Wire
E2E encrypted messaging with MLS protocol, enterprise group features, and European data sovereignty. Now backed by Schwarz Group.
What should journalists know about Wire?
Wire is the only mainstream messenger with a full production implementation of MLS (Messaging Layer Security), the IETF-standardized protocol that Wire's own engineers helped define. MLS supports federated E2E encrypted groups with 2,000+ participants — something Signal and WhatsApp cannot match. Wire doesn't require a phone number to register (email or username works), which matters for source protection. The enterprise features — guest rooms, team management, compliance exports — make it a realistic newsroom-wide deployment, not just a reporter's side channel. But Wire's ownership history is messy. The holding company moved from Luxembourg to the US (Delaware) in 2019 for fundraising, then back to Germany in 2020. In April 2024, Schwarz Group (parent of Lidl/Kaufland, Europe's largest retailer) took a strategic stake and is co-developing 'Wire on STACKIT' for sovereign European infrastructure. That's good for financial sustainability but ties Wire to a retail conglomerate's digital ambitions. Wire stores more metadata than Signal — it keeps an unencrypted list of contacts and logs connection metadata for up to 72 hours. The Swiss BÜPF surveillance law revision (proposed 2025) could force Swiss-based providers to retain metadata and comply with real-time surveillance orders, though E2E encrypted content would remain protected. Wire's operational center is now Berlin, not Zurich. For maximum metadata minimization, Signal remains the gold standard. For team communication that scales beyond Signal's limitations, Wire is the strongest encrypted option available.
Newsroom-wide encrypted communication. Large encrypted group calls (up to 25 audio, 12 video). File sharing under E2E encryption. Organizations wanting European data sovereignty. Teams that need guest access for external collaborators.
Maximum metadata minimization — Signal retains far less. Source communication where anonymity is critical — use Signal or SecureDrop. Journalists already on Signal with established source relationships. Anyone uncomfortable with Wire's corporate ownership changes.
Security & Privacy
Data is scrambled while being sent to their servers
Data is scrambled when stored on their servers
Where servers are located — affects which governments can request your data
Privacy policy summary
All content is E2E encrypted via MLS protocol. Wire does not sell data or use it for advertising. Messages temporarily stored on servers for delivery, then deleted. Wire logs connection metadata for up to 72 hours. Contact lists stored unencrypted on server side. Swiss operations subject to evolving BÜPF surveillance law.
How to protect yourself:
Verify key fingerprints for sensitive contacts — Wire supports device verification. Use timed (ephemeral) messages for conversations that shouldn't persist. Register with a dedicated email rather than your primary — Wire stores contact graphs. Understand that Wire's metadata retention exceeds Signal's. For the highest-risk source communication, pair Wire (team coordination) with Signal or SecureDrop (source contact). Review Wire's device list regularly to catch unauthorized sessions.
First messenger with full MLS (IETF RFC 9420) production implementation. Open-source clients independently audited by Kudelski Security and X41 D-Sec. E2E encryption on by default for all content types including calls and file sharing. No phone number required for registration. Stores more metadata than Signal (contact lists, 72-hour connection logs) but well above industry average. Ownership changes and Swiss surveillance law evolution warrant monitoring.
Who Owns This
Known issues
Ownership instability — holding company moved Luxembourg to US (2019) to Germany (2020), now has Schwarz Group as strategic investor. Wire stores unencrypted contact lists on servers, a known metadata concern since 2017. Swiss BÜPF surveillance law revision (proposed 2025) could impose metadata retention and real-time surveillance requirements on Swiss-based providers — Proton has already begun moving infrastructure out of Switzerland in response. Wire's 2018 privacy policy change from defending user privacy to 'will share data if required by law' was seen as a significant retreat. Enterprise focus has deprioritized personal/consumer features. Free tier exists but is not prominently marketed — Wire's homepage and pricing page push enterprise plans.
Pricing
Free personal tier. Pro: $5.83/user/month (annual). Enterprise: $9.50/user/month (annual). On-premises deployment available.
This is an editorial assessment based on publicly available information as of 2026-04-02, using our published methodology. Independent security review is pending. Security posture can change at any time. This is not a guarantee of safety.
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