Chris McCabe the co-founder is asking for funding so they can continue to develop the app.
This news surprises me, but at the same time I’m not surprised that Session hasn’t gotten a lot of traction lately because there are still so many core features missing like rich text formatting, the ability to create solo groups, etc…
I’m also surprised that the appeal doesn’t give a specific dollar amount of how much they need to survive the next couple of months.
I want Sessions to survive, because even if a lot of people aren’t on it, it is my preferred messaging platform for talking to complete strangers on the internet.
I hear you. But everybody’s got their own user case.
These are the features I personally want the most.
I don’t use Session to talk to friends or family. I prefer Signal for that.
For me, Sessions is specifically for conversations with complete strangers on the internet. And I’m not talking about journalists or media organizations. For e.g., If I wanted to chat privately with someone on Reddit, I would ask them if they are on Session. I don’t want to talk to them in Reddit’s chat or Signal.
I also use Sessions for personal notes that I send myself. And because I take so many notes, I need separate chats for them. On Signal I have multiple group chats where I am the only member, and they are just notes I send myself. I want to be able to do the same on Session, but I can’t because Session requires you invite at least one other person to create a group.
Honestly, had Session developed more of these core features, I’ll be more inclined to donate. But it’s a hard sell for me when all they have is basic anonymous texting. I do feel bad to say it but it’s not enough after years of existing. You can’t ask for money without even having a complete enough product, after all this time.
This is a neat trick. Never thought anyone would do it but could make sense if that’s the use case.
I understand the need for voice calling, but it’s not on my priority list, as I wouldn’t make call to a complete stranger on the internet. My voice is something I would want to keep private.
I agree. I thought for sure they would have introduced rich text formatting by now, but no.
Indeed. I love that many messaging apps have a Note to Self chat, but when you take a lot of notes, you need separate chats to organize them, hence the repurposing of group chats. But some apps won’t let you create a group if you don’t invite at least one other person in, which is disappointing.
Why do you keep presuming Session is only meant to be used for and with strangers? It’s supposed to be and evaluated like any other messenger with all the core and practical expected features.
It’s not on a priority list for you. Don’t say it like its a claim from all. It should have this and it doesn’t. Among many other core features too. It’s barely half a product after all these years if you’re thinking of practically using it full time with anyone, known or unknown.
I recognize that Session can be used with friends and family. I am just saying that I would personally not use it for that.
I like to separate what I do on the internet. That’s why I have two profiles on Firefox, that I use simultaneously every day. It’s the same with messaging apps.
If Signal didn’t require a phone number and could be used on multiple phones, I would probably have 2 Signal accounts. I’m a member of quite a few online forums, and hence, I have a need for a private end-to-end encrypted messaging app to talk to completely internet strangers privately.
Session fills that need in part because it doesn’t require a phone number or even a username.
Yes, that is what I meant. I made a typo. I apologize.
Session claims they have 1.5 million users. It’s not clear if that’s active users, or the total number of accounts they have registered, with the likelihood that a significant portion of them are inactive. I use my account once a month at best.
If 1% of Session’s users each gave $5 that’s 15 000 people x 5 = $75 000.
I believe in the cause of privacy that Session is trying to ensure and keep an alternative alive. But it’s just not there after all these years so I do not have the confidence in their development going forward.
I remember when they first announced that voice calling was coming. That was 5 years ago if memory serves me right. And this is just one feature. It’s missing a lot more. They would have been significantly further along had they simply forked Signal and not have people register with a phone number.
The answer to the ask on the website is a no from me.
Have you considered using Standard Notes? That would give you cross-platform encrypted notes. Might be nicer than trying to use a messenger as both a messenger and note app, though there’s nothing wrong with that if it works for you
It still is a bit mad they first removed PFS, then their CTO stated they don’t believe PFS is needed and stood by that in several discussions ( i was involved in too ) and now they beg for money to implement it again ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
My guess is the barrier here is infrastructure costs (among other things).
I believe Session is attempting to go about this using some kind of blockchain based approach that incentivizes 3rd parties to host nodes. Though I’m not sure how that incentive structure works, or where the funds come from, nor the extent to which it is decentralized in practice.
A fork of Signal that removed the phone number requirement would very likely have to provide their own alternative to the Signal network as well which sounds like a much bigger, more complex, and costly undertaking.
They would have been significantly further along had they simply forked Signal
I don’t believe their goal is simply being a Signal alternative. I think they are specifically interested in pursuing a decentralized (and onion-routed) alternative to Signal.
Both Techlore (2025) and Opt Out (2022) have done longform interviews with Session’s CTO which provide some good background on the vision and design model.
edit: found the newer interview I was looking for and replaced the Techlore link.
Here’s the thing about me and note-taking apps. I pretty much exclusively use them on desktop. I don’t find them practical on mobile (for writing). I have Standard Notes on my phone, but I only use it consult notes. I do not use it write notes. And I rarely consult my Standard Note notes on my phone.
The type of notes I write in messaging apps, is usually quick short lines. I don’t elaborate on my thoughts. On Standard Notes, I write more long form.
Do things I write on Signal end up in Standard Notes? Yes. All the time.
I might write on Signal: Write post on PG about Session shutting down.
But on Standard Notes I will actually write the full post or at the very least expand on my thoughts. And that I do on desktop. Never on mobile.
I don’t enjoy typing on mobile. That’s why I also appreciate Signal and Session desktop. If I’m writing on mobile it’s quick and short, which is not how I write in Standard Notes or any note-taking app.
“beg” isn’t the right word; anyone’s fragile existence put under self-reflection by Session’s cryptography choices notwithstanding.
“don’t believe PFS”? Think Session wasn’t all too impressed with its own implementation for state synchronization required for PFS in a decentralized setting (blog). It seemed like a technical trade-off (‘assume no device compromise ever’ threat model basket), not a “belief system” thing (for example, unlike for Tox once upon a time)?
With the project? By any chance, in the implementation, too? Nice. Session seems to have had an outsized impact!
You often seem to misunderstand me. I’ll try to be more clear.
To put the record straight. I was involved in several discussions on Twitter (and I believe also here at PG) with their CTO which aren’t visible anymore unfortunately because I am banned from Twitter. And no I don’t have any involvement in Session ( luckily )
But they did always reaffirm people that because of the routing protocol PFS would not necessary for Session and it wouldn’t not serve any purpose. I have always disagreed with them on this part.
Might donate. Don’t want this project to go under. Diversity make the ecosystem thrive. At the same time, how are they going to fund themselves in the long run ? I don’t want to donate now just for the same to happen in 6 months.
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