Keybase

End-to-end encrypted chat, teams and file sharing tied to verifiable public identities.

FreeOpen sourceMessaging apps

Updated Oct 29, 2026 · AppBreakup editorial · Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

Visit Keybase See 5 alternatives

Keybase has been acquired. Acquired by Zoom on 7 May 2020, according to the Keybase blog.

Is Keybase free?

Yes, free to use

License:: BSD-3-Clause

Checked on Keybase's site Oct 29, 2026

Switch from Keybase to

All 5

Signal
Free
Element
Open source
Session
Starting price: From $2.99 a month (Session Pro)

Verified facts: 5 of 5
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 1

About Keybase

Keybase is an encrypted messaging and file-sharing app built on public key cryptography. Each account links to identities elsewhere (social profiles, websites and so on) through signed proofs, so you can check that the person you are messaging really controls those accounts. On top of that it offers one-to-one and group chat, Slack-style teams with channels, exploding messages that delete themselves on a timer, and an encrypted file system that appears as a folder on your computer, with public signed folders as well as private ones. There are also encrypted Git repositories and command-line tools for encrypting and signing. Keybase is free with no ads, its clients are open source under the BSD licence, and it runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. Zoom acquired the company in 2020; the service still runs, but new features have been rare since, so people wanting an actively developed messenger often look at Signal or Element.

Best for: Technical users and small groups who want encrypted chat and files tied to verified identities.

What works

Identity proofs let you verify who you're talking to
Chat, teams, encrypted files and Git repos in one app
Open-source clients on desktop and mobile
Exploding messages with a timer

Why people leave

Few new features since the Zoom acquisition in 2020
Small user base compared with mainstream messengers
Server is closed and can't be self-hosted

Keybase vs Signal, Element and Session

From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.

Attribute	Keybase	Signal	Element	Session
Pricing	Free	Free	Open source	Free plan + paid
Verified price	—	—	—	From $2.99 a month (Session Pro)
Free plan	Free app	Free app	Free app	Yes, private messaging stays free
Open source	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Self-hostable	No	No	Yes	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

Top Keybase alternatives

See all 5

1
Signal
Actively developed, widely used encrypted messenger with calls; far easier to get friends and family onto.
83.8
2
Element
Matrix-based encrypted chat with rooms and spaces, and you can self-host the server for a team.
70.6
3
Session
Signs you up without a phone number or email and routes messages through an onion network.
65.2
4
Threema
Swiss encrypted messenger that also needs no phone number, with a separate work edition.
63.3
5
Wire
Encrypted messaging with team and business plans, a close fit for Keybase's teams feature.
63.1

Why people left Keybase

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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Keybase: common questions

What is Keybase?

Keybase: End-to-end encrypted chat, teams and file sharing tied to verifiable public identities. Best for technical users and small groups who want encrypted chat and files tied to verified identities. Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.

Is Keybase free?

Yes, Keybase is free to use.

Is Keybase open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at keybase/client.

What platforms does Keybase run on?

Keybase is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.

What are the best alternatives to Keybase?

The highest-ranked Keybase alternatives right now are Signal, Element and Session. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

Keybase vs Signal: what's the difference?

Both Keybase and Signal are free to use. Both run on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.

See all 5 Keybase alternatives

Keybase facts

5 of 5 verified

End-to-end encryption: Yes; Checked Nov 8, 2026keybase.io(opens source in a new tab); “A place for work (or not) We use public key cryptography to ensure your messages stay private. Even we can’t read your chats.”
Disappearing messages: Yes; Checked Nov 8, 2026keybase.io(opens source in a new tab); “Share files securely A place for secrets You can set a timer on your most sensitive messages.”
License: BSD-3-Clause; Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: BSD-3-Clause (BSD 3-Clause "New" or "Revised" License).”
Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android; Checked Nov 8, 2026keybase.io(opens source in a new tab); “Installation • Intro • macOS • Linux • Windows • iPhone/iPad • Android”
Owner: Zoom (since 2020); Checked Nov 8, 2026keybase.io(opens source in a new tab); “May 7, 2020 Keybase joins Zoom Today we're announcing that Zoom acquired Keybase .”