Ricochet is an anonymous, secure, and private messaging app that provides an encrypted peer-to-peer connection. It lets users communicate with each other without the need for a central server, meaning that no one else can access the conversation or the data being exchanged. It is also available as a web-based version, with the same features and end-to-end encryption. It uses a combination of Tor hidden services and a custom protocol, allowing for a secure, anonymous, and decentralized way of communication. It also offers a wide range of features, such as encrypted file transfers, anonymous contacts, and a secure chatroom. Ricochet is open source, meaning that all of its code is publicly available and can be verified by anyone. It is also available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Torchat has a file sharing feature, Ricochet does not.
Discontinued The program is no longer updated. The latest version, 1.0, released in February 2014, can still be downloaded from SourceForge.
Discontinued The project is no longer being developed since 2014. The latest version, 0.9.9.553, released in September 2012, can still be downloaded from GitHub.