Off-the-Record Messaging AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Instant Messengers

The best Instant Messenger alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging is Signal, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to Off-the-Record Messaging and 15 are Instant Messengers so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Instant Messenger alternatives to Off-the-Record Messaging are Telegram, Element, Tox and Jami.

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Off-the-Record Messaging alternatives are mainly Instant Messengers but may also be Encrypted Chat Apps or Video Calling 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 Off-the-Record Messaging.
Off-the-Record Messaging iconOff-the-Record Messaging
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Off-the-Record (OTR) Messaging allows you to have private conversations over any instant messaging (MSN,Gtalk, Facebook and so on) by providing encryption, authentication, deniability, perfect forward...

More about Off-the-Record Messaging
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Off-the-Record Messaging alternatives page was last updated Nov 16, 2024
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  1. Signal icon
    Signal icon

    Signal

     1207 likes
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    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.

    221 Signal alternatives
    Signal screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    Signal screenshot 1
    Signal screenshot 2
    +4
    Signal screenshot 3

    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
    Signal iconOff-the-Record Messaging Icon

    Signal VS Off-the-Record Messaging

    Is Signal a good alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging?
     

    • Signal is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging.

    • Signal is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging.

    • Signal is Free and Open SourceOff-the-Record Messaging is also Free and Open Source
    • Signal is Privacy focused and Security-focusedOff-the-Record Messaging is not according to our users
  2. Telegram icon
    Telegram icon

    Telegram

     2023 likes
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    Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple, and free. It is like SMS, but more powerful.

    288 Telegram alternatives
    Telegram Desktop

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Linux Mobile
    • Android Wear
    • PortableApps.com
    • FreeBSD
    Telegram iOS #1
    Telegram iOS #2
    +9
    Telegram iOS #3

    Top Telegram Features

    1.  Encrypted Chat
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Stickers
    4.  Chat Bot
    5.  Large File Transfer
    6.  Instant Messaging
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  End-to-End Encryption
    9.  Privacy focused
    10.  Video Calling
    11.  Multi Device Support
    12.  Channels
    Telegram iconOff-the-Record Messaging Icon

    Telegram VS Off-the-Record Messaging

    Is Telegram a good alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging?
     

    • Telegram is the most popular Web-based & Android Tablet alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging.

    • Telegram is Freemium and ProprietaryOff-the-Record Messaging is Free and Open Source
    • Telegram is Lightweight and Privacy focusedOff-the-Record Messaging is not according to our users
  4. Element icon
    Element icon

    Element

     690 likes
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    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.

    294 Element alternatives
    Video calls for desktop and mobile

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    Collaboration widgets
    Collaboration and screen sharing
    +1
    Connect with other apps

    Top Element Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Federated
    4.  Team Collaboration
    5.  Privacy focused
    6.  Encrypted Chat
    7.  Video Calling
    8.  Instant Messaging
    9.  Matrix Protocol
    10.  Voice Chat
    11.  Direct Messaging
    12.  Federation
    Element iconOff-the-Record Messaging Icon

    Element VS Off-the-Record Messaging

    Is Element a good alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging?
     

    • Element is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging.

    • Element is Freemium and Open SourceOff-the-Record Messaging is Free and Open Source
    • Element is Decentralized and Privacy focusedOff-the-Record Messaging is not according to our users
  5. Tox icon
    Tox icon

    Tox

     546 likes
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    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.

    210 Tox alternatives
    The Universal Tox Client. A Tox client that runs on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, FreeBSD & the web. Written in JS using React & React Native / electron.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • F-Droid
    qTox. A Tox client developed in C++ with the Qt framework
    uTox. A Tox client written in C using OS primitives to draw it's interface
    +5
    Ricin. A Tox client written in Vala using the GTK toolkit.

    Top Tox Features

    1.  Encrypted Chat
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Privacy focused
    4.  Peer-To-Peer
    5.  End-to-End Encryption
    6.  Security-focused
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Multiplatform
    9.  Screen Sharing
    10.  Lightweight
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  AES-256 Encryption
    Tox iconOff-the-Record Messaging Icon

    Tox VS Off-the-Record Messaging

    Is Tox a good alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging?
     
  6. Jami icon
    Jami icon

    Jami

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

    162 Jami alternatives
    Jami video conference OS X

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Jami conference call Linux
    Jami screensharing Linux
    +9
    Jami instant message on mobile device

    Top Jami Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Video Conferencing
    5.  Peer-To-Peer
    6.  Multi Platform
    7.  Video Calling
    8.  Encrypted Chat
    9.  End-to-End Encryption
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Screen Sharing
    Jami iconOff-the-Record Messaging Icon

    Jami VS Off-the-Record Messaging

    Is Jami a good alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging?
     
  7. Telegram X icon
    Telegram X icon

    Telegram X

     34 likes
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    An alternative Telegram client based on TDLib, with higher speed, slicker animations and experimental features.

    220 Telegram X alternatives
    Telegram X screenshot 1
    Telegram X screenshot 2
    +3
    Telegram X screenshot 3

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Telegram

    Top Telegram X Features

    1.  Cloud Sync
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Stickers
    4.  Support for Themes
    5.  Channels
    6.  Integrated File Sharing
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8.  Self Destructing Messages
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Privacy focused
    11.  VoiP Calls
    12.  Bots
    Telegram X iconOff-the-Record Messaging Icon

    Telegram X VS Off-the-Record Messaging

    Is Telegram X a good alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging?
     
  9. Berty icon
    Berty icon

    Berty

     11 likes
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    Berty is a secure peer-to-peer messaging app that works with or without internet access, cellular data or trust in the network. Berty is a privacy-first messaging application built on top of the Berty Protocol.

    43 Berty alternatives
    Berty screenshot 1
    Berty screenshot 2
    +2
    Berty screenshot 3

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Top Berty Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Peer-To-Peer
    5.  Privacy focused
    6.  Distributed
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Lightweight
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Command line interface
    Berty iconOff-the-Record Messaging Icon

    Berty VS Off-the-Record Messaging

    Is Berty a good alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging?
     
  10. Session icon
    Session icon

    Session

     94 likes
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    Session is the world's first open-source, decentralised private messenger to use industry-leading Signal Protocol encryption — without asking for your phone number.

    70 Session alternatives
    Session screenshot 1
    Session screenshot 2
    +2
    Session screenshot 3

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • F-Droid

    Top Session Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Private messaging
    4.  Secure Chat
    5.  Privacy focused
    6.  Encrypted Chat
    7.  Instant Messaging
    8.  GPLv3
    9.  Multiplatform
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  No Tracking
    Session iconOff-the-Record Messaging Icon

    Session VS Off-the-Record Messaging

    Is Session a good alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging?
     
  11. Silence IM icon
    Silence IM icon

    Silence IM

     54 likes
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    Protect your communication in transit and on your phone. Silence (formerly SMSSecure) is a full replacement for the default text messaging application: all messages are encrypted locally and messages to other Silence users are encrypted over the air.

    68 Silence IM alternatives
    Silence IM screenshot 1
    Silence IM screenshot 2
    +3
    Silence IM screenshot 3

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android

    Silence IM Features

    1.  SMS Messaging
    2.  GPLv3
    3.  Desktop Application
    Discontinued

    Silence seems to be discontinued, the only commits for a long time have been translations and not code updates.https://git.silence.dev/Silence/Silence-Android/-/commits/master

    Silence IM iconOff-the-Record Messaging Icon

    Silence IM VS Off-the-Record Messaging

    Is Silence IM a good alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging?
     
  12. Mesh icon
    Mesh icon

    Mesh

     26 likes
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    Technitium Mesh is a secure, anonymous, peer-to-peer (p2p), open source instant messenger designed to provide end-to-end encryption. Primary aim of developing this instant messenger is to provide privacy which is achieved using cryptography and anonymity using Tor network.

    76 Mesh alternatives
    Mesh screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Top Mesh Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Portable
    4.  Decentralized
    5.  End-to-End Encryption
    6.  AES-256 Encryption
    7.  Sync via TOR network
    8.  Integrated File Sharing
    9.  Multiple Profiles
    10.  Anonymous Chat
    11.  Peer-To-Peer
    Discontinued

    The last update is from December 2019.

    Mesh iconOff-the-Record Messaging Icon

    Mesh VS Off-the-Record Messaging

    Is Mesh a good alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging?
     
  13. Simphone icon
    Simphone icon

    Simphone

     5 likes
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    Secure and private open source peer-to-peer Instant Messenger.

    84 Simphone alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • NetBSD

    Top Simphone Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  AES-256 Encryption
    4.  Privacy focused
    5.  VoiP Calls
    6.  Decentralized
    7.  Lightweight
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Portable
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Security-focused
    Simphone iconOff-the-Record Messaging Icon

    Simphone VS Off-the-Record Messaging

    Is Simphone a good alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging?
     
  14. BitMail icon
    BitMail icon

    BitMail

     6 likes
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    Secure decentral P2P Email.

    25 BitMail alternatives
    BitMail screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    BitMail Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Encrypted Email
    BitMail screenshot 1
    BitMail screenshot 2
    +1
    BitMail screenshot 3
    Discontinued

    The last release is from 2017.

    BitMail iconOff-the-Record Messaging Icon

    BitMail VS Off-the-Record Messaging

    Is BitMail a good alternative to Off-the-Record Messaging?
     
12 of 15 Off-the-Record Messaging alternatives