Open Source Hangouts Alternatives
The best open source alternative to Hangouts is Signal. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Hangouts and loads of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Hangouts are Element, Jitsi Desktop, Jitsi Meet and Matrix.org.
Hangouts alternatives are mainly Group Chat Apps but may also be Video Calling Apps or Instant Messengers. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Hangouts.- Free • Proprietary
- Windows
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Chrome OS
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Google Chrome
- Android Wear
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
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.
Signal vs Hangouts opinions
Easy security for beginners, multi-platform, current development, doesn't restrict communications to insecure recipients, obvious visual indicators that you are communicating secure or non-secure.
JohnFastmanUnlike Google products, Signal offers end-to-end encryption, meaning that your messages cannot be intercepted or read by anyone except the intended recipient, if they have Signal too. Google's emails and messages are intercepted by mass surveillance and used to profile users as part of Google's business model. Signal is also open source, which means you can inspect the code yourself.
No web interface
(Otherwise, the service is great.)
- Freemium • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- Matrix.org
- Cloudron
Element is a secure collaboration and messaging app based on the Matrix protocol. It’s decentralised to deliver digital sovereignty, and based on an open standard for easy connections and interoperability. It is end-to-end encrypted by default.
Element vs Hangouts opinions
Supports all Hangouts features, as well as encrypted conversations. Respects your privacy, and you don't need an email address to sign up.
its deep architecture makes it better than Hangouts and the other security-focused alternatives too.
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- BSD
- Self-Hosted
Jitsi Desktop (previously SIP Communicator) is a legacy audio/video and chat communicator with full encryption, precedessor of Jitsi Meet .
Discontinued
Jitsi Desktop is not actively developed anymore: last version, released in October 2017, can be still downloaded from GitHub. Its successor is Jitsi Meet
- Free • Open Source
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- Apple Watch
- F-Droid
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 — with no account needed.
Jitsi Meet vs Hangouts opinions
JohnFastmanFully functioning, free, open-source, end-to-end encrypted, browser-based (install nothing) Skype- or Google Hangouts alternative. Stable video and sound, screen share, password protection for rooms and a few other handy features. Highly recommended. No more reason to accept Skype and Google's surveillance of your conversations.
gitbreaker222Open source, works without account, easy access, good design, stable connection
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- WebRTC
- Python
- JavaScript
- Go (Programming Language)
- Cloudron
- Java
- Perl
Matrix defines a set of open APIs for decentralised communication, suitable for securely publishing, persisting and subscribing to data over a global open federation of servers with no single point of control.
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- Android Tablet
- BSD
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.
Tox vs Hangouts opinions
- Encrypted text, voice and video chat
- File and Desktop sharing
- Emoji and markdown (basic support on qTox) support
- Group chat
- Open source (Protocol: https://github.com/irungentoo/toxcore)
- Multiple cross-platform clients (mainly qTox, uTox)
- No true offline messaging (decentralized by design)
- Still in development (but fully usable; contribute bug reports by trying out)
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- PortableApps.com
- Xfce
Pidgin is an easy to use, multi-protocol chat client client used by millions. Connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, XMPP, and more chat networks all at once. It has built-in support for NSS, offering client-to-server message encryption for protocols that support it.
Pidgin vs Hangouts opinions
5247009Extremely integrated with countless other chat services, but no web service. You can add functionality through plugins, unlike all other alternatives.
gkaeppelA bit basic but super easy to use.
- Free Personal • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- F-Droid
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
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.
Wire vs Hangouts opinions
End to end encryption, high audio quality, clear financial model (based on pay pro version) and Swiss based
My replacement for Hangouts needed to have integrated video/voice/text chat but also keep the text chat server side so any device could jump back into the conversation. Wire has all of these and is also available on any platform AND is open source!
Privacy focused alternative with end-to-end encryption.
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
Jami (formerly GNU Ring, SFLphone) positions itself as a potential free Skype replacement
- Free Personal • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
Zulip is a group chat app in which messages are threaded by topic, helping you have long-running, organized conversations.
Zulip vs Hangouts opinions
hrishikeshpatilStreams and topics instead of groups