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Two things. First, TalkOnce uses post-quantum encryption, so traffic recorded today can't be broken by a future quantum computer. Second, you sign up with no phone number, email, or name — there's no account identity to leak or hand over. We hold no keys and collect no personal data.

No. TalkOnce creates a private cryptographic identity on your device. You share an invite with people you want to talk to — nothing personal is required, ever.

TalkOnce is ephemeral by design: your history lives on your device, not our servers. If you made an encrypted backup, you can restore your account and history onto a new phone using your backup file and passphrase. Without a backup, your account can't be recovered — which is the same trade-off that keeps it private. We recommend creating a backup and storing it somewhere safe.

Backups are optional and zero-knowledge. The backup is encrypted on your device with a passphrase only you know, before it goes anywhere. Keep the file yourself, or use the optional cloud copy — either way, our servers only ever hold ciphertext we cannot open, so we could not read your backup even if compelled. If you lose the passphrase, no one — including us — can recover it, so keep it safe.

You share an invite link (talkonce.app/i#code) or a QR code. The invite code lives in the link's #fragment — the part of a URL that browsers never send to any server — so even we can't see who invited whom. Once connected, every conversation has a 60-digit safety number you can compare in person or by QR scan to verify you're talking to the right person.

Standard is the fast everyday experience, fully end-to-end encrypted. Shielded tightens your metadata footprint. Blackout routes everything over Tor with cover traffic and size padding, and blocks first messages to unverified contacts. Every level is encrypted; higher levels trade a little convenience for less metadata — while Blackout is on, calls and instant push pause, because both would expose your network address. You can change your level anytime in Settings.

Yes. Calls are end-to-end encrypted. When a direct connection isn't possible, encrypted media is relayed through our infrastructure — but the relay can't decrypt it. We never record or retain calls.

TalkOnce never tracks you. Free members see one sponsored card — the same card for everyone, and never inside your private chats or groups. We never target, track, or profile: our servers can't tell who saw an ad, only how many times it was shown. No ad networks or third-party code, ever. Optional paid plans that remove the card entirely are coming after launch.

Only what's needed to route an encrypted message: an opaque routing address, the encrypted envelope (which we can't open), rough timing and size, and — if you enable push — a notification flag. We can't see your messages, your calls, or who you are. The full detail is in our Privacy Policy.

Nothing is lost. Your messages, contacts, and settings stay on your device across updates. An update never wipes your data.

TalkOnce is launching on iOS first, with Android to follow. This page will be updated when Android is available.