CoverMe is a private communication app that offers a robust and secure messaging platform. In an age where privacy is at the forefront of the digital conversation, you'll likely see value in what CoverMe has to offer. However, this is far from common. Instead, the app is for those who need strict privacy and security without compromise. But is it for you? We'll help you make up your mind in this detailed CoverMe private texting review.
Packages and prices
CoverMe is free to download for iOS, macOS, and Android devices. However, to access all of its features, you will need to pay for a monthly, quarterly, or yearly subscription. This is where the app gets a bit tricky and a bit frustrating. CoverMe does not offer a subscription that covers everything the company has to offer. Instead, users have to pay for many features separately, making using the service confusing and expensive. To send text messages and make calls to non-CoverMe users, you will need to purchase a unique mobile phone number in the app. You have the option of paying €9,99 per month or €20,99 per quarter. The monthly plan gives you 300 SMS credits or 150 voice credits. Meanwhile, the quarterly plan gets you 1,000 SMS credits or 500 voice credits. Calls to the United States cost one credit per minute. It costs one SMS credit and four MMS credits, so if you're a heavy user, you'll soon be burning through your monthly and quarterly credits. However, you can top up your credits at any time. CoverMe offers 80 credits for €1.99. CoverMe says it offers mini ($7,99/month), medium ($28,99/6 months), and large ($29,99/6 months) talk and text plans, which users can purchase on the application. However, after extensive use of the app, we were unable to find the option to purchase these plans. We visited the official CoverMe website, which also did not offer any information. In addition to text messages and calls, CoverMe offers basic cloud storage. For an annual fee of €26,99, users get access to the CoverMe Vault. Here you can backup photos, documents, videos, notes, audio and passwords. For each category, CoverMe offers 16 GB of storage space. That's a lot for things like documents and passwords. However, if you want to back up a large number of photos and videos, the inability to expand your storage space may mean you'll have to find another cloud storage service.
The CoverMe app offers a variety of features focused on privacy and security (Image credit: CoverMe)
Features
CoverMe offers some great features, which we've detailed below. Unique Virtual Number Using a virtual number allows users to make calls and send text messages without showing their personal number (none of the calls will be reflected on their bill). You can program the app to send disappearing messages, which means the texts will automatically erase after the recipient reads them. (CoverMe indicates that there is a 10-second delay between the recipient reading the message and its disappearance.) While using the app, you can shake your device to turn your screen into a photo gallery to prevent anyone from seeing your communications. Other top features include call filtering, which allows you to block unwanted calls, and magic notifications, which hide message details when you receive a text. The latter is a common feature and does not, in our opinion, justify higher prices.
The CoverMe app has a simple and easy to use interface (Image credit: CoverMe)
Interface and in use
CoverMe offers a clean and easy-to-use app, and signing up is easy. All you need to do is enter a valid email address and create a unique password. If you want to start making calls and texting, you'll need to purchase your virtual number, but it only takes a minute or two. Sending an SMS is easy and works like any other messaging app. And we love the ability to customize the look: you can change the backgrounds, with the option to select images from the app or your camera roll, and choose between a small, medium, or large font size. While making a call is straightforward, call quality is fair at best. Conversations seemed muffled and distant to both the CoverMe user and the person receiving the call.
CoverMe covers many of its users' questions in its FAQ section (Image credit: CoverMe)
Support
For technical and feature-related questions, CoverMe covers most of the basics in its FAQ section. However, there is no reference to prices either here or anywhere else on the website, which is frustrating. There is also no phone support or live chat. If you have a question or a technical issue, you'll need to email the company and wait for a response. We sent a general inquiry and received a response within 13 hours. This lack of out-of-the-box support will be a concern for business users who rely on the app for internal communication.
CoverMe offers a range of security features for added privacy (Image credit: CoverMe)
Security
To access the application, users must enter their password each time. It is also possible to use Touch ID and Face ID. CoverMe protects third-party access to messages with end-to-end encryption. Calls are made through a VoIP system, which divides the ringing signal into "packets", making it difficult for unwanted eavesdroppers to intercept the call. CoverMe describes its encryption quality as "military-grade AES standard cryptography," letting users know they can enjoy discreet and secure communication when making calls and sending text messages in the app.
Competition
CoverMe is a security-focused calling and texting app that most people won't come across. Instead, higher-profile options like Signal and Telegram are the go-to platforms for encrypted messaging and calls, and they're completely free in all their features. However, they do not offer a virtual number, which is where CoverMe stands out on its own. They also don't have the option to store personal data in the cloud, another feature that makes CoverMe an attractive option.
Final verdict
CoverMe provides a pleasant user experience and users can rest assured that their communication remains secure and private. However, the service is expensive, and there are many paid features available through other apps that are completely free. If this review had been done five or ten years ago, CoverMe would be ahead of the rest. But as other app developers have come to realize the importance of privacy and security, CoverMe remains the expensive alternative that offers little more than its free competitors.