Updated 12 October 2026
What happened to Whisper?
For over a decade, Whisper was where people went to say what they couldn't say anywhere else. Then it was gone. Here's what happened, and where people went.
What Whisper was
Whisper launched in 2012. The idea was simple: write a secret or a thought, set it over a picture, and post it with no name attached. Strangers could reply or message you privately, and you could see posts from people near you. At its peak it had tens of millions of monthly users.
The timeline
- March 2012
Whisper launches. You post a secret as text over a picture, with no name attached.
- 2016
It passes 30 million monthly users.
- October 2022
It's removed from Apple's App Store. It comes back, gets pulled again in 2023, and returns in March 2024.
- September 2024
It's removed from Google Play.
- October 2024
It's removed from the App Store for the last time.
- January 2025
It briefly returns to Google Play, then disappears again the same month.
- July 2025
Whisper is discontinued for good.
Why was Whisper removed?
Apple and Google didn't publish a detailed reason. Whisper had been criticised for years over privacy and over how well it was moderated, which matters a lot in an app where nobody's name is attached.
Is Whisper coming back?
Its former owners haven't announced a return.
What's the best replacement for Whisper?
Whisper Social was built for people who miss Whisper. It's built from scratch by a new, independent team, and it keeps what made the original work:
- Anonymous posts written over photos, with a cartoon avatar instead of a photo and no real name
- Replies and private messages from people who relate
- A Nearby feed that shows roughly how far away each post is, never an exact location
And it adds what the original never had:
- Voice posts, voice notes, and photos in posts and chats
- Voice and video calls (with Pro)
- Global and Trending feeds, plus communities
- No follower counts, and nobody can follow you
- AI moderation of every public post before it goes live, and zero tolerance for anything that harms a child
- 12 languages
It's free on Android. On iPhone, Apple has removed it from the App Store while we appeal, so it runs as a web app at app.whispersocial.app that you can add to your Home Screen.
Is Whisper Social made by the same people?
No. Whisper Social is made by Techiox Ltd, and it isn't affiliated with the original Whisper app or its former owners.