So, what are some good Wickr alternatives?
App Security #users ease Functio- Price
& privacy Germany of use nality
Element o - - o Free
Signal + o + + Free
Telegram - + ++ ++ Free
Threema + o o o $3-$4
Whatsapp o ++ + + Free
Wire + o - - Free
++ very good + good o good enough - badhttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-UlA4-tslROBDS9IqHal...
My understanding is that their intended audience is the general public, not crypto-security geeks, and as part of that they wanted integration with existing address books. With a small team, developing all the security and usability was more important than eliminating the phone number piece.
They apparently don't retain any data but the phone number, and I think the registration date and last logon date.