RetroShare AlternativesInstant Messengers & Video Calling Apps like RetroShare

RetroShare is described as 'Open source cross-platform, private and secure decentralized communication system. It lets you to securely chat, share photos, videos, and more, using OpenPGP to authenticate peers and ' and is a very popular Video Calling app in the social & communications category. There are more than 100 alternatives to RetroShare for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and iPhone apps. The best RetroShare alternative is Signal, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like RetroShare are LocalSend, Element, Discord and Tox.

More about RetroShare
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
RetroShare alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Signal icon

    Signal

     1360 likes

    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.

    217 Signal alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    • Snapcraft
    Signal screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    12
    Comments about Signal as an Alternative to RetroShare
    Oscar Sanderson
    Negative
    2

    No p2p file sharing (signal is centralised), no social media and forum functionality

    RetroShare Icon
    Signal icon

    • Most users think Signal is a great RetroShare alternative.

    • Signal is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to RetroShare.

    • Signal is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to RetroShare.

    • Signal is Free and Open SourceRetroShare is also Free and Open Source
    • Signal is Security-focused and LightweightRetroShare is not according to our users
  2. LocalSend icon

    LocalSend

     369 likes

    LocalSend is a free, open-source, cross-platform file-sharing tool designed to securely share files and messages with nearby devices over your local network without needing an internet connection. Here are some of its key features:

    109 LocalSend alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Chocolatey
    LocalSend screenshot 1
     

    • LocalSend is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to RetroShare.

    • LocalSend is Free and Open SourceRetroShare is also Free and Open Source
    • LocalSend is LightweightRetroShare is not according to our users
  4. Element icon

    Element

     771 likes

    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.

    302 Element alternatives

    Cost / License

    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
     
    |
    6

    • Most users think Element is a great RetroShare alternative.

    • Element is the most popular Web-based & Self-Hosted alternative to RetroShare.

    • Element is Free Personal and Open SourceRetroShare is Free and Open Source
    • Element is LightweightRetroShare is not according to our users
  5. Discord icon

    Discord

     1110 likes

    An integrated platform for text and voice communications. Offers tailored channels for different topics, customizable moderation tools, low latency for fluency, and managed user roles for optimal community facilitation.

    191 Discord alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Epic Games Store
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
    Desktop UI
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Discord as an Alternative to RetroShare
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Discord is a closed source, proprietary software that is not decentralized, not end to end encrypted, and doesnt care at all about user privacy

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    RetroShare Icon
    Discord icon

    • Some users think Discord is a great RetroShare alternative, some don't.

    • Discord is Freemium and ProprietaryRetroShare is Free and Open Source
  6. Tox icon

    Tox

     558 likes

    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.

    211 Tox alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • F-Droid
    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.
     
  7. SimpleX Chat icon

    SimpleX Chat

     90 likes

    SimpleX - the most private and secure chat and applications platform - now with double ratchet E2E encryption! Built on Haskell with Love and Coffee.

    69 SimpleX Chat alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Self-Hosted
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Flatpak
    SimpleX Chat screenshot 1
    SimpleX Chat screenshot 2
    SimpleX Chat screenshot 3
     
  9. Jami icon

    Jami

     237 likes

    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
     
  10. Deluge icon

    Deluge

     709 likes

    Deluge is a full-featured BitTorrent client for Linux, Unix and Windows. It is written in python, uses libtorrent (rasterbar) at its core and GTK for the main user interface along with web and console interfaces for advanced client/server...

    72 Deluge alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • libtorrent
    • Flathub
    • Python
    • FreeBSD
    • Flatpak
    • MacPorts
    • Docker
    Deluge screenshot 1
     
    |
    3
    Comments about Deluge as an Alternative to RetroShare
    altersoft
    Negative
    6

    torrent client only, not p2p or edonkey.

    Guest
    Negative
    8

    Retroshare is a whole multiple chat/mail/group program while Deluge's main purpose is to download torrents.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    7

    Not the same scope as RetroShare!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    RetroShare Icon
    Deluge icon

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

    • Deluge is Free and Open SourceRetroShare is also Free and Open Source
    • Deluge is LightweightRetroShare is not according to our users
  11. OnionShare icon

    OnionShare

     109 likes

    OnionShare is an open source tool that lets you securely and anonymously share files, host websites, and chat with friends using the Tor network.

    64 OnionShare alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Snapcraft
    OnionShare screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    8
    Comments about OnionShare as an Alternative to RetroShare
    Oscar Sanderson
    Positive
    1

    Similar functionality to retroshare but easier to use and onion routing (tor) is on by default

    RetroShare Icon
    OnionShare icon

    • Almost everyone thinks OnionShare is a great RetroShare alternative.

    • OnionShare is Free and Open SourceRetroShare is also Free and Open Source
    • OnionShare is Security-focused and LightweightRetroShare is not according to our users
  13. Element X icon

    Element X

     41 likes

    It is the brand new, and fastest ever, Matrix client. It is for personal and community use, and will support enterprise functionality later this year.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Element X screenshot 1
    Element X screenshot 2
    Element X screenshot 3
     
  14. Soulseek icon

    Soulseek

     141 likes

    Soulseek® is a unique ad-free, spyware free, and just plain free file sharing application. One of the things that makes Soulseek® unique is our community and community-related features. Based on peer-to-peer technology, virtual rooms allow you to meet people with the...

    20 Soulseek alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    v2017.2.20
     
12 of 136 RetroShare alternatives