Wifi Calling and Messaging Guide
Wi-Fi Calling & Secure Messaging solutions for staying connected when cellular service fails.
1. Enable Wi-Fi Calling
Wi-Fi Calling lets your phone use a Wi-Fi network (like your home or a coffee shop) to make and receive calls and texts, even if you have zero cell signal. Note: Your carrier must support this feature, and you may need to confirm your E911 emergency address during setup.
For iPhone (iOS)
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Cellular (or Phone on some older versions).
- Tap Wi-Fi Calling.
- Toggle the switch for "Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone" to ON.
- Follow the prompts to enter or verify your E911 address.
For Android
- Go to Settings.
- Search for "Wi-Fi Calling" or navigate to Connections (or Network & Internet > Mobile Network).
- Tap Wi-Fi Calling.
- Toggle the feature ON.
- If prompted, confirm your address for emergency services.
2. Best Wi-Fi Messaging Apps
These apps use **data** (Wi-Fi or cellular) for all communication, making them immune to cellular dead zones. They also feature End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) for better security and privacy.
Signal Private Messenger
Best for: Max Privacy & Security (Free)
- Gold Standard: Uses the industry-leading Signal Protocol for E2EE.
- Zero Metadata: Collects virtually no user metadata.
- Features: Text, voice, video calls, disappearing messages.
Best for: Mass Adoption (Free)
- User Base: The most widely used app, meaning all your contacts are likely on it.
- Encryption: Also uses the Signal Protocol for E2EE by default on all messages and calls.
- Trade-off: Owned by Meta (Facebook) and collects more metadata than Signal.
Threema
Best for: Anonymity (Paid)
- Extreme Privacy: Does not require a phone number or email to sign up (uses a unique ID).
- Open-Source: Provides transparency for security experts.
- Model: Paid app, which means its business model isn't based on selling user data.