Elon Musk Launches XChat On iPhone And iPad To Take On WhatsApp: Here’s How To Download It

Elon Musk has a new app, and this time he’s going after WhatsApp.

X, formerly Twitter, has launched XChat, a standalone messaging app for iPhone and iPad users. The app quietly went live on April 24 and is being pitched as a more private alternative to WhatsApp and Telegram.

And no, the timing doesn’t feel random.

The launch landed right when WhatsApp is dealing with fresh privacy criticism in the US after a lawsuit accused Meta of intercepting private messages and sharing data with third parties. WhatsApp has denied the allegations, but that didn’t stop Musk from jumping into the conversation.

“Can’t trust WhatsApp,” Musk wrote on X while telling users to try XChat instead.

That post alone has pulled a lot of attention toward the new app.

So What Exactly Is XChat?

Think of it as X trying to build its own messaging ecosystem beyond regular DMs.

Instead of creating a brand-new account, users can simply log in using their existing X credentials. Once you're in, the app asks you to set up a security PIN before you start messaging.

The idea seems pretty straightforward: offer private messaging without stuffing the app with ads or heavy tracking.

At least for now, X says it doesn’t track users.

Features That Sound Familiar

A lot of XChat’s features will feel very familiar if you’ve used WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal.

You get end-to-end encrypted chats, disappearing messages, group chats, large file sharing, and the ability to edit or delete messages after sending them.

There’s also a screenshot blocking feature, which is clearly aimed at users who care about privacy a little more than the average person.

Voice and video calling support has also been mentioned by Musk, although availability may vary depending on the rollout.

How To Download XChat On iPhone Or iPad

Getting started is pretty simple.

1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Search for XChat.
3. Tap the official app listing.
4. Hit Get.
5. Verify the download using Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password.
6. Once installed, sign in with your X account and complete setup.

That’s it.

What About Android?

That’s the obvious question right now.

XChat currently only supports iPhones running iOS 26 or later and iPads on iPadOS 26 or newer.

X hasn’t said when Android support is coming, which could slow adoption, considering how large Android’s user base is globally.

And honestly, that may be the bigger challenge here. Privacy messaging is one thing, but convincing people to leave WhatsApp is a completely different battle.