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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.
This page was last updated May 31, 2022
Hangouts
  1030
  • Free • Proprietary
  • Windows
  • Online
  • Android
  • iPhone
  • Chrome OS
  • Android Tablet
  • iPad
  • Google Chrome
  • Android Wear

Hangouts is a messaging app that lets you send and receive messages, photos and more, and even start free video and voice...

Learn more about Hangouts

  1. 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
    Most users think Signal is a great alternative to Hangouts.

    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.

    Positive comment • about 5 years ago
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    8
    JohnFastman

    Unlike 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.

    Positive comment • about 4 years ago
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    0

    No web interface

    (Otherwise, the service is great.)

    Negative comment • about 3 years ago
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    3

  2. Element

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    • 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
    Almost everyone thinks Element is a great alternative to Hangouts.

    Supports all Hangouts features, as well as encrypted conversations. Respects your privacy, and you don't need an email address to sign up.

    Positive comment • over 4 years ago
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    2

    its deep architecture makes it better than Hangouts and the other security-focused alternatives too.

    Positive comment • over 1 year ago
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    1

  4. 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

    Most users think Jitsi Desktop is a great alternative to Hangouts.

  5. 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
    pros, cons and recent comments
    JohnFastman

    Fully 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.

    Positive comment • over 5 years ago
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    2
    gitbreaker222

    Open source, works without account, easy access, good design, stable connection

    Positive comment • over 5 years ago
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    2

  6. Matrix.org

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    • 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.

  8. 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
    Most users think Tox is a great alternative to Hangouts.
    • 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)
    Positive comment • about 5 years ago
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    5

  9. 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
    Most users think Pidgin is a great alternative to Hangouts.
    5247009

    Extremely integrated with countless other chat services, but no web service. You can add functionality through plugins, unlike all other alternatives.

    Positive comment • about 5 years ago
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    3
    gkaeppel

    A bit basic but super easy to use.

    Positive comment • over 3 years ago
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    -1

  10. Wire

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    • 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
    Almost everyone thinks Wire is a great alternative to Hangouts.

    End to end encryption, high audio quality, clear financial model (based on pay pro version) and Swiss based

    Positive comment • over 1 year ago
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    0

    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!

    Positive comment • almost 3 years ago
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    0

    Privacy focused alternative with end-to-end encryption.

    Positive comment • about 3 years ago
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    2

  11. Jami

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    • Free • Open Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Jami (formerly GNU Ring, SFLphone) positions itself as a potential free Skype replacement

  12. Zulip is a group chat app in which messages are threaded by topic, helping you have long-running, organized conversations.

    Zulip vs Hangouts opinions
    pros, cons and recent comments
    hrishikeshpatil

    Streams and topics instead of groups

    Positive comment • over 4 years ago
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    0
Showing 10 of 55 alternatives