straightforward: turn X into an all-in-one hub where tweets, calls, and private conversations coexist under one roof.

What X Chat actually adds to your DMs 💬

Chat positions itself as a modern messaging app built to compete with WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram — with a bold promise: stronger privacy, tighter control over your conversations, and deep integration into X’s ecosystem.

In practice, Chat replaces the old DM interface with a cleaner design, message editing and deletion after sending, and optional end-to-end encryption for individual chats, groups, and attachments. X is also pushing ephemeral messages that vanish after a set period, and even screenshot blocking in certain contexts to help curb accidental leaks.

Chat supports larger file sharing than the old system and is beginning to integrate voice notes, expected in an upcoming update — features that bring it closer to the “full-service” messengers people already rely on every day.

Built-in audio and video calls — no phone number required 📞

One of X Chat’s big selling points is encrypted audio and video calls directly inside the app, without ever revealing your phone number — a welcome safeguard for creators, journalists, and public-facing accounts.

These calls run on a VoIP architecture baked into X, with the company promising the same end-to-end encryption applied to messages. That puts X Chat up against WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram, and Signal — but with the advantage of plugging into an already massive social graph.

Under the hood: encryption, keys… and some caveats 🔑

Each user gets a public/private key pair when they join Chat, secured by a PIN of their choosing. That PIN protects the private key on X’s infrastructure and allows secure recovery across devices. Each conversation also gets its own dedicated “conversation key,” and participants’ device keys exchange that secret behind the scenes.

But there’s an important catch: while message content is encrypted, metadata is not fully protected. X can still see who you’re talking to, when, and what posts are shared within a thread — information that can reveal behavioral patterns far from true anonymity.

Additionally, the first iteration of Chat does not support Perfect Forward Secrecy. If someone compromises your private key, they could theoretically access past messages — a gap several security researchers have already flagged as a serious limitation.

A “pro-privacy” messenger… that isn’t open source 🧐

X says its long-term goal is to offer a user-centric encrypted messaging experience with less reliance on ads and, eventually, a more decentralized architecture inspired by Bitcoin’s peer-to-peer principles. But today, the system remains heavily centralized.

And unlike Signal, X’s encryption protocol is not yet open or fully documented. The company has only promised a future whitepaper and partial open-sourcing of the stack — which means, for now, independent audits are nearly impossible.

Up against WhatsApp, Signal & others: real contender or just another option? ⚖️

On paper, X Chat checks most boxes for a modern messenger: E2EE, disappearing messages, voice and video calls, flexible file sharing, and seamless integration into a giant social platform.

But incumbents like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram have years of lead time, hardened protocols (some fully open source), and reputations built on trust. X still has to prove itself — especially after repeated criticism from experts who say several security claims feel premature or overstated.

Should you switch to X Chat right now? 🤔

At this stage, X Chat feels like a public-facing experiment: interesting to test, convenient if you already live on X, but probably not mature enough to replace your most sensitive conversations.

With a modern interface, built-in calling, and the promise of robust encryption, Chat gives X a legitimate shot at building a “super app.” But everything will depend on whether the company can increase transparency, address security gaps highlighted by researchers, and rebuild trust around its data handling.

Your turn: Would you consider using X Chat to replace some of your WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram conversations? What do you expect from a truly “secure” messenger today — and does X earn a place in that conversation?