The best sexting apps for discreet chats in 2026

Signal is the best sexting app for most people, and it was a favorite among the experts I spoke with. This encrypted messaging app isn’t a place to find new sexting buddies, but it is a great app for discreetly chatting with people you already know and trust. (Our sister site PCMag ranked it the No. 1 secure messaging app.)

Suzannah Weiss, a sex therapist and resident sexologist for Fleshy, recommends Signal for users who are “concerned about hackers or leaks,” noting that it prevents advertisers and government agencies from eavesdropping on your messages.

One of the coolest things about this app is that its open-source code is publicly available for anyone to view, so you know they aren’t reading your messages. There’s no data collection, no ads, and no affiliate marketers. “Signal stands out for its open-source design, minimal metadata retention, and built-in privacy features such as disappearing messages and screen security,” says Orenstein.

However, it’s worth noting that Signal has recently been in the headlines. In January 2026, FBI Director Kash Patel announced an investigation into Signal chats used by Minnesota residents regarding ICE movements. While Signal’s end-to-end encryption means the content of your messages remains secure (Signal can’t read them, so they can’t hand them over), this news highlights that the app is under increased government scrutiny.

You can share images, text, or video “Stories” that disappear after 24 hours or set a custom timer for messages to disappear. You can also turn off the “Stories” feature, which is a huge plus. (I deleted Snapchat solely because I was scared that the saucy photos I sent to my partner would accidentally end up on my Story.)

And, if you’re a faster typist than texter, there’s a desktop version available for Mac that lets you link devices so you can auto-transfer your recent chat and media history. This way, you don’t have to start your conversations from scratch. Plus, the “Screen Security” feature, which is enabled by default on the Windows 11 desktop app, prevents screenshots of your chats for an extra layer of security. (You can disable it in the app’s privacy settings, if you need to.)

While Signal does require a real phone number at sign-up, it’s not visible to just anyone (unless you want it to be). You can set up a unique username and adjust your privacy settings so people can’t find you by your phone number, so you can connect with new people and remain anonymous.