XChat App Review: Features, Privacy and How It Stacks Up Against Telegram

Recently, X (formerly Twitter) officially launched its standalone messaging app, X Chat, now available on the Apple App Store.

X Chat separates the direct messaging feature from the main platform and focuses on end-to-end encryption and an ad-free experience. This move is more than just a product launch—it represents X’s effort to strengthen its private communication layer.

Traditionally, X has been a content-driven platform where interactions mainly happen through comments or DMs. With X Chat, the platform is evolving from a content hub into a more complete social + communication ecosystem.

What Is X Chat?

X Chat is an encrypted messaging app rebuilt on top of X’s original DM system. Users can log in directly with their existing X accounts—no additional registration or phone number required.

Once logged in, your existing contacts and connections from X are automatically synced into X Chat.

Key Features

Messaging & Group Chats

• Supports both 1-on-1 conversations and group chats
• Group chats can include up to 350 members
• Users can join groups via public links
• Effectively replaces X’s previous Communities feature

Voice & Video Calls

• Built-in audio and video calling
• No need to switch to external apps
• Calls are protected within X Chat’s privacy framework

File Sharing

• Supports multiple file formats
• Not limited to images or videos
• Files can be sent directly within chats

Privacy & Security

According to X, all messages are protected with end-to-end encryption:

• Encryption keys are generated as user-specific key pairs
• Protected by a user-defined PIN
• PIN is stored locally on the device (not accessible by X)

Additional features include disappearing messages, message recall, delete for everyone, and screenshot notification alerts.

No Ads, No Tracking

• No in-app ads
• No behavioral tracking mechanisms

How to Download and Use X Chat

Currently, X Chat is only available on iOS via the Apple App Store.

XChat is available on iOS 26 or later. Depending on your region, you may need to update your Apple ID region settings before downloading.

The Android version has not yet been released.

How to Getting Started

1.Open X Chat and log in with your X account

2.Set up your encryption key and PIN

3.Enter the chat interface and start messaging

How to Use the Built-in Grok AI

X Chat includes integration with Grok.

XChat's built-in Grok AI lets you long-press any message and select "Ask Grok" to instantly analyze content, expand on ideas, or translate messages — making it particularly useful for multilingual conversations or when you need to quickly process complex information.

One important privacy consideration: when Grok analyzes a message, a non-encrypted copy is temporarily transmitted for processing, which means end-to-end encryption is bypassed for that specific interaction. This doesn't affect the encryption of your other messages, but it's worth keeping in mind if the conversation involves sensitive information.

X Chat vs Telegram

Since its release, X Chat is often compared to Telegram. While they share some similarities, their positioning and use cases differ significantly.

User social relationships

XChat's core advantage lies in its deep integration with the X platform. Once logged in, users can message their existing X followers and contacts directly — no phone number exchange required.

Telegram, by contrast, operates as a standalone messaging ecosystem where users need to build their contact list independently.

Group Size

XChat currently supports group chats of up to 350 members, while Telegram's supergroups can accommodate up to 200,000. For teams managing large-scale communities, Telegram remains the more practical option at this stage.

Encryption

X states that XChat uses end-to-end encryption by default, though several security researchers have noted that its implementation does not yet match the standards set by dedicated encrypted messaging apps like Signal. Telegram does not enable end-to-end encryption by default — users need to manually activate "Secret Chat" mode to enable it.

Platform Ecosystem

XChat is best suited for users already active on X who want to move public interactions into private conversations without leaving the platform. Telegram functions more as a standalone content distribution and community management tool, with a significantly more mature ecosystem of channels, bots, and automation features.

FAQ

1. Are messages synced between X and X Chat?

Yes. X Chat shares the same messaging backend as X. Messages sent or received on either platform are automatically synced in real time.

2. Can X Chat be used on the web?

Yes. You can access it via chat.x.com. All messages will sync across devices.

3. Does X Chat block screenshots completely?

No. It does not block screenshots. Instead, it sends a notification alert to participants when someone takes a screenshot.

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