How to choose a safe anonymous messages app
Last updated: 29 September 2026 · The Sea Messages safety team
We make Sea Messages, so we won't pretend to be neutral. Instead of a "best of" list, here are six questions to judge any anonymous messages app by, ours included. An app that answers them clearly deserves your link in your story.
Are messages checked before they reach you?
This is the most important question. If an app delivers everything, you only get to block after you've read something cruel. Better is a check before delivery, with a prompt to the sender when their words look harsh. No system is perfect, so make sure reporting and blocking exist too.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 2018 | In February 2018 Apple and Google removed Sarahah from their stores, after a petition about bullying signed by hundreds of thousands of people. |
| July 2024 | In July 2024 NGL Labs agreed to pay $5 million to settle charges by the US FTC and the Los Angeles District Attorney. The complaint alleged fake computer-generated messages, a paid upgrade falsely claimed to reveal senders, unclear recurring charges, and false claims that AI moderation filtered out bullying. The order bans NGL from offering its app to anyone under 18. |
Is every message from a real person?
Fake messages keep people hooked, and a well-known app has been accused of it: in 2024 the US FTC's complaint against NGL included allegations of computer-generated messages. Look for an app that says clearly that every message is written by a real person, and that any note from its team is signed as such.
Details and sources in Is NGL real?
Can anyone pay to find out the sender?
If an app sells "hints" or a subscription that reveals senders, it profits from your curiosity, and may reveal nothing in the end. Choose an app that never sells a sender's identity, and don't trust outside apps that promise a name; some of them steal accounts.
Why "detectors" don't work: How do I find out who sent it?
Do block and report work on anonymous senders?
Blocking is useless if the app doesn't know who sent the message. A safe app keeps the real sender's account on its side, without showing it to you, so it can stop someone who misbehaves and keep them from writing to you again. Ask: if I block them, can they write to me again?
Is the app right for your age?
Check the minimum age in the app's terms. Some apps are for 13 and over; at least one is barred from offering its app to under-18s. If you're young, choose an app that allows your age, use it with a parent's knowledge, and learn how to report and block before you share your link.
What does the app keep about you?
Read the privacy policy before signing up: what is kept, where, and who it's shared with. Watch photos in particular, because their hidden data can include where they were taken. A good app removes that data from every photo and lets you delete your account whenever you want.
How does Sea Messages answer these questions?
These are our own answers, and you can check them on our safety, privacy and terms pages. Every message is checked before delivery, there are no fake messages and no paid reveals, blocking works on the real sender, the service is for 13 and over, and we strip photo locations.
| Question | Sea Messages |
|---|---|
| Checked before delivery | Yes, with a prompt to the sender when words look harsh |
| Fake messages | No, every message is from a real person |
| Paid sender reveal | None |
| Block and report anonymous senders | Yes, on the real account |
| Age | 13 and over |
| Photo location data | Removed from every photo |
More questions
What is the best anonymous messages app?
There is no single answer, and we aren't neutral because we make Sea Messages. The best app for you is the one that clearly answers the six questions on this page and fits your age and language.
Are anonymous message apps safe for teens?
It depends on the app. The safest check messages before delivery, let you block and report anonymous senders, and never sell their identity. For parents: agree with your teen on what to do if a hurtful message arrives, and read the safety guide together.