Messages AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Encrypted Chat Apps

The best Encrypted Chat alternative to Messages is Signal, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Messages and 18 are Encrypted Chat Apps so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Encrypted Chat App alternatives to Messages are Skype, Wire, Molly and Conversations.

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Messages alternatives are mainly Instant Messengers but may also be Video Calling Apps or Group Chat Apps. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Messages.

Messages

Instant Messenger
Free • Proprietary

Stay connected to the people and conversations that matter most.

More about Messages

Messages alternatives page was last updated Oct 24, 2023

Signal
Signal is a messaging app with an unexpected focus on privacy, combined with all the features expected from a modern IM app. Signal has received a lot of praise from all around the world for its security and privacy-respecting technologies.
219 Signal alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Video Calling App
- Instant Messenger
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- iPad
- Flathub
- Ubuntu
- Debian
+4
Top Signal Features
1. End-to-End Encryption
2. Encrypted Chat
3. Privacy focused
4. Security focused
5. Ad-free
6. Video Calling
7. Instant Messaging
8. Self Destructing Messages
9. Private messaging
10. No Tracking
11. Encrypted Connection
12. Mobile friendly
Show all NaN Signal features ▾
Signal VS Messages
Is Signal a good alternative to Messages?
Comments about Signal as an Alternative to Messages

jamiegray
it's safe, secure, cross platform
Positive comment •Mar 15, 2019
1
Conner Vieira
It works cross platform, is free, open source, and end to end encrypted
Positive comment •Mar 9, 2020
1
Guest
It is one of the best security and privacy messaging apps available. And has an easy incredible design
Positive comment •Jun 30, 2022
0
- 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

Skype
Skype is the most popular free voice-over IP and instant messaging service globally. It allows users to text, video and voice call over the internet. Users can also call landlines and mobiles at competitive rates using Skype credit, premium accounts and subscriptions.
306 Skype alternatives
License model
- Freemium • Proprietary
Application types
- Video Calling App
- Instant Messenger
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Chrome OS
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- Windows Phone
- iPad
- Android Wear
- PortableApps.com
+9
Top Skype Features
1. Video Calling
2. Screen Sharing
3. VoiP Calls
4. Microsoft Office integration
5. Lightweight
6. Video Conferencing
7. Ad-free
8. Dark Mode
9. IFTTT Integration
10. Live Captions Translation
11. Voice messages
12. Multiple languages
Show all NaN Skype features ▾
Skype VS Messages
Is Skype a good alternative to Messages?
- Skype is the most popular Web-based & Android Tablet alternative to Messages.
- Skype is Freemium and ProprietaryMessages is Free and Proprietary
- Skype is LightweightMessages is not according to our users

Wire
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.
276 Wire alternatives
+2
License model
- Free Personal • Open Source
Application types
- Video Calling App
- Instant Messenger
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- F-Droid
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
Top Wire Features
1. End-to-End Encryption
2. Security focused
3. Video Calling
4. Encrypted Chat
5. VoiP Calls
6. Encrypted calls
7. Screen Sharing
8. Privacy focused
9. Multiple Account support
10. WebRTC
11. File Sending
12. Voice Chat
Show all NaN Wire features ▾
Wire VS Messages
Is Wire a good alternative to Messages?
- Wire is the most popular SaaS & 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

Molly
Molly is an independent Signal fork for Android.
186 Molly alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Instant Messenger
- Video Calling App
Platforms
- Android
- F-Droid
Molly Features
1. End-to-End Encryption
2. Secure Chat
3. No Tracking
4. Text messaging
5. Cloud Sync
6. Privacy focused
7. Ad-free
8. Dark Mode
9. SOCKS proxy client and server
10. Monero exchange
Show all NaN Molly features ▾
Molly VS Messages
Is Molly a good alternative to Messages?

Conversations
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].
151 Conversations alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Instant Messenger
- Group Chat App
Platforms
- Android
- Android Tablet
- F-Droid
+4
Top Conversations Features
1. Decentralized
2. End-to-End Encryption
3. Encrypted Chat
4. Image Sharing
5. OpenPGP
6. Lightweight
7. GPG Encryption
8. Dark Mode
9. Ad-free
10. Self Destructing Messages
11. Multiple Account support
12. Privacy focused
Show all NaN Conversations features ▾
Conversations VS Messages
Is Conversations a good alternative to Messages?

FluffyChat
FluffyChat is an open, nonprofit and cute matrix messenger app for Ubuntu Touch, Android and iOS.
185 FluffyChat alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Instant Messenger
- Video Calling App
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Flathub
- Ubuntu Touch
- F-Droid
- iPad
- Snapcraft
- Android Tablet
FluffyChat Features
1. Matrix Protocol
2. Decentralized
3. Voice messages
4. End-to-End Encryption
5. Privacy focused
6. Security focused
7. Ad-free
8. Dark Mode
Show all NaN FluffyChat features ▾
FluffyChat VS Messages
Is FluffyChat a good alternative to Messages?

Snikket
Snikket is an ambitious project to build a new kind of XMPP-based messaging platform.
27 Snikket alternatives
+1
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Instant Messenger
- Video Calling App
Platforms
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- F-Droid
- Docker
Top Snikket Features
1. Ad-free
2. End-to-End Encryption
3. Decentralized
4. VoiP Calls
5. Privacy focused
6. No Tracking
7. Multiple Account support
8. Lightweight
9. No registration required
10. Desktop Sharing
11. Dark Mode
12. Supports XMPP
Show all NaN Snikket features ▾
Snikket VS Messages
Is Snikket a good alternative to Messages?

Olvid
The most secure messaging app in the world.
167 Olvid alternatives
+2
License model
- Freemium • Open Source
Application types
- Instant Messenger
- Video Calling App
Platforms
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
Olvid Features
1. Encrypted Chat
2. Privacy focused
3. Secure Chat
4. End-to-End Encryption
5. No Tracking
6. No registration required
7. VoiP Calls
8. Dark Mode
Show all NaN Olvid features ▾
Olvid VS Messages
Is Olvid a good alternative to Messages?

Xabber
Open source Jabber (XMPP) client with multi-account support, clean and simple interface. Being both free (as in freedom!) and ad-free, Xabber is designed to be the best Jabber client for Android .
140 Xabber alternatives
+1
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
Platforms
- Online
- Android
- F-Droid
Xabber Features
Xmpp
Show all NaN Xabber features ▾
Discontinued
The project seems no longer developed since 2019. Last version, 2.6.6, released in October 2019, can be still downloaded from F-Droid, it's no longer available on Google Play Store

Xabber VS Messages
Is Xabber a good alternative to Messages?

Partisan SMS
Partisan-SMS is based on the open-source SMS app QKSMS. P-SMS encrypts SMS messages to allow for peaceful protesters to communicate without authoritarian regimes being able to spy on them.
20 Partisan SMS alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Encrypted Chat App
Platforms
- Android
Partisan SMS Features
1. Ad-free
2. Privacy focused
3. No Tracking
4. End-to-End Encryption
5. Lightweight
6. Dark Mode
7. SMS Messaging
Show all NaN Partisan SMS features ▾
Discontinued
The last version is from May 2023, and it seems the development has been abandoned.

Partisan SMS VS Messages
Is Partisan SMS a good alternative to Messages?

TeleGuard
TeleGuard is the data-secure messenger from Swisscows. TeleGuard encrypts every message and all telephone calls with encryption algorithm currently available: SALSA 20. TeleGuard servers are located in Switzerland, they are not subject to the data protection laws of the EU /...
161 TeleGuard alternatives
+3
License model
- Free Personal • Proprietary
Application types
- Video Calling App
- Encrypted Chat App
Platforms
- Windows
- Android
- iPhone
- Mac
- Linux
- Snapcraft
TeleGuard Features
1. End-to-End Encryption
2. Privacy focused
3. Security focused
4. VoiP Calls
5. Ad-free
6. Multiple languages
7. Encrypted Connection
8. Stickers
9. Integrated File Sharing
Show all NaN TeleGuard features ▾
TeleGuard VS Messages
Is TeleGuard a good alternative to Messages?

Adamant Messenger
The most secure and anonymous messenger, encrypted with Blockchain.
136 Adamant Messenger alternatives
+2
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
Top Adamant Messenger Features
1. No Tracking
2. Dark Mode
3. End-to-End Encryption
4. Decentralized
5. Ad-free
6. Privacy focused
7. No registration required
8. Blockchain
9. Anonymous Chat
10. Based on Blockchain
11. Support for TOR
Show all NaN Adamant Messenger features ▾
Adamant Messenger VS Messages
Is Adamant Messenger a good alternative to Messages?