XChat, the new messaging app from X, will launch for iPhone and iPad on April 17, 2026. This app takes the platform’s direct messaging and puts it into its own space. You can pre-order it now on the Apple App Store.
According to Engadget, XChat will allow users to “chat with anybody on X and call each other across devices” in a private, ad-free environment. The launch of XChat follows months of beta testing that began in March 2026, when X released an early version to 1,000 iOS users via Apple’s TestFlight platform.
The beta quickly reached capacity within two hours, later expanding to 5,000 testers. According to TechCrunch, XChat is designed as a more robust version of X’s existing DM feature, with a focus on privacy and a cleaner, conversation-focused interface. An Android version is expected to follow after the iOS launch.
Key Features of XChat
This new app from X offers a range of privacy and messaging features designed to compete with established apps like WhatsApp and Signal. The official XChat account on X has confirmed the April 17 release date. Key features include:
- End-to-end encryption: All messages are secured so only the sender and recipient can read them.
- No ads and no tracking: X promises the app will not display advertisements or track user activity.
- Screenshot blocking: Prevents participants from capturing chat content.
- Disappearing messages: Users can set sensitive messages to vanish after five minutes.
- Message editing and deletion: Sent messages can be edited or deleted for all participants.
- Group chats: Supports up to 481 members in a single conversation.
- Voice and video calls: High-quality calling across devices without sharing phone numbers.
- File sharing: Send documents and other files within chats.
- X account login: No separate registration required; chats sync with the main X app and the chat.x.com web platform.
According to 9to5Mac, XChat is described in its App Store listing as a place to “chat with anyone on X in a private, focused space built for conversation.” The app requires iOS 16.0 or later and is 175.8 MB. An official tagline for the app reads: “Your encrypted chats deserve their own app.”
Launching XChat as its own app marks a shift from Elon Musk’s earlier idea of building an “everything app” on a single platform. Digital Trends reports that making messaging a separate app points to a new strategy of offering specialized services that still connect to the larger X ecosystem. X is also said to be getting ready to launch X Money, a new payment service, soon.
XChat enters a competitive messaging market already dominated by WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal. However, its strong privacy features, ad-free model, and direct integration with X’s user base give it a distinct advantage. For existing X users, this new app offers a seamless way to continue conversations without the distractions of the main timeline.
In conclusion, XChat is X’s new standalone messaging app launching April 17 on iPhone and iPad, offering encrypted chats, no ads, and full sync with the main X platform — a major step in X’s evolution toward a suite of integrated services.
