Beeper Adds End-to-End Encryption and On-device Accounts

Beeper, a multi-service messaging software that lets users access all of their chat apps from a single interface, is relaunching its app on Wednesday in an effort to provide a more secure version that does not rely on its own cloud services. Beeper is also launching subscription options that offer more accounts than its free tier and powerful features like AI voice note transcriptions, reminders, the option to send messages later, and an incognito mode that allows you to view messages without marking them as read.

Also members of the Beeper Plus get access to an Incognito Mode, voice message transcription powered by AI, and message scheduling.

The software is currently owned by Automattic, the company that makes WordPress.com. Beeper was purchased by Automattic for $125 million in 2024, and it is nearly fully merged with rival Texts.com, which Automattic had purchased for $50 million the previous year.

A year after the parent company Automattic combined the messaging app with competitor Texts.com, Beeper has been rebranded. Users of the app can access their chats from a number of platforms, such as Google Chat, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, WhatsApp, X, Signal, Matrix, Slack, Google Chat, Discord, LinkedIn, and Google Messages (SMS/RCS). Instead of connecting to Beeper Cloud, users can now choose to connect to these services on-device using end-to-end encryption (E2EE). The app’s basic functionalities are still free, but extra features and customization choices are available with a Beeper Plus membership.

It currently operates under the Beeper brand and employs a total of 30 people, including contractors. Although Apple has disabled this feature in previous iterations, Beeper may also link users to their iMessage chats on Mac machines only.

The platform declared that it would be adding cross-platform support for Beeper on-device accounts. This implies that customers can use the Beeper app to access a variety of chat services on their computer or phone, but they have the option to not save their data on Beeper Cloud servers. According to the corporation, cloud-based messaging support will soon be discontinued.

Automattic claims that the ultimate objective is to make it easier to manage the issue of having too many messaging apps while maintaining the security of those conversations.

The company claims that each time a user signs into the Beeper app on a different device, the Beeper on-device accounts will need to be set up. When using on-device accounts, users will benefit from E2EE on devices that enable this feature, unlike Beeper Cloud.

WhatsApp (including WhatsApp Business), Instagram, Telegram, Google Chat, Messenger, Signal, LinkedIn, and X (previously Twitter) all allow users to create accounts on their devices. Support for Slack and Discord accounts on devices has not yet been added to the platform.

Although the basic features of the app are still free, users can now choose to upgrade to Beeper Plus, which adds new premium features. These consist of voice message transcription, message scheduling (send later), reminders, custom app icons, support for up to three accounts from the same network (up to ten accounts total), and an Incognito mode that lets users preview chats without sending a read receipt.

According to Beeper CEO Kishan Bagaria, the app previously connected with Beeper Cloud before interacting with the messaging network. Users can now choose to switch to Beeper on their device, which will allow the app to connect to the messaging network directly and without the middleman, even though that system is still the default.

In an interview with TechCrunch before the app’s relaunch, Bagaria pointed out that it guarantees that end-to-end encryption is maintained and your privacy is as good as the official app. However, it’s unclear if the companies involved will value having their own apps bypassed.

“Some of these companies are okay with this, and we have good relationships with some of them,” Bagaria stated. “Others, we haven’t heard much at all.”

In an effort to prevent probable messaging network provider shutdowns, Beeper makes every effort to support the first-party apps’ revenue models. For instance, Beeper will also display any advertisements that are displayed on Telegram.

Furthermore, messaging app developers may face pressure to abandon a solution similar to Beeper’s due to EU legislation mandating that messaging services be interoperable.

In addition to the relaunch, users will have the opportunity to upgrade to Beeper Plus, a new premium plan that costs $9.99 per month and gives them access to ten messaging services rather than the five that are available to free users.

Additionally, Plus subscribers can read messages in incognito mode to avoid feeling compelled to reply right away, schedule messages to be sent later, set reminders to follow up on chats, view AI voice note transcriptions (processed via OpenAI’s Whisper model with user consent), read messages in a different app icon, and access multiple accounts per network.

The needs of corporations or social media managers are taken into consideration while designing Beeper Plus Plus, an even higher tier that starts at $49.99 per month and grants access to limitless accounts. 

Additionally, power users have the option to purchase a “Beeper Plus Plus” package, which permits “unlimited” accounts. Beeper Plus Plus is priced at $49.99/month (about Rs. 4,300) while the Beeper Plus plan is $9.99 (approximately Rs. 860) per month. However, the firm claims that “super early” funders receive free, permanent access to Beeper Plus features, and current Beeper users will receive 12 accounts for free.