Messages AlternativesTop Instant Messengers & Encrypted Chat Apps like Messages

Messages is described as 'Stay connected to the people and conversations that matter most' and is a popular instant messenger in the social & communications category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Messages for a variety of platforms, including Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, iPad and Mac apps. The best Messages alternative is Signal, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Messages are Pidgin, Wire, Fossify Messages and Molly.

Messages iconMessages
  50
  • ...

Stay connected to the people and conversations that matter most.

More about Messages
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Messages alternatives page was last updated Mar 18, 2024
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  1. Signal icon

    Signal

     1288 likes
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    An open-source messaging app emphasizing privacy with encrypted communication. Share texts, calls, photos, and videos without ads or trackers, available across major platforms. Developed by Signal Technology Foundation and praised globally for security measures.

    222 Signal alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    Signal screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Encrypted Chat
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Video Calling
    5.  Self Destructing Messages
    6.  Private messaging
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Encrypted Connection
    9.  Mobile friendly
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Desktop Application
    12.  Secure Chat

    Signal VS Messages

     
    Comments about Signal as an Alternative to Messages
    Most Recent Comment
    jamiegray
    Positive Mar 15, 2019
    1

    it's safe, secure, cross platform

    Conner Vieira
    Positive Mar 9, 2020
    1

    It works cross platform, is free, open source, and end to end encrypted

    Guest
    Positive Jun 30, 2022
    0

    It is one of the best security and privacy messaging apps available. And has an easy incredible design

    Messages Icon
    Signal icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Signal is a great Messages alternative.

    • Signal is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Messages.

    • Signal is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Messages.

    • Signal is Free and Open SourceMessages is Free and Proprietary
    • Signal is Privacy focused and Security-focusedMessages is not according to our users
  2. Pidgin icon

    Pidgin

     1523 likes
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    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.

    120 Pidgin alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    Pidgin screenshot 1

    Top Pidgin Features

    1.  Support for Multiple protocols
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3. XMPP icon  Supports XMPP
    4.  Multiple Account support
    5.  IRC
    6.  Portable
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  VoiP Calls
    10.  Multiple languages
    11.  Multiple chat protocols
    12.  Messages

    Pidgin VS Messages

     
  4. Wire icon

    Wire

     309 likes
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    Wire is the most secure collaboration platform featuring messenger, voice, video, conference calls, file-sharing, and external collaboration –all protected by the most secure end-to-end-encryption.

    281 Wire alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Wire screenshot 1
    Wire screenshot 2
    Wire screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Security-focused
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Video Calling
    3.  Encrypted Chat
    4.  VoiP Calls
    5.  Encrypted calls
    6.  Screen Sharing
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Secure File Sharing
    9.  Multiple Account support
    10.  WebRTC
    11.  Private Chat
    12.  File Sending

    Wire VS Messages

     

    • Wire is the most popular Web-based, SaaS, Android Tablet & Self-Hosted alternative to Messages.

    • Wire is Free Personal and Open SourceMessages is Free and Proprietary
    • Wire is Security-focused and Privacy focusedMessages is not according to our users
  5. Fossify Messages icon

    Fossify Messages

     42 likes
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    Fossify Messenger is your trusted messaging companion, designed to enhance your messaging experience in various ways.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • IN flagIndia

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Fossify Messages screenshot 1
    Fossify Messages screenshot 2
    Fossify Messages screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Customizable
    4.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  SMS Messaging
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Text messaging
    6.  SMS/Text Message Backup
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Works Offline

    Fossify Messages VS Messages

     
  6. Molly icon

    Molly

     35 likes
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    Molly is an independent Signal fork for Android.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Secure Chat
    2.  Encrypted Chat
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Text messaging
    6.  Monero exchange
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Cloud Sync
    10.  SOCKS proxy client and server

    Molly VS Messages

     
  7. Conversations icon

    Conversations

     101 likes
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    Conversations is a privacy focused, open source XMPP Texting [Jabber] client for Android 4.0+ smart phones with wife-approved easy encryption [OTR, OMEMO, or GPG].

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Conversations screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Intuitive Interface

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Encrypted Chat
    4. XMPP icon  Supports XMPP
    5.  Image Sharing
    6.  OMEMO
    7.  OpenPGP
    8.  Encrypted Connection
    9.  GPG Encryption
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Self Destructing Messages
    12.  Dark Mode

    Conversations VS Messages

     
  9. QKSMS icon

    QKSMS

     59 likes
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    QKSMS brings a refreshingly beautiful and responsive Material Design touch to the stale state of text messaging.

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    QKSMS screenshot 1
    QKSMS screenshot 2
    QKSMS screenshot 3
    Discontinued

    The latest update is from January 2023 (on v3.10 branch).

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  SMS Messaging
    3.  MMS Messaging
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Material design

    QKSMS VS Messages

     
  10. FluffyChat icon

    FluffyChat

     31 likes
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    FluffyChat is an open, nonprofit and cute matrix messenger app for Ubuntu Touch, Android and iOS.

    195 FluffyChat alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu Touch
    • F-Droid
    • Matrix.org
    FluffyChat screenshot 1
    FluffyChat screenshot 2
    FluffyChat screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight
    4.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Matrix Protocol
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Encrypted Chat
    4.  Voice messages
    5.  End-to-End Encryption
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Multiple Account support
    10.  Two-factor Authentication
    11.  Support for @mentions
    12.  VoiP Calls

    FluffyChat VS Messages

     
  11. QUIK icon

    QUIK

     16 likes
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    QUIK is an open source replacement to the stock messaging app on Android. It is a continuation of QKSMS.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
    QUIK screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  SMS Messaging
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  No registration required
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  MMS Messaging

    QUIK VS Messages

     
  12. Adium icon

    Adium

     337 likes
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    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...

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Adium screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The last update is from March 2021.

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1. XMPP icon  Supports XMPP
    2.  Support for Multiple protocols
    3.  Multiple languages
    4.  Tabbed interface
    5.  Messages
    6.  OTR

    Adium VS Messages

     
  13. Messenger icon

    Messenger

     232 likes
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    Provides comprehensive communication features including group video calls, voice calls, fast messaging, photo sharing, and location mapping. Access through mobile and web platforms with real-time notifications, ensuring seamless interactions using multimedia tools.

    203 Messenger alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Android Auto
    • Android Wear
    Messenger screenshot 1
    Messenger screenshot 2
    Messenger screenshot 3

    Messenger Features

    1.  VoiP Calls
    2.  Face Filter
    3.  Expiring Stories
    4.  Stickers
    5.  Messages
    6.  Text messaging
    7.  In-app Money Transfer
    8.  Private messaging

    Messenger VS Messages

     
  14. Trillian icon

    Trillian

     280 likes
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    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.

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Blackberry
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Trillian screenshot 1

    Trillian Features

    1.  Support for Multiple protocols
    2. XMPP icon  Supports XMPP
    3.  Messages
    4.  IMAP Support
    5.  POP3 Support

    Trillian VS Messages

     
12 of 60 Messages alternatives