IMO vs SecureChat
When comparing IMO vs SecureChat, the Slant community recommends IMO for most people. In the question“What is the best team chat software?” IMO is ranked 14th while SecureChat is ranked 22nd.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Video call support
Pro Beautiful User Interface
Although IMO has a comparable, and in some cases superior, feature set when compared to the competition its key selling point is its interface.
From LifeHacker when it won "Best IM Client":
Signing on, navigating chats by tapping the tabs at the bottom, searching for buddies, and virtually any other operation is easy to find and use. The app, itself, is very quick. Even sending a voice IM, if you don't feel like typing, is responsive and sends quickly. Everything imo does it does well, but it's excellent navigation really makes it top notch.
IMO also has a fully functional website that you can use for chat while on your desktop or laptop. This really puts IMO ahead of the competition as you can use the same system on all your devices so you don't have to deal with overlapping notifications etc. (Note: IM+ also has this feature)
It should also be noted that it has the highest rating in the App Store due to both the UI and its stability.
Pro Easy to switch between conversations with tabs
Tabbed chats make it easy to switch between conversations
Pro Lists and chat histories are searchable
Both your buddy lists and chat histories are searchable.
Pro Accounts can be linked so you don't have to sign in to several accounts
Pro Push notifications
Pro Concurrent sessions
Concurrent sessions allow you to be logged in on your desktop while also being logged in on your phone.
Pro Chat groups
Pro Threads to organize conversations
Supports threads to organise conversations into topics.
Pro Expiring messages
Channels can be configured to have expiring messages that get automatically deleted after a pre-defined time.
Pro Guaranteed delete
Ensures messages are fully deleted and removed from backup.
Pro Servers 100% hosted in Switzerland
Protected by Swiss data privacy - some of the highest data privacy laws in the world.
Pro Encryption
Strong end-to-end encryption of messages and files.
Pro Drag and drop files
Drag and drop documents, photos, videos into the chat.
Pro Integrates with other tools
Built in integrations for Zendesk, Trello, Github, SupportBee, etc.
Cons
Con No support for third-party instant messaging networks
On March 3, 2014, IMO will start discontinuing support for all third-party instant messaging networks.
Con Non-free / Propritary Software
The code base isn't free/libre and cannot be self-hosted, therefore there is no proof that encryption or "guaranteed delete", actually work. There is no reason to think this application is secure.