ICQ is described as 'Is one of the oldest instant messengers. First developed by the Israeli company Mirabilis, sold to AOL, sold again and currenly owned by the Russian "mail.ru" group (known for one of the largest social networks)' and is a popular instant messenger in the social & communications category. There are more than 50 alternatives to ICQ for a variety of platforms, including Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac and Linux apps. The best ICQ alternative is Signal, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like ICQ are Telegram, Element, Pidgin and Tox.
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.
Maximize your messaging experience with efficient communication, speedy delivery, and optional end-to-end encrypted Secret Chats. Engage in unlimited channels and groups up to 200,000 members. Enhance chat management and media sharing with Telegram Premium and its exclusive benefits. All core features remain free.
Provides secure collaboration with end-to-end encryption, supporting chat, voice, and video calls. Available on all major platforms, it enables digital sovereignty with a decentralized design and interoperability through bridges to systems like Slack and Teams. Includes enterprise-grade SaaS.
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.
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.
Exchange messages without SMS fees using this app for iPhone, Android and desktop, featuring group chats, multimedia sharing, and video calls. The app requires an internet connection and the latest version for optimal functionality.
Open-source messaging platform enabling private, identifier-free chats, encrypted group discussions, file and media sharing, plus audio and video calls. Employs double-ratchet protocol, stores user data on-device, protects metadata, and lets users self-host relay servers.
Threaded group conversations combine live and asynchronous messaging, separating topics for organized collaboration, supporting open-source, cloud, and self-hosted deployments, secure communication with encryption, and multi-platform access for diverse teams.
Offers secure messaging with end-to-end encryption, unlimited free calls, group chats for up to 250 members, rich media sharing, emoji reactions, AR lenses, self-destruct messages, affordable international calls, community channels, and robust privacy across devices.
Encrypted messenger supporting multi-platform access, unlimited group and private chats, file and voice message sharing, decentralized operation, open-source code, custom themes including dark mode, advanced moderation, push notifications, and no advertisements.
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].
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Signal is linked to your phone number, unlike ICQ where you obtain an independent number that identifies your account. If I didn't mind sharing personal information like that, I'd just use SMS instead.