• Standalone messaging app launched as part of platform expansion
• Features include calling, chatting, and a focus on privacy

X launched its new standalone messaging app called “XChat” on Friday, marking a step toward expanding its services beyond the core social network.

The app is initially available on iOS devices and allows users to connect with their X contacts through text messaging, file sharing, as well as voice and video calls and group chats.

The company had previously tested the app with a limited group of users over the past months to gather feedback and refine the experience ahead of its official release.

XChat is part of a broader strategic shift at the company aimed at positioning X as a starting point for multiple services, including messaging and digital payments, alongside other tools. This comes as a separate payments app is also being tested, although it has not yet been publicly launched.

The move, however, marks a partial departure from Elon Musk’s earlier vision of turning X into an “everything app” combining messaging, shopping, content, and smart tools in one platform.

Instead, xAI, Musk’s AI company, is now developing a set of separate applications rather than consolidating them into a single platform, with the aim of expanding access points to its services.

In its first version, XChat offers features such as editing or deleting messages for all participants, self-destructing messages, and blocking screenshots. The company also states that the app contains no ads or tracking tools.

It further claims that all messages are end-to-end encrypted and secured with a PIN code, although security experts have previously questioned the strength of its encryption compared to rival apps such as Signal.

In another development, XChat will replace the “Communities” feature on X after it was discontinued due to low usage and spam issues, potentially giving the app an initial boost in users as community members migrate.

Company insiders say the app is still in its early stage, with X’s lead designer describing it as “just the beginning of what is being built in messaging,” hinting at further updates in the future.