Elon Musk announces XChat with calling support to take on WhatsApp, Apple iMessage and other messaging platforms

X (formerly Twitter)

Elon Musk has unveiled a new secure messaging service called XChat, aiming to transform X (formerly Twitter) into a full-scale communication platform via an official post on X. The feature is being positioned as a direct competitor to messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Apple’s iMessage, with a focus on privacy, file sharing, and cross-platform calling.

According to Musk, XChat has been built entirely from scratch using Rust, a programming language known for its speed and memory safety. He claims the architecture now uses Bitcoin-style encryption, adding a new layer of privacy to the app’s messaging features. With end-to-end encryption, conversations on XChat are designed to stay completely private — visible only to the sender and receiver.

The encryption methods used reportedly resemble those deployed in cryptocurrency networks, promising a high standard of data security.

XChat key features

The rollout of XChat introduces several advanced features that bring it in line with — and in some areas ahead of — existing encrypted messaging apps:
End-to-End Encryption: All messages are encrypted from the sender to the receiver.
Vanishing Messages: Users can choose to send disappearing messages with timers.
Audio and Video Calls: The platform supports secure calling across devices and does not require a phone number.
File Sharing: Users can send any type of file, with no limitations mentioned.

These additions collectively aim to make XChat a versatile tool for private and professional communication.

Beta rollout and long-term vision

Currently, XChat is available to a limited set of beta testers. A full rollout is expected soon, though no official timeline has been confirmed. The announcement follows X’s earlier pause on encrypted direct messaging, suggesting that the company has overhauled its messaging backend completely.

Musk’s vision for X as ‘Super app’
Musk’s long-term vision for X includes transforming it into a “super app” — a unified platform combining payments, messaging, and social networking, similar to China’s WeChat. XChat appears to be a major step in that direction.