Ricochet Refresh
An anonymous peer-to-peer instant messenger that connects contacts directly over Tor onion services.
These buttons open the developer's own site, repository or store listing in a new tab. wares.gg does not host downloads.
1 more ways to get Ricochet Refresh
Package managers
- Homebrew
brew install --cask ricochet-refresh
About Ricochet Refresh
Ricochet Refresh is an updated version of the Ricochet messenger from 2014. When it starts, it creates a Tor onion service on your computer, and that address is your contact ID. Messages go directly between contacts over Tor, so there is no central server and contacts do not learn your IP address or location.
This version upgrades security and uses Tor Onion Services v3. It includes built-in file transfer and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It is aimed at whistleblowers, activists and journalists.
Strengths
- No central server and minimal metadata
- Hides IP address and location from contacts
- Built-in file transfer
- Signed release downloads for all three desktops
Limitations
- Both contacts must be online at the same time
- Desktop only, no mobile apps
- Tor connections can be slower than regular messengers
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source, supported by a not-for-profit.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- Blueprint for Free Speech
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- No
- Best suited for
- Journalists, activists and anyone needing anonymous one-to-one messaging
- Categories
- Messaging, Privacy tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Ricochet Refresh
Compare allSoftware that can replace Ricochet Refresh for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Cwtch
Metadata-resistant messaging over Tor with no central servers.
Cwtch is also a metadata-resistant Tor messenger with no central servers, adding an Android app and group chats.
Briar
Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Tor.
Briar sends peer-to-peer encrypted messages over Tor, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, running on Linux and Android, though it is in maintenance mode.
Session
An encrypted messenger with no phone number and no account, routed through an onion network.
Session uses onion routing and distributed service nodes so contacts need not be online together, with mobile clients available.
SimpleX Chat
A messenger with no user identifiers at all, not even a random one, so there is no account to correlate.
SimpleX Chat has no user identifiers and uses self-hostable relay servers, adding mobile and terminal clients and offline delivery.
Quiet
A peer-to-peer team chat app that syncs messages between members' devices over Tor, with no server.
Quiet uses Tor for serverless team chat on desktop and Android, but it is unaudited beta software without direct messages.
qTox
A desktop client for the encrypted peer-to-peer Tox protocol with chat, calls and file transfer.
qTox is a peer-to-peer Tox desktop client adding voice and video calls, but it does not route through Tor onion services.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Jami
A fully peer-to-peer communication platform with no servers relaying your data and no personal information needed to sign up.
RetroShare
A decentralized, encrypted friend-to-friend network for chat, mail, forums, channels and file sharing.
Berty
An open-source peer-to-peer messenger that works without central servers and can operate offline.
Keet
A peer-to-peer chat app for encrypted messages, audio and video calls, and file transfers.
