X, owned by Elon Musk, has launched a standalone messaging app called XChat for iOS users, moving its direct messaging features out of the main platform into a separate product.
The app became publicly available in April 2026 after a short beta test. It allows users to message existing X contacts through private and group chats, make audio and video calls, and share files. It also includes features such as disappearing messages, message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking.
In its description on Apple’s App Store, the company states: “Privacy is the foundation. Every message is end-to-end encrypted with a key pair unique to you, protected by a PIN that never leaves your device.” It adds, “No one can read your conversation. Not even X.”
XChat is currently limited to iOS devices, and the company has not said when or if it will be available on Android or desktop platforms. While the app is now public, there is no detailed information on whether it has been fully rolled out across all regions.
The release suggests a change in direction for X. Musk had earlier described plans to turn the platform into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, and commerce. Instead, the company, working alongside xAI and backed by SpaceX, now appears to be building separate apps for different services.
XChat will also take over the Communities feature, which is being removed from the main X app after facing low usage and spam issues. Moving those users into XChat may help the new app gain early traction.
However, some security researchers have questioned the app’s encryption claims. In November 2025, software engineer David Nepozitek wrote that XChat uses a shared “conversation key” that “basically never changes,” adding that “if the conversation key is ever compromised, all past and future messages can be decrypted.”
After the public release in April 2026, the iOS development group Mysk said the app’s claim of end-to-end encryption is “misleading at best,” arguing that the system could still allow the company itself to access it.
X has not provided a detailed response to these concerns but maintains that XChat operates without ads or tracking.
The launch also comes as X continues work on its payments product, often called “X Money.” Musk had earlier pointed to late 2024 and later April 2026 as possible launch timelines, but the service has faced delays due to regulatory approvals in the United States.
The company has said more updates to XChat are expected in the coming months, including additional features and possible expansion to other platforms.
