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.
201 Tox alternativesWith 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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- F-Droid
+1
Top Tox Features
- Decentralized
- Privacy focused
- Peer-To-Peer
- End-to-End Encryption
- Security focused
- No registration required
- Multiplatform
- Screen Sharing
- Lightweight
- No Tracking
- AES-256 Encryption
- Dark Mode
122 Pidgin alternativesPidgin 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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Flathub
- PortableApps.com
+1
Top Pidgin Features
- Support for Multiple protocols
- Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
- Supports XMPP
- Multiple Account support
- IRC
- Portable
- No Tracking
- Ad-free
- VoiP Calls
- Multiple languages
- Xmpp
- Multiple chat protocols
66 HexChat alternativesHexChat is an IRC client based on XChat for Linux , but unlike XChat it’s completely free for both Windows and Unix-like systems.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- PortableApps.com
- MacPorts
- XQuartz
HexChat Features
- Portable
- IRC
110 Threema alternativesThreema 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.
+1
License model
- Paid • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- HUAWEI AppGallery
- iPad
Top Threema Features
- End-to-End Encryption
- Privacy focused
- Security focused
- Integrated File Sharing
- Confirm messages
- Ad-free
- Cloud Sync
- No Tracking
- Encrypted Backup
- Dark Mode
- Multiple Account support
- Two-factor Authentication
29 Rambox alternativesFree and Cross Platform messaging and emailing app that combines common web applications into one.
License model
- Freemium • Proprietary
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
Top Rambox Features
- Web application wrapper
- Instagram integration
- Support for Multiple protocols
- Skype integration
- Portable
- Multiple Account support
- Multi-messenger
- Active discord support system
- Configurable
- Built-in themes
- Publish on LinkedIn
- Telegram
67 Adium alternativesAdium 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...
Adium Features
- Support for Themes
- Support for Multiple protocols
- Xmpp
- Supports XMPP
- Multiple languages
- Tabbed interface
- Messages
- OTR
- Customizable
149 Trillian alternativesTrillian 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.
License model
- Freemium • Proprietary
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Blackberry
- iPad
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
+1
Trillian Features
- Support for Multiple protocols
- Xmpp
- Messages
- IMAP Support
- POP3 Support
- Facebook integration
- IRC
209 Telegram X alternativesAn alternative Telegram client based on TDLib, with higher speed, slicker animations and experimental features.
+1
License model
- Free • Proprietary
Application types
Platforms
- Android
- Android Tablet
- Telegram
Top Telegram X Features
- Cloud Sync
- Ad-free
- Stickers
- Support for Themes
- Channels
- Integrated File Sharing
- End-to-End Encryption
- Self Destructing Messages
- Dark Mode
- Privacy focused
- VoiP Calls
- Bots
160 Ripcord alternativesRipcord is a desktop chat client for group-centric services like Slack and Discord. It provides a traditional compact desktop interface designed for power users. It's not built on top of web browser technology: it responds quickly to input, sips gently from computer...
License model
- Freemium • Proprietary
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Discord
- Slack
Ripcord Features
- VoiP Calls
- Slack integration
- Native application
- Slack client
- Slack Threads in Tabs
8 SchildiChat alternativesSchildiChat is a Matrix client based on Element with a more traditional instant messaging experience.
+1
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- Flathub
- F-Droid
- Flatpak
SchildiChat Features
- End-to-End Encryption
- Ad-free
- Lightweight
- Screen Sharing
- Matrix Protocol
67 Gajim alternativesThe 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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Xfce
- Flathub
Top Gajim Features
- OMEMO
- Decentralized
- Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
- Supports XMPP
- PGP Encryption
- Ad-free
- Privacy focused
- End-to-End Encryption
- Audio Calling
- Xmpp
- OTR
- Tabbed interface
54 WeeChat alternativesWeeChat is a free chat client, fast and light, designed for many operating systems. It is highly customizable and extensible with scripts.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Linux
- BSD
- Haiku
- Xfce
Top WeeChat Features
- Command line interface
- Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
- IRC
- Modular System
- Lightweight
- No Tracking
- Ad-free
- Support for Themes
- No registration required
- Decentralized
- Support for @mentions
- Support for Multiple protocols
26 Thirdlane Connect alternativesThirdlane® Connect is a versatile collaboration tool that combines messaging, voice, video, and app integration into a cohesive and efficient experience on any platform.
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPad
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
+1
Top Thirdlane Connect Features
- Text to Speech
- Ad-free
- Screen Sharing
- Real time collaboration
- VoiP Calls
- Support for Themes
- Voice Chat
- Salesforce integration
- Integration with CRMs
- Zendesk integration
- Spell Checking
- Desktop Sharing
12 Berty alternativesBerty 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.
+1
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
Top Berty Features
- Decentralized
- End-to-End Encryption
- No registration required
- Peer-To-Peer
- Privacy focused
- Distributed
- Works Offline
- Lightweight
- Ad-free
- Dark Mode
- No Tracking
- Anonymous Chat
112 ChatSecure alternativesChatSecure is a free and open source messaging app that features OTR encryption over XMPP. You can connect to your existing accounts on Facebook or Google, create new accounts on public XMPP servers(including via Tor), or even connect to your own server for extra security.
+1
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- iPhone
- iPad
ChatSecure Features
- Hidden chat
- Xmpp
- Integrated File Sharing
- OTR
