# Delta Chat

48 Hacker News commenters recommended Delta Chat and 8 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 12 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Recommended as a private, encrypted messenger that runs over ordinary email and needs no phone number. Critics agree the interface is rough and less polished.

## Why people recommend it

- Runs over ordinary email servers (6 comments): "piggiebacks on normal email infrastructure, making it really hard to block without massive collateral damage" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49500838)) "it's essentially a chat client with all the features you would expect but using SMTP as the protocol" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48518553)) "its killer feature is inbox-fluidity due to only using them as dumb relays" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46496583))
- Encrypted, private messaging (5 comments): "It seems like a solid option if you want text only. Built on mail protocols, encrypted, allows for decentralization." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46959359)) "If you need decentralized messaging and not some cryptocoin front, Delta Chat is what you're looking for." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47705601)) "Delta Chat has everything you could want in a private, secure messaging app." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48823949))
- Free and open source (3 comments): "Delta.Chat is really underappreciated, open-source and distributed." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46352631)) "have it by default for years without any payment requirements" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49695810)) "free and verifiable alternatives like Delta Chat and SimpleX" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50320910))
- Easy to use, works well (5 comments): "it's a lot more "just works" than Matrix, still some limitations but improving quickly" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46000559)) "It is easy, it works, bots are easy and the concept is improving." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45991655)) "My family has found it to be super useful and effective." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49492487))

## What people warn about

- Interface feels rough or janky (3 comments): "The Delta client is a bit UI/UX behind but not horrible" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46106424)) "Delta Chat does that but it's a bit janky." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48708656)) "the poor UI / design makes the app unappealing." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49697341))
- Lacks forward secrecy, behind Signal (2 comments): "Delta Chat seems promising, but does not support forward secrecy." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46078304)) "Delta Chat is years behind Signal's protections" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49480771))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Signal](https://hackerapproved.com/p/signal.md): 486 recommend
- [Bitchat](https://hackerapproved.com/p/bitchat.md): 56 recommend
- [Element](https://hackerapproved.com/p/element.md): 50 recommend
- [Briar](https://hackerapproved.com/p/briar.md): 50 recommend
- [SimpleX Chat](https://hackerapproved.com/p/simplex.md): 45 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Delta Chat", https://hackerapproved.com/p/delta-chat/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).