Wire

Overview

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with Skype co-founder Janus Friis among its founders, Wire is an end-to-end encrypted communication & collaboration platform. It provides encrypted messaging, voice and video capabilities, with open-source core code on GitHub and self-hosting support. Adopted by German federal agencies and the Federal Ministry of Defence, Wire is a representative enterprise secure communication solution for organizations with the strictest security requirements.

Unlike mass-market messaging apps, Wire targets high-compliance organizations and enterprises: end-to-end encryption by default, data hosted in Europe, private deployment with source code audits, GDPR compliance and ISO 27001 certification. Its open-source approach lets security teams independently verify the implementation, which is key to winning government-level trust.

Key Strengths

• End-to-end encryption by default: Based on the Proteus protocol, message, voice and video content cannot be decrypted on the server side, so communication stays private even if servers are compromised. See data encryption practices.
• Open source and auditable: Core code is public on GitHub, with self-hosting and source code audit support for private deployment.
• Strong enterprise compliance: GDPR compliant, ISO 27001 certified, with data hosted in Europe, meeting high-compliance requirements in finance and government.
• Full platform coverage: Web, desktop (Windows/macOS/Linux) and mobile (iOS/Android) clients with group audio and video calls.
• Government-level trust: Adopted by German federal agencies and the Federal Ministry of Defence, with independent third-party audits and high security credibility.

Product Ecosystem

Wire Pro

The standard plan for enterprises and professional teams, offering end-to-end encrypted messaging, voice, video calls and cloud storage, with organization management and an admin console.

Wire Enterprise

Adds enterprise capabilities on top of Pro such as SSO, audit logs, compliance and data controls, plus dedicated deployment and support for organizations with stricter security and compliance needs.

Wire Red

A special edition for government and public-sector organizations, offering stricter encryption and compliance features for security-sensitive scenarios.

Wire for Web

A browser version that needs no client installation, enabling quick encrypted communication access from any device for visitors and external collaborators.

Limitations

• Limited ecosystem: Third-party apps and bots are far fewer than Slack and Microsoft Teams, with integration relying mainly on APIs and custom builds.
• Consumer free plan discontinued: The free personal plan has been retired, so individuals must subscribe to Pro, raising the entry barrier.
• Simpler audio/video: Advanced features such as large meetings, recording and captions are less mature than platforms like Zoom.
• Migration cost: Switching from existing collaboration platforms involves data migration and team habit adjustments, with a longer transition period.

Use Cases

• High-compliance organizations (★★★★★): Finance, government, healthcare and other industries with strict data security and compliance requirements. See remote team toolchains.
• Enterprises needing private deployment (★★★★★): Self-hosting and source code audits suit scenarios where data must not leave the country.
• Teams requiring end-to-end encryption （★★★★☆）: Teams whose communication content is sensitive and demands end-to-end encryption guarantees.
• Teams needing a rich collaboration ecosystem （★★☆☆☆）: Ecosystem and integrations are weaker than Slack and Teams. Compare in collaboration platform comparisons.

Pricing

Note: The free consumer plan has been discontinued; prices are approximate published rates, refer to the official website for current quotes.

FAQ

• How is Wire more secure than regular chat apps? Wire encrypts content end-to-end by default so it cannot be decrypted on the server side, and its open-source core with self-hosting and source code audits lets the security implementation be independently verified. See data encryption best practices.

• Is Wire free? The free consumer plan has been discontinued; Wire now offers team plans starting with Pro (about €8.5/user/month) and enterprise subscriptions; see SaaS billing best practices.

• Can it be self-hosted? Yes. Wire's core code is open source and supports self-hosting for private deployment, suitable for high-compliance enterprises that need data to remain in-country; see the server selection guide.

• How to choose between Wire, Slack and Teams? Choose Wire when security and compliance come first; choose Slack or Microsoft Teams when you need rich integrations and collaboration ecosystems. See team communication tool comparisons.