Zoom is more secure than it used to be, but it’s not end-to-end encrypted like these 4 video chat alternatives.



Video conferencing app Zoom has become a household name over the last couple of months as people stayed at home during COVID-19 lockdown. After a surge in its user base brought out security and privacy problems, Zoom is quickly improving. 


Newly launched Zoom 5.0 is the biggest update so far, with measures intended to stop Zoom bombing as well as a better level of encryption. But did you know that the video conferencing app still isn’t end-to-end encrypted?


Nor will it be anytime soon—at least if you are a free account user. End-to-end encryption is being introduced, but only for those who pay for Zoom.




Zoom CEO Eric Yuan confirmed this on the company’s earnings call on June 2, saying that the video chat app doesn’t plan to add end-to-end encryption for free accounts because it wants to be able to “work with law enforcement.”




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In case it’s not a familiar term, end-to-end encryption is the gold standard of encryption, because it means no one has the keys to your data, even Zoom itself—or law enforcement.


But if you are taking part in a particularly private meeting or chat, you might want that extra level of security. Here are four end-to-end encrypted Zoom alternatives you can try.



FaceTime


Like most of Apple’s products, FaceTime is both easy to use and secure—and it works across all your Apple devices. So if you’re an Apple user, the icing on the cake is the fact that FaceTime is also end-to-end encrypted.


But if you’re not an Apple user, or one of your video chat-mates doesn’t own an Apple device, you’ll need to seek out something else instead.



Signal


I am a huge fan of Signal, a cool app that’s beloved of the security community but hasn’t quite broken into the masses as yet. Signal has been adding cool new features to try and catch up with its biggest rival WhatsApp, and it’s easy to use, so why not give it a try? But make sure you bear in mind that Signal doesn’t support group chat yet, so you can only use it for your one-to-one video calls.




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WhatsApp


It’s owned by Facebook, so some people might sneer at the thought of using it, but WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted for video chats for up to eight. It’s also a good video chat option because so many people use it‑even parents and grandparents tend to have WhatsApp installed on their phones.


But there’s also something to remember—once you go above eight, you’ll be redirected to Facebook’s Messenger Rooms, which isn’t end-to-end encrypted and adheres to Facebook’s own privacy policies. 



Google Duo



Google Duo is another easy to use app for your video calling needs. Of course, like the other apps mentioned it’s end-to-end encrypted—a fact that Google is now highlighting in a notice when you dial into your call.


But it’s also easy to use and functional for groups of up to 12, so it’s a valid Zoom alternative for your more private video chats.




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Update June 03 at 08:45 PT



I’ve received several emails from readers asking for more secure and private options to Zoom. This latest article was intended to highlight alternatives that are end-to-end encrypted, but I have also written another 

Zoom alternatives list

 which includes some options such as 

Jitsi

. This isn’t end-to-end encrypted yet but it’s certainly a secure and private option.