X has officially launched XChat, a standalone messaging app for iOS and iPadOS devices. The release follows a brief period where the app was available for pre-order on the App Store.
The app provides a space for direct messaging separate from the main X social feed. Users sign in with their existing X account credentials, which pulls in their contacts from their network, including friends, family, creators, and colleagues. This means there's no need to exchange phone numbers or send invites.
Privacy is a central focus. Messages are end-to-end encrypted using a unique key pair protected by a local PIN. According to the App Store listing, this means that no one, including X itself, can read message contents. The company also notes that the app contains no advertisements and uses no tracking.
XChat includes a mix of standard and advanced messaging features. Users can edit or delete messages for everyone in a thread, share large photo, video, and file attachments, and participate in large group chats. The app also offers privacy tools such as disappearing messages and a built-in feature designed to block screenshots during private conversations.
You can download XChat from the App Store for free at the link below.