{
  "slug": "cwtch",
  "category": "messengers",
  "name": "Cwtch",
  "description": "Decentralized, metadata-resistant messenger from the non-profit Open Privacy Research Society. Contacts talk peer to peer over Tor onion services, and optional group chats use untrusted servers that anyone can run.",
  "website": "https://docs.cwtch.im",
  "source": "https://git.openprivacy.ca/cwtch.im/cwtch-ui",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [
    "windows",
    "macos",
    "linux",
    "android"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "CA",
    "name": "Canada",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": null
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "B",
  "score": 89,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Cwtch scores 89 out of 100 (grade B) on the messengers criteria. It meets 7 of 8 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, end-to-end encrypted by default, no phone number needed, metadata protection and decentralized. It does not meet independent audit. It is based in Canada: Five Eyes member.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/messengers/cwtch/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/messengers/cwtch/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://git.openprivacy.ca/cwtch.im/cwtch-ui",
      "note": "MIT."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/im.cwtch.flwtch/latest/",
      "note": "Exodus finds no trackers in the Android app."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://openprivacy.ca/donate/",
      "note": "Funded by donations to the non-profit Open Privacy Research Society, with no ads."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "e2ee_default": {
      "title": "End-to-end encrypted by default",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://docs.cwtch.im/",
      "note": "All communication, including groups, is end-to-end encrypted over Tor v3 onion services."
    },
    "no_phone_number": {
      "title": "No phone number needed",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://docs.cwtch.im/",
      "note": "No phone number or account registration is needed; profiles are identified by onion addresses."
    },
    "metadata_protection": {
      "title": "Metadata protection",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://docs.cwtch.im/docs/groups/introduction/",
      "note": "Contacts connect directly over Tor, and group servers are designed to learn as little as possible about contents or metadata."
    },
    "decentralized": {
      "title": "Decentralized",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://docs.cwtch.im/",
      "note": "Peer to peer over Tor, with no central Cwtch service; anyone can host a group server."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T06:38:22.105Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T06:56:31Z"
}