Pidgin AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Encrypted Chat Apps

The best Encrypted Chat alternative to Pidgin is Element. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Element or Matrix. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Pidgin and many of them are Encrypted Chat Apps so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Encrypted Chat App alternatives to Pidgin are Jami, Element X, Conversations and Psi XMPP Client.

filter to find the best alternatives

Pidgin alternatives are mainly Encrypted Chat Apps, but if you're looking for Instant Messengers or Group Chat Apps you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Android, Android + Free, Linux and iPhone. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Pidgin.
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Alternatives list

  1. Element icon

    Element

     766 likes
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    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.

    301 Element alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • Snapcraft
    Video calls for desktop and mobile
     
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    1
    8
    Comments about Element as an Alternative to Pidgin
    Guest
    Negative
    9

    Pidgin is a universal IM client. Riot is a Matrix client with integrations providing weak bridging for other protocols.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Pidgin Icon
    Element icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Element is a legitimate Pidgin alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Element is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to Pidgin.

    • Element is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Pidgin.

    • Element is Free Personal and Open SourcePidgin is Free and Open Source
    • Element is Privacy focused and LightweightPidgin is not according to our users
  2. Matrix icon

    Matrix

     380 likes
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    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.

    165 Matrix alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • WebRTC
    • Python
    • JavaScript
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    • Java
    • Perl
    Main Page
     
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    2
    Comments about Matrix as an Alternative to Pidgin
    alttojb
    Positive
    0

    Matrix does allow multi-protocol chat via "bridges". https://matrix.org/bridges/

    Guest
    Negative
    -1

    It's not a universal messaging platform

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Pidgin Icon
    Matrix icon

    • Some users think Matrix is a great Pidgin alternative, some don't.

    • Matrix is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Matrix is Privacy focused, Security-focused and LightweightPidgin is not according to our users
  4. Jitsi Desktop icon

    Jitsi Desktop

     490 likes
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    Jitsi Desktop (previously SIP Communicator) is a legacy audio/video and chat communicator with full encryption, precedessor of Jitsi Meet .

    78 Jitsi Desktop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    Contact list
     
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    37
    Comments about Jitsi Desktop as an Alternative to Pidgin
    Guest
    Negative
    4

    It's only focused on video chat, no more Xmpp Support

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Jitsi is now a video-chat only application, with no support for XMPP/Jabber functionality.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    it does not support Jabber/XMPP anymore

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Pidgin Icon
    Jitsi Desktop icon

    • Most users think Jitsi Desktop is a great Pidgin alternative.

    • Jitsi Desktop is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Jitsi Desktop is Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  5. Jami icon

    Jami

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

    160 Jami alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Jami video conference OS X
     
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    1
    Comments about Jami as an Alternative to Pidgin
    Guest
    Negative
    5

    Pidgin more focused on text and mutiprotocol messaging. While Ring more focused on a distributed non-multiprotocol service.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Pidgin Icon
    Jami icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Jami is a legitimate Pidgin alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Jami is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Jami is Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  7. Conversations icon

    Conversations

     103 likes
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    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].

    155 Conversations alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Conversations screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Conversations as an Alternative to Pidgin
    Schnatt_App
    Positive
    3

    very good Alternative if you seek a client for android

    Pidgin Icon
    Conversations icon
    • Conversations is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Conversations is Lightweight and Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  9. Psi XMPP Client icon

    Psi XMPP Client

     92 likes
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    Feature-rich XMPP client for advanced users offering strong customization options, secure encrypted messaging (TLS, OpenPGP, OTR, OMEMO), file transfers, audio/video calls, support for animated emoticons, modern themes, group messaging, and multi-platform compatibility.

    44 Psi XMPP Client alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    Psi XMPP Client screenshot 1
     
  10. Dino icon

    Dino

     23 likes
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    Dino is a modern open-source chat client for the desktop. It focuses on providing a clean and reliable Jabber/XMPP experience while having your privacy in mind. Using GTK+/Vala.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    Dino screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Dino as an Alternative to Pidgin
    riveravaldez
    Positive
    0

    Simple and modern interface, secure protocols be default (OMEMO, OpenPGP), available in many distros and through Flatpak/Flathub, audio and video call.

    Pidgin Icon
    Dino icon
    • Dino is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Dino is Privacy focused and LightweightPidgin is not according to our users
  11. Gajim icon

    Gajim

     68 likes
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    The goal of Gajim is to provide a full featured and easy to use XMPP client. Gajim works nicely with GNOME, but does not require it to run. It is released under the GNU General Public License.

    62 Gajim alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Xfce
    • Flathub
    Gajim roster
     
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    2
    7
    Comments about Gajim as an Alternative to Pidgin
    Guest
    Negative
    3

    It's a Jabber client only, not a multi-protocol / multi-channel chat client. Similar to Pidgin on it's root purpose can only by another multi-protocol client. Gajim is not.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    Supports more XMPP features and has it already integrated in the base.

    Pidgin needs a lot of plugin to have a similar support for features.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Pidgin Icon
    Gajim icon

    • Most users think Gajim is a great Pidgin alternative.

    • Gajim is Free and Open SourcePidgin is also Free and Open Source
    • Gajim is Privacy focusedPidgin is not according to our users
  12. Snikket icon

    Snikket

     10 likes
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    Snikket is an ambitious project to build a new kind of XMPP-based messaging platform.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Docker
    Snikket screenshot 1
    Snikket screenshot 2
    Snikket screenshot 3
     
  13. Cheogram icon

    Cheogram

     5 likes
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    Chat on the Jabber network (XMPP protocol); focus on features for gateway users The Cheogram Android app allows you to join a worldwide communication network.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
    Cheogram screenshot 1
    Cheogram screenshot 2
    Cheogram screenshot 3
     
  14. nheko icon

    nheko

     6 likes
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    The motivation behind the project is to provide a native desktop app for Matrix that feels more like a mainstream chat app (Element, Telegram etc) and less like an IRC client.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Start
     
12 of 23 Pidgin alternatives