Olvid
French messenger with no phone number and no central directory, holding an ANSSI CSPN visa
Quick Overview
| Company | Olvid SAS |
|---|---|
| Category | Messaging Apps |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Founded | 2019 |
| EU Presence | EU (France) |
| Data Location | Amazon Web Services (AWS), region not stated by Olvid; the server only relays encrypted payloads |
| Open Source | Yes |
| Compliance | ANSSI CSPN security visas (iOS and Android apps) |
| Pricing | Free / Pro €4.99/user/month incl. tax (in-app) / Business €9.90/user/month excl. tax / Enterprise €9.90/user/month + €4,990/year |
| Free Option | Free tier; 1-month free trial of the in-app Pro option |
| Replaces | WhatsApp, Signal, Microsoft Teams chat |
Detailed Review
Olvid is a French messenger, made by Olvid SAS in Paris, that needs no phone number and keeps no central user directory, so an Olvid account is not listed anywhere a stranger could search for it. The Olvid apps for Android and iOS are open source under AGPL-3.0, and Olvid has published the code of its distribution server as well, which means the part that moves messages can be read and not only the part that encrypts them.
Olvid holds ANSSI CSPN security visas for its iOS and Android apps, so the certification attaches to the software people install rather than to a data centre beneath it.
Olvid is free to use, with an in-app Pro option at €4.99 per user per month including tax and a one-month free trial of that option. For organisations, Olvid Business costs €9.90 per user per month excluding tax, and Olvid Enterprise costs €9.90 per user per month plus €4,990 a year and adds SSO and MDM.
The caveat with Olvid is the hosting. Olvid names Amazon Web Services as its host and does not say which AWS region the service runs in, so a French company sits on an American infrastructure provider in a location Olvid leaves unstated. Olvid states that its server only relays encrypted payloads, which limits what that provider holds, but a buyer whose procurement rules reach the subprocessor and the data location will have to ask Olvid for the region directly.
What Olvid does well
- No phone number and no central user directory
- Android and iOS apps open source under AGPL-3.0, with the distribution server code published
- ANSSI CSPN security visas for the iOS and Android apps
- Free tier, with a one-month trial of the in-app Pro option
- Business and Enterprise plans, with SSO and MDM on Enterprise
Where Olvid falls short
- Hosted on Amazon Web Services, a US infrastructure provider
- Olvid does not state which AWS region the service runs in
- No directory to search, so every contact has to be added deliberately
- Enterprise adds €4,990 a year on top of €9.90 per user per month
Standout feature. Certification on the client: Olvid holds ANSSI CSPN security visas for the iOS and Android apps themselves, which is where a messenger does its encrypting.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No phone number and no central user directory
- Android and iOS apps open source under AGPL-3.0, with the distribution server code published
- ANSSI CSPN security visas for the iOS and Android apps
- Free tier, with a one-month trial of the in-app Pro option
- Business and Enterprise plans, with SSO and MDM on Enterprise
Cons
- Hosted on Amazon Web Services, a US infrastructure provider
- Olvid does not state which AWS region the service runs in
- No directory to search, so every contact has to be added deliberately
- Enterprise adds €4,990 a year on top of €9.90 per user per month
Alternatives to Olvid
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Olvid?
Olvid is a French messenger, made by Olvid SAS in Paris, that needs no phone number and keeps no central user directory, so an Olvid account is not listed anywhere a stranger could search for it. The Olvid apps for Android and iOS are open source under AGPL-3.0, and Olvid has published the code of its distribution server as well, which means the part that moves messages can be read and not only the part that encrypts them.
Where is Olvid based?
Olvid operates from Paris, France, which places it under EU (France). Compliance: ANSSI CSPN security visas (iOS and Android apps).
What does Olvid cost?
Free / Pro €4.99/user/month incl. tax (in-app) / Business €9.90/user/month excl. tax / Enterprise €9.90/user/month + €4,990/year. Free tier; 1-month free trial of the in-app Pro option.
Who is Olvid best for?
Individuals and organisations that want accounts with no phone number behind them and apps with a French security visa. Certification on the client: Olvid holds ANSSI CSPN security visas for the iOS and Android apps themselves, which is where a messenger does its encrypting.
What are the drawbacks of Olvid?
Hosted on Amazon Web Services, a US infrastructure provider. Olvid does not state which AWS region the service runs in. No directory to search, so every contact has to be added deliberately. Enterprise adds €4,990 a year on top of €9.90 per user per month.
Is Olvid a good alternative to WhatsApp?
Olvid is built as a European alternative to WhatsApp: French messenger with no phone number and no central directory, holding an ANSSI CSPN visa. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does Olvid compare to other Messaging Apps?
Olvid is one of several European Messaging Apps we cover. It is most often compared with WhatsApp, Signal, Microsoft Teams chat.