Elon Musk to compete with WhatsApp with new XChat feature

From June 2025, the X social network will be making a gradual change to its section dedicated to private messages. It is reported that a new tab named “Chat”, corresponding to the XChat service, will appear in the social network's apps as well as on its website with the aim of competing with WhatsApp and even Telegram. 

If you're a regular X user, expect to see this new tab called “Chat” in the next few days. Clicking on it will reveal your existing messages; however, this section will be totally different from what you're used to. Indeed, Elon Musk, head of X, wants to compete with other chatbots and become the giant of instant messaging.

It appears XChat will (eventually) offer you the same feature set as other private/secure messaging applications. The messages sent will be encrypted using the Rust mapping ecosystem. In other words, X will position itself as a major player in this new field, pushing past the platforms it is currently competing with.

Other thongs to know about XChat: You'll be able to have group conversations, send large attachments, enable an ephemeral mode and make audio and video calls. Note that X will not be able to access all your content, as this application will be fully encrypted and a code will be required to open your messages. 

However, there is a major drawback to this upcoming new technology. You need to be an X user to access it, unlike it is WhatsApp or Messenger, which are ancillary applications. But it's possible that X will release a separate application in the not-too-distant future, as it has already done with its Grok assistant.

Some people already have access to XChat. This is mostly true for premium users, who have been using the service since June 1, 2025, in the United States. Those outside the States will have to be patient, with no exact product debut date revealed yet and with what's coming in a few days looking like the first large-scale test for the new tech.

We'll have to wait a few months to find out if XChat manages to come close and dethrone other instant messaging services, WhatsApp and Telegram included. This market niche continues to expand with each passing month so the competition is set to be as fierce as ever.