[WillYouFinish]

Does Signal still fore you to use a phone number? This is a huge deal breaker for a privacy concerned messenger. That's why I prefer using Threema.

[brobinson]

Threema is not open source yet so I wouldn't use it for that reason. I did like their security whitepaper, though, and they do have some impressive clients (Mercedes-Benz, etc.).

[soziawa]

Additionally they have regular audits [1]. Open source only without any actual thorough reviews doesn't cut it in my opinion.

[1]: https://threema.ch/en/blog/posts/audit-2020-en

[viccuad]

Open source is a precondition. They can promise you the world, but if you can't build it yourself and get reproducible builds, who knows what's in there.

[robert_foss]

Yeah, agree. We've had enough fun recently with the likes of the CIA backed Crypto-AG.

[soziawa]

Sure, but a precondition itself doesn't guarantee anything. You still need to pony up the money for actual aufits.

[Vinnl]

Yep, they're still working on that.

[Asraelite]

It seems that Threema charges for the app instead of requiring a phone number. Do they offer anonymous payment options like cryptocurrency or cash by mail?

I'm not sure how data protection works with Google Play and App Store payments, but I feel like this could be a potential privacy problem.

[TimWolla]

You can buy Threema from within their own shop: https://shop.threema.ch/. They support Bitcoin.