Signal is the best sexting app for most people, and it was also a favorite among the experts I spoke to. This encrypted messaging app isn’t a place to find new sexting friends, but it’s a great app to discreetly chat with people you already know and trust. (Sister site PCMag ranked it the #1 secure messaging app.)
Susannah Weiss, a sex therapist and resident sexologist at Freshy, recommends Signal for users who are “concerned about hackers and data leaks,” noting that it can prevent advertisers and government agencies from eavesdropping on messages.
One of the best things about this app is that its open-source code is publicly available for anyone to see, so you know they aren’t reading your messages. There is no data collection, advertising, or affiliate marketers. “Signal stands out for its open-source design, minimal metadata retention, and built-in privacy features such as lost messages and screen security,” Orenstein said.
However, it’s worth noting that Signal has made headlines this year. In January 2026, FBI Director Kash Patel announced an investigation into Signal chats used by Minnesota residents regarding ICE activities. Signal’s end-to-end encryption keeps the content of your messages safe (Signal can’t read your messages, so it can’t pass them on), but the news highlights the app’s increased government scrutiny.
A custom disappearing message timer is a lifesaver when exchanging nudes. Unlike other apps that start the clock forward as soon as a message is sent, a disappearing message you receive in Signal won’t start a countdown timer until the recipient opens and reads it. You can share “stories” of images, text, or videos that disappear after 24 hours, or set a custom timer for messages to disappear. You can even turn off the Stories feature completely, which is a big plus. (I deleted Snapchat because I was afraid the sassy photos I sent my partner would accidentally end up on my story.)
And if you’re more of a typist than a texter, we have a desktop version for Mac and PC that lets you link your devices and automatically transfer your recent chats and media history. This way you don’t have to start the conversation from scratch. Additionally, the Windows 11 desktop app has a “Screen Security” feature enabled by default that prevents explicit chats from being automatically captured and saved by Microsoft Recall. Note that while Screen Security blocks previews and prevents you from accidentally taking screenshots on your device, it cannot prevent suspicious recipients from taking screenshots on your device.
Signal requires your real phone number when you sign up, but it’s not visible to everyone (unless you want it to be). Stay anonymous and connect with new people by setting a unique username and adjusting your privacy settings so no one can find you by your phone number.
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