Threema
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersPfaffikon, Switzerland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
Threema firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Threema
- Legal name
- Threema GmbH
- Website
- https://threema.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Threema industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Secure Messaging Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Telegraph & Other Message Communications (4822), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Collaboration Security for Chat & Messaging (Teams/Slack) (HDADAKAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Collaboration Security for File Sharing & Content (M365/Google Drive/Box) (HDADAKAG)
Keywords
Where Threema is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pfaffikon
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Threema business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Threema Work Subscription: Annual or multi-year subscription licensing for Threema Work business messenger. Pricing tiers exist for different organizational sizes with per-user licensing model. Includes Management Cockpit, Threema Broadcast for one-to-many communication, and Threema Gateway API access.
- Threema Private (One-time Purchase): One-time purchase model for individual consumers. Single app purchase provides lifetime access without subscription. No advertising, no data collection.
- Threema OnPrem License: Self-hosted deployment licensing for organizations requiring complete data sovereignty. Operate messenger on own infrastructure with full control over data. Sold as enterprise subscription.
- Enterprise Licensing (Threema Broadcast): Threema Broadcast for one-to-many communication with users, sold as part of Threema Work suite or standalone enterprise licensing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Threema Private - One-time purchase for individual users |
| Subscription | Annual | Threema Work - Business messenger subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Threema OnPrem - Self-hosted enterprise deployment |
| Subscription | Annual | Threema Education - Discounted pricing for educational institutions |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
Threema product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Threema develops and sells end-to-end encrypted messaging software for both individuals and organizations. Its portfolio includes Threema Private (consumer app, one-time purchase), Threema Work (business messenger, per-user subscription), Threema OnPrem (self-hosted enterprise deployment), Threema Broadcast (one-to-many messaging), and Threema Gateway (API for system integration). All products run on the proprietary Ibex protocol with zero-knowledge architecture, Swiss data hosting, and open-source code.
Product overview
Threema offers a multi-product portfolio of secure messaging solutions for both individuals and organizations. The core offerings consist of three main products: Threema Work (business messenger with centralized administration), Threema OnPrem (self-hosted on-premises deployment), and Threema Private (personal consumer app). These are complemented by Threema Gateway (API for system integration), Threema Broadcast (one-to-many messaging), the Threema Work Management Cockpit (administration portal), and Threema Education (educational pricing tier). The products share end-to-end encryption, Swiss data protection, and privacy-first design as common foundations, while differentiated by deployment model and target segment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Threema Private Personal end-to-end encrypted messaging app for individual consumers, requiring no phone number or email for registration and offering ad-free, data-collection-free communication with Perfect Forward Secrecy and zero-knowledge architecture.
- Threema Work End-to-end encrypted business messenger for organizations, providing messaging, voice and video calls, group chats, file sharing, centralized administration via a management cockpit, MDM integration, and tiered pricing by company size.
- Threema OnPrem Self-hosted on-premises messenger for organizations that need to operate the platform on their own infrastructure, retaining full control over data in a closed communication environment with end-to-end encryption.
- Threema Broadcast One-to-many communication module for sending encrypted announcements to multiple recipients simultaneously, used by organizations for workforce-wide alerts and information distribution.
- Threema Gateway API that links an organization's IT systems with Threema Work, enabling automated sending and receiving of end-to-end encrypted messages through existing enterprise software.
- Threema Work Management Cockpit Centralized web-based administration portal for managing Threema Work users, configuring app settings, administering licenses, and setting compliance policies.
- Threema Education Education-sector offering of Threema Work with discounted subscription pricing for universities, schools, and educational institutions requiring secure communication for staff and administration.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 8,000 organizations trust Threema Work for secure business communication
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Threema
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Threema technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature9 records
Threema partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- IBM ResearchcoreCollaboration with IBM Research to implement post-quantum cryptography in Threema communication solutions. Prepares for future quantum computer threats to classical encryption methods like RSA. Leverages IBM Research's expertise including contributions to two of three NIST post-quantum cryptography standards.
- IBM ResearchcoreIBM partnered with Signal and Threema to redesign core encryption protocols for post-quantum security. IBM co-authored three of four NIST-published post-quantum algorithms in 2024.
- HIN (Health Info Net)coreThreema partnered with HIN to provide secure messaging solution for Swiss healthcare sector. Threema technology integrated into HIN Talk, enabling healthcare professionals to communicate securely via messaging, files, and video conferences. Emphasizes data protection, security, and digital sovereignty with data within Switzerland.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Threema competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Signal: End-to-end encrypted messaging app with comparable privacy-first positioning and a focus on secure chat, voice, and video. Direct competitor in both consumer and secure-communication use cases; Signal benefits from non-profit funding and a much larger user base.
- Wire: Switzerland-headquartered, end-to-end encrypted messaging and collaboration platform targeting enterprises and governments. Closest direct competitor given Swiss origins, security-first messaging, OnPrem/deployment flexibility, and similar regulated-industry customer base.
- Element (Matrix): Open-source, end-to-end encrypted messaging built on the Matrix protocol, serving governments (notably the German Bundeswehr and French government) and security-conscious enterprises. Competes with Threema in sovereign-messaging and self-hosted deployments.
- Symphony Communication Services: Secure messaging and collaboration platform purpose-built for financial services and other regulated industries. Highly comparable to Threema Work in regulated verticals, particularly banking (Deutsche Bundesbank, KBC).
Broad incumbents
- Telegram: Mass-market messaging platform with optional end-to-end 'Secret Chats.' Competes with Threema Private in the consumer privacy-conscious segment, offering a much larger global user base and free pricing.
- Microsoft Teams: Dominant enterprise collaboration platform with growing encryption and EU-data-boundary features. Competes head-on with Threema Work in the mid-market and enterprise tier; Microsoft's bundling and scale create significant pricing and feature-parity pressure.
- Wickr (Amazon): End-to-end encrypted messaging acquired by AWS in 2021, focused on enterprise and government secure communications. Direct competitor in regulated verticals, now backed by AWS distribution and integration into the AWS public-sector catalog.
- Slack (Salesforce): Mass-market enterprise messaging and collaboration platform acquired by Salesforce. Competes broadly with Threema Work for workplace chat, though Threema differentiates on encryption, data sovereignty, and OnPrem deployment.
- Cisco Webex: Enterprise collaboration suite with end-to-end encryption options and strong government/regulated-industry presence. Competes with Threema Work for security-sensitive enterprise messaging deals.
Emerging players
- Proton: Swiss-based privacy company offering Proton Mail, Proton Drive, and Proton VPN, expanding into secure communication. Comparable Swiss-sovereignty positioning and overlapping enterprise/consumer privacy buyer; increasingly competitive as Proton broadens its secure-communications portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Threema social profiles
Digital presenceThreema compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Threema financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Threema leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Threema subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Threema funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Threema M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Threema
What does Threema do?
Threema develops and sells end-to-end encrypted messaging software for both individuals and organizations. Its portfolio includes Threema Private (consumer app, one-time purchase), Threema Work (business messenger, per-user subscription), Threema OnPrem (self-hosted enterprise deployment), Threema Broadcast (one-to-many messaging), and Threema Gateway (API for system integration). All products run on the proprietary Ibex protocol with zero-knowledge architecture, Swiss data hosting, and open-source code.
Is Threema a public or private company?
Threema is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Threema founded?
Threema was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Threema based?
Threema is headquartered in Pfaffikon, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Threema make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Threema Work Subscription is the primary driver. The others are threema Private (One-time Purchase), threema OnPrem License and enterprise Licensing (Threema Broadcast).
Who are Threema's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Signal, Wire, Element (Matrix) and Symphony Communication Services. Broad incumbents are Telegram, Microsoft Teams, Wickr (Amazon), Slack (Salesforce) and Cisco Webex. Proton is listed as an emerging player.
Does Threema have an API?
Yes. Threema Gateway is an API that links the Controller's IT systems with Threema Work, enabling organizations to send and receive messages through their own software. The DPA describes it as 'an application programming interface (API)' for linking IT systems with Threema Work. Developer documentation is at gateway.threema.ch/en/login.
What industry is Threema in?
Threema's product category is Secure Messaging Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDADAKAF, Collaboration Security for Chat & Messaging (Teams/Slack), with a secondary code of HDADAKAG, Collaboration Security for File Sharing & Content (M365/Google Drive/Box). Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.