Olvid The European alternative to WhatsApp
Open SourceANSSI-certified messenger without central user database from France
About Olvid
Encrypted messenger with proprietary cryptographic protocols that operates without a central user database. Unlike WhatsApp and Signal, Olvid requires neither a phone number nor an email address and has been certified by the French National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI).
Highlights
- ✓ ANSSI-certified (CSPN)
- ✓ No phone number or email required
- ✓ Proprietary cryptographic protocols, independent of Signal protocol
- ✓ Share files without size limits
- ✓ Cross-platform (iOS, Android, macOS, Windows)
Why European?
- → French company under EU data protection law
- → ANSSI certification by French national authority
- → Server has no access to message content (migration from AWS to Clever Cloud underway, SecNumCloud as target)
- → No central user database, no metadata collection
Pricing
Free (personal use) · Business plans on request
Frequently asked questions about Olvid
What is Olvid and what is it used for? +
Olvid is a French encrypted messenger from Olvid SAS in Paris, founded in 2018. The app offers end-to-end encrypted messages, voice and video calls without storing metadata on the server. Olvid is certified by the French cybersecurity authority ANSSI (CSPN). Since December 2023, Olvid has been the prescribed messenger for French government members.
Does Olvid run on European infrastructure? +
Olvid uses a serverless architecture on AWS with data centers in Paris and Frankfurt. The company is migrating parts of the infrastructure to Clever Cloud, a French sovereign hosting provider, and aims for a SecNumCloud-certified multicloud strategy. No personal data is stored on the Olvid server. The encryption is designed so that the server has no access to message content.
What distinguishes Olvid from WhatsApp? +
Olvid stores no metadata on the server and does not require a phone number, while WhatsApp stores metadata and requires a phone number. Olvid is ANSSI-certified and used by the French government. WhatsApp belongs to Meta (USA) and is subject to the CLOUD Act. Both offer end-to-end encryption for messages, but Olvid's security architecture is independent of trust in the server.
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Entry verified on 08.05.2026