# Tox & qTox client privacy rating

Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging protocol with no central servers, and qTox, its desktop client for chat, voice, video and file transfer. qTox is now maintained by the TokTok project after the original repository was archived.

## Summary

Tox & qTox client scores 83 out of 100 (grade B) on the messengers criteria. It meets 6 of 8 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, end-to-end encrypted by default, no phone number needed and decentralized. It partly meets metadata protection. It does not meet independent audit.

- Website: https://tox.chat
- Source code: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox
- License: GPL-3.0
- Home page trackers: none found
- Category: [Messengers](https://privacyratings.com/messengers/)
- Grade: B (83/100)

## Criteria

| Criterion | Answer | Note | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open source | Yes | GPL-3.0. | https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/blob/master/LICENSE |
| No trackers or telemetry | Yes | No telemetry or analytics in the source code, and there is no central service to report to. | https://github.com/TokTok/qTox |
| No ads or data sales | Yes | Volunteer-run open source project with no company, ads or data sales. | https://tox.chat/about.html |
| Independent audit | No | No independent audit is published. |  |
| End-to-end encrypted by default | Yes | End-to-end encryption with perfect forward secrecy is the default and only mode for all messages. | https://tox.chat/faq.html |
| No phone number needed | Yes | Identity is a Tox ID public key generated on the device. | https://tox.chat/faq.html |
| Metadata protection | Partial | There are no servers holding contact lists, but Tox does not hide IP addresses from contacts or the public DHT. | https://tox.chat/faq.html |
| Decentralized | Yes | Peer to peer over a distributed hash table, with no central servers. | https://tox.chat/faq.html |

Source: https://privacyratings.com/messengers/tox-qtox-client/
Edit: https://github.com/privacyratings/privacyratings.com/edit/main/ratings/messengers/tox-qtox-client.md