# Molly

> enhanced and security-focused, independent Signal fork for Android

**Wikidata**: [Q131598097](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131598097)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/molly

## Summary
Molly is an enhanced and security-focused, independent fork of the Signal messaging app for Android. It prioritizes privacy, transparency, and user control through features like reproducible builds, database encryption, and compatibility with tools such as Tor and UnifiedPush. Developed independently from the official Signal project, Molly integrates custom backend infrastructure via the SweetLies Server.

## Key Facts
- Inception year: 2019  
- First public release date: February 24, 2020  
- Based on: Signal  
- License: GNU General Public License v3.0 (SPDX identifier Q27017232)  
- Official website: https://molly.im/  
- Source code repository: https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android  
- Notable work: SweetLies Server – a custom implementation of the Signal backend service  
- Endorsed by: GrapheneOS  
- Compatible with: Tor, Orbot, UnifiedPush  
- Distributed via: Accrescent (reference: https://molly.im/accrescent.html)  
- F-Droid repositories:  
  - Main repo: https://molly.im/fdroid/repo  
  - FOSS repo: https://molly.im/fdroid/foss/fdroid/repo  

## FAQs
### Q: Is Molly a secure alternative to Signal?
A: Yes, Molly is a security-enhanced fork of Signal designed to provide stronger privacy protections. It supports reproducible builds, database encryption, and integrates with privacy tools like Tor and UnifiedPush.

### Q: Who developed Molly?
A: Molly was created by the team behind the SweetLies Server, which also provides its own implementation of the Signal backend protocol.

### Q: How can I install Molly?
A: Molly can be installed from its official F-Droid repositories or through the Accrescent app store. The APKs are built using reproducible methods to ensure integrity.

## Why It Matters
Molly plays a critical role in advancing secure communication by offering a hardened, open-source alternative to mainstream messaging platforms. As a free software project, it empowers users to verify the authenticity of their apps while maintaining strong end-to-end encryption. Its emphasis on reproducible builds ensures trust in the development process, making it particularly valuable for privacy-conscious individuals and communities. By operating independently of centralized services and supporting decentralized push notifications via UnifiedPush, Molly reduces reliance on proprietary systems and enhances digital sovereignty.

## Notable For
- Being an independent fork of Signal focused on enhanced security and transparency  
- Supporting reproducible builds to enable verification of compiled binaries  
- Using the SweetLies Server as its custom backend instead of relying solely on Signal’s servers  
- Integration with privacy-enhancing technologies like Tor and Orbot  
- Endorsement by GrapheneOS, a leading privacy-focused Android distribution  

## Body
### Overview
Molly is a free and open-source instant messaging application for Android that serves as a security-oriented fork of the Signal Private Messenger. Designed with digital security at its core, Molly emphasizes user autonomy, cryptographic integrity, and resistance to surveillance.

### Development & Infrastructure
The project began in 2019 and released its first stable version on February 24, 2020. Unlike standard Signal clients, Molly operates with the SweetLies Server—a self-hosted or third-party implementation of the Signal server stack—allowing greater independence from centralized infrastructure.

It is maintained under the umbrella of a broader free software community committed to ethical technology practices.

### Features & Enhancements
Molly includes several enhancements over upstream Signal:
- **Reproducible Builds**: All releases support deterministic compilation, allowing anyone to confirm that the published binary matches the source code.
- **Database Encryption**: Local message storage is encrypted beyond default Signal protections.
- **UnifiedPush Support**: Enables use of decentralized push notification providers rather than depending on Google Play Services.
- **Tor Compatibility**: Works seamlessly with Orbot to route traffic over the Tor network.
- **OpenStreetMap Integration**: Utilized for location sharing without reliance on proprietary map services.

### Licensing & Distribution
Molly is licensed under GPLv3 (GNU General Public License version 3), ensuring all derivative works remain open and modifiable. It is distributed primarily through:
- Official F-Droid repositories:
  - Standard repo: `https://molly.im/fdroid/repo`
  - FOSS-only repo: `https://molly.im/fdroid/foss/fdroid/repo`
- Alternative app store: Accrescent (see: https://molly.im/accrescent.html)

### Version History
Below are selected stable versions with release dates:
| Version | Release Date |
|---------|--------------|
| 4.55.8-1 | 2020-02-24 |
| 4.55.8-2 | 2020-02-25 |
| 4.56.4-1 | 2020-03-10 |
| 4.58.5-1 | 2020-04-04 |
| 4.58.5-2 | 2020-04-21 |
| 4.59.9-1 | 2020-05-13 |
| 4.59.10-1 | 2020-05-14 |
| 4.59.11-2 | 2020-05-22 |
| 4.61.6-1 | 2020-06-06 |
| 4.62.4-1 | 2020-06-10 |

### Community & Recognition
Molly maintains active engagement with the wider free software ecosystem. It has been officially endorsed by GrapheneOS—an advanced, security-hardened mobile OS—and hosts a Matrix room (#mollyim:matrix.org) for community interaction.

Donations to support ongoing development are accepted via Open Collective at https://opencollective.com/mollyim.

### Technical Details
- GitHub organization: [mollyim](https://github.com/mollyim)  
- Logo introduced: March 9, 2025 (source: https://fosstodon.org/@mollyim/114134845677642592)  
- Uses hardware memory tagging for additional exploit mitigation  
- Implements both standard and FOSS-specific F-Droid repos for tailored package delivery  

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Molly",
  "description": "enhanced and security-focused, independent Signal fork for Android",
  "url": "https://molly.im/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131573565"
  ],
  "additionalType": "MobileApp"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://fosstodon.org/@mollyim/114134845677642592)
2. [Release 4.55.8-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.55.8-1)
3. [Release 4.55.8-2. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.55.8-2)
4. [Release 4.56.4-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.56.4-1)
5. [Release 4.58.5-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.58.5-1)
6. [Release 4.58.5-2. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.58.5-2)
7. [Release 4.59.9-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.59.9-1)
8. [Release 4.59.10-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.59.10-1)
9. [Release 4.59.11-2. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.59.11-2)
10. [Release 4.61.6-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.61.6-1)
11. [Release 4.62.4-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.62.4-1)
12. [Release 4.65.2-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.65.2-1)
13. [Release 4.68.3-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.68.3-1)
14. [Release 4.70.5-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.70.5-1)
15. [Release 4.72.6-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.72.6-1)
16. [Release 4.73.4-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.73.4-1)
17. [Release 4.78.5-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.78.5-1)
18. [Release 4.79.3-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v4.79.3-1)
19. [Release 5.0.8-1. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.0.8-1)
20. [Release 5.0.8-2. 2020](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.0.8-2)
21. [Release 5.1.9-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.1.9-1)
22. [Release 5.2.3-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.2.3-1)
23. [Release 5.3.12-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.3.12-1)
24. [Release 5.4.12-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.4.12-1)
25. [Release 5.6.4-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.6.4-1)
26. [Release 5.8.10-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.8.10-1)
27. [Release 5.10.8-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.10.8-1)
28. [Release 5.14.3-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.14.3-1)
29. [Release 5.14.5-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.14.5-1)
30. [Release 5.16.3-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.16.3-1)
31. [Release 5.16.3-2. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.16.3-2)
32. [Release 5.19.4-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.19.4-1)
33. [Release 5.21.6-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.21.6-1)
34. [Release 5.21.6-2. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.21.6-2)
35. [Release 5.23.8-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.23.8-1)
36. [Release 5.24.17-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.24.17-1)
37. [Release 5.26.11-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.26.11-1)
38. [Release 5.28.5-1. 2021](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.28.5-1)
39. [Release 5.29.6-1. 2022](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.29.6-1)
40. [Release 5.31.6-1. 2022](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.31.6-1)
41. [Release 5.32.15-1. 2022](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.32.15-1)
42. [Release 5.34.8-1. 2022](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.34.8-1)
43. [Release 5.34.9-1. 2022](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.34.9-1)
44. [Release 5.34.9-2. 2022](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.34.9-2)
45. [Release 5.37.4-1. 2022](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.37.4-1)
46. [Release 5.39.3-1. 2022](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.39.3-1)
47. [Release 5.40.4-1. 2022](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.40.4-1)
48. [Release 5.42.8-1. 2022](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.42.8-1)
49. [Release 5.42.8-2. 2022](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.42.8-2)
50. [Release 5.44.3-1. 2022](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android/releases/tag/v5.44.3-1)