Session
A decentralised messenger that requires no phone number or email to sign up, routing messages through an onion network.
| Factor | Score |
|---|---|
| privacy | 94 |
| security | 85 |
| usability | 72 |
| features | 68 |
| value | 85 |
Pros
- No phone number or email required to register
- Messages routed through onion network for anonymity
- Decentralised architecture with no central server
- Strong metadata protection
Cons
- No voice or video calls
- Smaller user base and less mature than Signal
- Message delivery can be slower due to onion routing
- Group chats limited to 100 members
Platforms
Overview
Session is a fork of Signal that removes the phone number requirement and routes messages through a decentralised onion network called Lokinet. When you create a Session account, you receive a random Session ID with no link to your real identity. Messages are routed through multiple nodes, preventing any single point from knowing both sender and recipient.
The decentralised architecture means there is no central server that could be compelled to hand over data or shut down the service.
Privacy Architecture
Session's onion routing means that messages pass through three nodes before reaching their destination, similar to Tor. No node sees both the sender and recipient. The service collects no metadata: no IP addresses, no device information, and no contact lists. Even if individual nodes are compromised, the onion routing prevents correlation of senders and recipients.
Who Should Use It
Session is ideal for users who need anonymous messaging without linking to a phone number or email address. It is particularly useful in situations where registering with personal information could be dangerous. The trade-off is reduced features compared to Signal and occasionally slower message delivery due to the onion routing overhead.
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