X launched XChat, its stand-alone messaging app, to the public on Friday, April 24, 2026. The app is initially available on iOS and lets users message, share files, make audio and video calls, and join group chats with their X contacts.
X first tested XChat with a small group of beta users earlier in 2026 before the broader release. At launch, the app includes privacy-oriented features such as editable and deletable messages, disappearing messages, and screenshot blocking. X states there are no ads or tracking in the app, and that all messages are end-to-end encrypted and PIN protected. However, security experts have previously disputed the company’s encryption claims and said XChat appears less secure than alternatives like Signal. Those experts will need to re-evaluate the app now that it is publicly available.
XChat is also taking over as the new home for X’s Communities feature, which the company is shutting down due to low usage and high spam volumes. The overlap in timing could drive early installs as community members migrate to the new app.
The launch represents a shift from owner Elon Musk’s earlier plan to build X into a single “everything app” covering messaging, payments, shopping, AI, and more. Instead, xAI — Musk’s AI company, which owns X and is itself owned by Musk’s other company SpaceX — is now building a suite of separate apps. A dedicated payments app is also in testing but not yet publicly available.
X lead designer Benji Taylor indicated that further updates are planned, describing the current release as “just the beginning of what we’re building for messaging.”
Source: TechCrunch