Messages Alternatives for Linux

Messages is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative 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 available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to Messages are Pidgin, Wire, FluffyChat and Trillian.

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Messages alternatives page was last updated Oct 24, 2023

Signal
1370 likes
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.
217 Signal alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source (GPL-3.0)
Application types
Instant Messenger
Video Calling
Origin
United States
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
iPad
Flathub
Ubuntu
Debian
Snapcraft
+4
Is Signal a good alternative to Messages?

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3comments
Comments about Signal as an Alternative to Messages

jamiegray
Positive commentMar 15, 2019
1
it's safe, secure, cross platform
Conner Vieira
Positive commentMar 9, 2020
1
It works cross platform, is free, open source, and end to end encrypted
Guest
Positive commentJun 30, 2022
0
It is one of the best security and privacy messaging apps available. And has an easy incredible design
Review by a new / low-activity user.
Signal is Free and Open SourceMessages is Free and Proprietary
Signal is Privacy focused, Security-focused and LightweightMessages is not according to our users
Pidgin
1530 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.
119 Pidgin alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application types
Instant Messenger
Group Chat
Origin
United States
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Flathub
PortableApps.com
+4
Is Pidgin a good alternative to Messages?
Wire
316 likes
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.
282 Wire alternatives
Cost / License
Free Personal
Open Source (GPL-3.0)
Application types
Instant Messenger
Video Calling
Origin
Switzerland
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
F-Droid
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Flathub
Snapcraft
+2
Is Wire a good alternative to Messages?
FluffyChat
37 likes
FluffyChat is an open, nonprofit and cute matrix messenger app for Ubuntu Touch, Android and iOS.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source (AGPL-3.0)
Application types
Instant Messenger
Video Calling
Origin
Switzerland
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Snapcraft
Flathub
Ubuntu Touch
F-Droid
Matrix.org
Is FluffyChat a good alternative to Messages?
Trillian
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.
149 Trillian alternatives
Cost / License
Freemium
Proprietary
Application type
Instant Messenger
Origin
United States
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Blackberry
iPad
Software as a Service (SaaS)
+2
Is Trillian a good alternative to Messages?
Status
22 likes
Status combines a private messenger, secure crypto wallet, and Ethereum Web3 DApp browser into one powerful communication tool. Chat with friends and growing communities. Buy, sell, store, and exchange digital assets.
175 Status alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application types
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat
Origin
Germany
EU
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
F-Droid
+4
Is Status a good alternative to Messages?
Empathy
157 likes
Empathy is a messaging program which supports text, voice, video chat, and file transfers over many different protocols. You can tell it about your accounts on all those services and do all your chatting within one application.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application types
Instant Messenger
Video Calling
Origin
United States
Alerts
Discontinued
Platforms
Linux
BSD
Is Empathy a good alternative to Messages?
BlueBubbles
7 likes
BlueBubbles is an open-source and cross-platform ecosystem of apps aimed to bring iMessage to Android, Windows, Linux, and the Web! With BlueBubbles, you'll be able to send messages, media, and much more to your friends and family.
7 BlueBubbles alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source (Apache-2.0)
Platforms
Windows
Online
Mac
Android
Linux
Android Tablet
Flathub
+1
Is BlueBubbles a good alternative to Messages?
Sphinx Chat
4 likes
Sphinx.chat lets you use your lightning node to talk to anyone else who is running lightning and a sphinx compatible chat client.
65 Sphinx Chat alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application type
Group Chat
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
+1
Is Sphinx Chat a good alternative to Messages?
Quaternion
4 likes
Quaternion is a cross-platform Qt5-based desktop IM client for Matrix, a reference desktop application using libQMatrixClient. Source code, issue tracker, roadmap etc. can be found at GitHub. Releases (with links to cross-platform source code archives, as well as binaries for...
Cost / License
Free
Open Source (GPL-3.0)
Application types
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Flathub
Flatpak
Is Quaternion a good alternative to Messages?
Adamant Messenger
8 likes
The most secure and anonymous messenger, encrypted with Blockchain.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application types
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat
Origin
Estonia
EU
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
+2
Is Adamant Messenger a good alternative to Messages?
TeleGuard
8 likes
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 /...
145 TeleGuard alternatives
Cost / License
Free Personal
Proprietary
Application types
Instant Messenger
Video Calling
Origin
Switzerland
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
Snapcraft
+3
Is TeleGuard a good alternative to Messages?