Elon Musk is moving closer to his long-stated ambition of turning X into a “super app” with the launch of XChat, an encrypted messaging service already being dubbed the “Western version of WeChat” in China.
The application is set to launch on April 17 on the Apple App Store, with pre-registration available to users in mainland China.
XChat includes features such as end-to-end encryption, no phone number requirement, no advertising, anti-screenshot functionality, disappearing messages and integration with Grok AI.
Access Barriers in China
Despite pre-registration being visible to Chinese iOS users, discussions on Zhihu suggest the app will likely remain inaccessible.
China’s strict platform regulations, along with the requirement for users to log in via an X account a service blocked in China mean users may not be able to complete registration.
The apparent contradiction of a privacy-focused app opening pre-registration in a market where X itself is restricted has drawn scepticism online.
Social Media Buzz and Scepticism
On Weibo, hashtags such as “Musk’s WeChat” and “Musk’s WeChat to launch on April 17” have been trending.
Users have widely discussed the app’s encrypted communication features and its support for simplified Chinese.
However, reactions have been mixed. Some users expressed concern over potential scams, particularly due to the absence of phone number linkage, while others warned about possible data collection risks.
Comparisons with WeChat
Many commenters have described XChat as resembling WeChat, with some noting that U.S. platforms now appear to be drawing inspiration from Chinese applications.
Others welcomed what they see as growing global recognition of Chinese app models, while some users said they were interested in comparing XChat with WeChat once it launches.
