Chat Clients

The ability to send text, voice, and video messages to anywhere in the world has never been easier. Simply fire up the messaging app of your choice, find the intended recipient that uses the same service, and start typing, attaching, and recording away.

If privacy and security are of the utmost importance, secure end-to-end encrypted messaging services such as Signal can ensure that the only people that know the contents of your conversations are exactly who you want.

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  1. Pidgin icon
     1522 likes

    Pidgin is a chat program which lets you log into accounts on multiple chat networks simultaneously. This means that you can be chatting with friends on XMPP and sitting in an IRC channel at the same time.

    Pidgin screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are Element iconElementandMatrix iconMatrix122 alternatives
  2. Tox icon
     551 likes

    With the rise of widespread government monitoring programs, Tox is an easy to use application that allows you to connect with friends and loved ones without anyone else listening in.

    The Universal Tox Client. A Tox client that runs on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, FreeBSD & the web. Written in JS using React & React Native / electron.
    Best alternatives are Signal iconSignalandElement iconElement213 alternatives
  3. Jitsi Meet icon
     261 likes

    Go ahead, video chat with the whole team. In fact, invite everyone you know. Jitsi Meet is a fully encrypted, 100% open source video conferencing solution that you can use all day, every day, for free.

    • Video Calling App
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Apple Watch
    • F-Droid
    Jitsi Meet screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are Signal iconSignalandElement iconElement146 alternatives
  4. Threema icon
     122 likes

    Threema is a new mobile messaging app that puts security first. With true end-to-end encryption, you can rest assured that only you and the intended recipient can read your messages.

    • Instant Messenger
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • F-Droid
    Threema screenshot 1
    Threema screenshot 2
    Threema screenshot 3
    Best alternatives are Signal iconSignalandTelegram iconTelegram125 alternatives
  5. HexChat icon
     217 likes

    HexChat is an IRC client based on XChat for Linux , but unlike XChat it’s completely free for both Windows and Unix-like systems.

    Discontinued
    • IRC Client
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • MacPorts
    • XQuartz
    HexChat screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are Pidgin iconPidginandSeaMonkey iconSeaMonkey66 alternatives
  6. Rambox icon
     134 likes

    Free and Cross Platform messaging and emailing app that combines common web applications into one.

    Version 0.x (Open Source)
    Best alternatives are Franz iconFranzandElectronIM iconElectronIM34 alternatives
  7. Adium icon
     337 likes

    Adium is a free and open source instant messaging application for Mac OS X, written using Mac OS Xs Cocoa API, released under the GNU GPL and developed by the Adium team. Based on the libpurple protocol library, Adium can connect you to any number of messaging accounts on any...

    Discontinued
    Adium screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are Element iconElementandPidgin iconPidgin69 alternatives
  8. Trillian icon
     280 likes

    Trillian is an instant messaging app that works on phones, tablets, and desktops while keeping your chats neatly synchronized between all of them! We think conversation should be easily shared between all of your devices, not trapped as text messages on your phone.

    • Instant Messenger
    • FreemiumProprietary
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Blackberry
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Trillian screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are Signal iconSignalandElement iconElement153 alternatives
  9. Berty icon
     15 likes

    Berty is a secure peer-to-peer messaging app that works with or without internet access, cellular data or trust in the network. Berty is a privacy-first messaging application built on top of the Berty Protocol.

    Berty screenshot 1
    Berty screenshot 2
    Berty screenshot 3
    Best alternatives are Signal iconSignalandMatrix iconMatrix43 alternatives
  10. Psi XMPP Client icon
     92 likes

    Psi is an XMPP client designed for experienced users. It is highly portable and runs on GNU/Linux, MS Windows, macOS, FreeBSD, NetBSD and Haiku.

    Psi XMPP Client screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are Pidgin iconPidginandConversations iconConversations43 alternatives
  11. Telegram X icon
     36 likes

    An alternative Telegram client based on TDLib, with higher speed, slicker animations and experimental features.

    Telegram X screenshot 1
    Telegram X screenshot 2
    Telegram X screenshot 3
    Best alternatives are Signal iconSignalandTelegram iconTelegram219 alternatives
  12. Freeter icon
     26 likes

    The smartest way to work on your computer. Freeter is a productivity app that allows you to gather everything you need for work in one place, organized by projects and workflows, and have a quick access to them.

    Freeter screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are Trello iconTrelloandCherryTree iconCherryTree294 alternatives
  13. Dino icon
     23 likes

    Dino is a modern open-source chat client for the desktop. It focuses on providing a clean and reliable Jabber/XMPP experience while having your privacy in mind. Using GTK+/Vala.

    Dino screenshot 1
    Best alternatives are Signal iconSignalandTelegram iconTelegram72 alternatives
  14. Gajim icon
     68 likes

    The goal of Gajim is to provide a full featured and easy to use XMPP client. Gajim works nicely with GNOME, but does not require it to run. It is released under the GNU General Public License.

    Gajim roster
    Best alternatives are Matrix iconMatrixandPidgin iconPidgin68 alternatives
  15. Thirdlane® Connect is a versatile collaboration tool that combines messaging, voice, video, and app integration into a cohesive and efficient experience on any platform.

    • Group Chat App
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPad
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    Thirdlane Connect - Private & Group Chat
    Best alternatives are Slack iconSlackandGoogle Voice iconGoogle Voice29 alternatives