When you make a regular phone call from your mobile device, it is not guaranteed to be secure. Cellular protocols are not encrypted end-to-end, meaning that audio could be intercepted along the way, such as by carriers, law enforcement, or threat actors. You may have worked to ensure end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for your text messages using a secure messaging app or specific iOS-to-iOS and cross-platform RCS protocols, but the same consideration can be made for voice calls you want to keep private.
What is end-to-end encryption?
End-to-end encryption protects the contents of messages and calls between users. Everything is scrambled in between and can only be unlocked and accessed on the recipient’s device with the correct decryption key. This means that the data can’t be intercepted or read by anyone else, including the tech companies that own the messaging apps.
These are the best apps for encrypted calls
Many of the secure messaging apps that you use for encrypting text conversations can also be used to make private calls:
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Signal: Signal is one of the best privacy-focused messaging apps available, with E2EE for all messages and calls. By default, conversations can only be read or heard by you and the recipient.
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WhatsApp: All messages and calls within WhatsApp are also automatically encrypted end to end.
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Messenger: Facebook Messenger also has E2EE on by default for all conversations, including messages and calls. (Meta just recently removed E2EE for DMs on Instagram.)
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Discord: Discord began rolling out E2EE for voice and video calls in 2024 and has now made this the default setting for all users.
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FaceTime: iOS users can take advantage of E2EE with FaceTime voice and video calls to other Apple devices.
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Viber: Viber is a voice over IP (VoIP) platform that allows for E2EE audio and video calls.
In addition, some video conferencing platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom have options to enable end-to-end encryption for meetings and calls. Calls between Android phones on Google Fi Wireless are also E2EE.
