Session Alternatives

Session is described as 'The world's first open-source, decentralised private messenger to use industry-leading Signal Protocol encryption — without asking for your phone number' and is a very popular instant messenger in the social & communications category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Session for a variety of platforms, including Android, iPhone, Linux, Windows and Mac apps. The best Session alternative is Signal, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Session are Telegram, Element, Matrix and Tox.

filter to find the best alternatives

Session alternatives are mainly Instant Messengers, but if you're looking for Encrypted Chat Apps or Group Chat Apps you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source + End-to-End Encryption. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Session.
Session iconSession
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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.

More about Session
More about Session
Session alternatives page was last updated Apr 19, 2025
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  1. SchildiChat icon

    SchildiChat

     14 likes
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    SchildiChat is a Matrix client based on Element with a more traditional instant messaging experience.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Flatpak
    SchildiChat screenshot 1
    SchildiChat screenshot 2
    SchildiChat screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Screen Sharing
    4.  Matrix Protocol

    SchildiChat VS Session

     
  2. Sphinx Chat icon

    Sphinx Chat

     3 likes
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    Sphinx.chat lets you use your lightning node to talk to anyone else who is running lightning and a sphinx compatible chat client.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    Sphinx Chat screenshot 1

    Sphinx Chat Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  WEB3
    3.  Based on Blockchain
    4.  Text messaging
    5.  Blockchain

    Sphinx Chat VS Session

     
  4. 64Gram icon

    64Gram

     9 likes
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    64Gram (unofficial Telegram Desktop).

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Welcome Screen

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  VoiP Calls
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  End-to-End Encryption
    5.  Self Destructing Messages
    6.  Multiple Account support
    7.  Cloud Sync
    8.  Two-factor Authentication
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Native application
    11.  Telegram
    12.  QT Based

    64Gram VS Session

     
  5. VeilidChat icon

    VeilidChat

     3 likes
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    VeilidChat is a 1-to-1, person-to-person text only chat application which serves as a technology demonstration for the Veilid application development framework. All communication is end to end encrypted, authenticated, private routed, and peer-to-peer. It's currently in early beta.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    VeilidChat screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Multiple Account support
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Decentralized
    5.  Private messaging
    6.  Encrypted Connection

    VeilidChat VS Session

     
  6. Ricochet Refresh icon

    Ricochet Refresh

     2 likes
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    Ricochet Refresh is the new updated version of Ricochet, supported by Blueprint for Free Speech.. We are a non-government, not-for-profit organisation working to safeguard the freedom of expression for whistleblowers, activists, and everybody else, worldwide.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    Ricochet Refresh screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Self Destructing Messages
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  No Tracking

    Ricochet Refresh VS Session

     

  7. Jami Commander

     1 like
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    jami-commander (jc for short) is a simple but convenient CLI-based Jami client app for setting up accounts and swarms as well as sending.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Jami Commander Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Client-side

    Jami Commander VS Session

     
  9. signal-cli icon

    signal-cli

     1 like
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    signal-cli is a commandline interface for the Signal messenger. It supports registering, verifying, sending and receiving messages. signal-cli uses a patched libsignal-service-java, extracted from the Signal-Android source code.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Java
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Ad-free

    signal-cli VS Session

     
  10. Matrix Commander icon

    Matrix Commander

     1 like
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    This simple Matrix client written in Python allows you to send and receive messages and files, verify other devices, and interact with your Matrix account or other Matrix users in many ways. You use it from the terminal (CLI) or integrate it into other simple Python programs.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Docker
    • Docker Hub
    • Python
    • Nix Package Manager

    Matrix Commander VS Session

     
  11. Skred icon

    Skred

     3 likes
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    Skred is the first secure peer-to-peer instant messaging app - No need for an email address or phone number to use it.

    Skred is free, without subscription, without a provider, without a SIM card, and without leaving a trace.

    16 Skred alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    Skred screenshot 1
    Skred screenshot 2
    Skred screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Peer-To-Peer

    Skred VS Session

     
  12. TeleGuard icon

    TeleGuard

     7 likes
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    TeleGuard is the data-secure messenger from Swisscows. TeleGuard encrypts every message and all telephone calls with encryption algorithm currently available: SALSA 20. TeleGuard servers are located in Switzerland, they are not subject to the data protection laws of the EU /...

    157 TeleGuard alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Snapcraft
    TeleGuard screenshot 1
    TeleGuard screenshot 2
    TeleGuard screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  VoiP Calls
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Multiple languages
    5.  Encrypted Connection
    6.  Stickers
    7.  Integrated File Sharing

    TeleGuard VS Session

     
  13. Numbers Station icon

    Numbers Station

     2 likes
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    Secure messenger that protects against NSO Group (Pegasus) & Cytrox (Predator) from exploiting your iOS device via "zero-click" exploit chains. These exploits are easily delivered via other messaging apps like iMessage, Signal, WhatsApp, etc. Protection for those at the highest risk.

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Numbers Station screenshot 1
    Numbers Station screenshot 2
    Numbers Station screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Self Destructing Messages
    5.  AES-256 Encryption
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Real time collaboration

    Numbers Station VS Session

     

  14. Signal-FOSS

     2 likes
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    A fork of Signal for Android with proprietary Google binary blobs removed. Uses OpenStreetMap for maps and a websocket server connection, instead of Google Maps and Firebase Cloud Messaging.

    51 Signal-FOSS alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  VoiP Calls
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Private messaging
    6.  GPLv3
    7.  Secure Chat
    8.  Encrypted Connection
    9.  Centralized model repository
    10.  Protected by Password
    11.  Forward Secrecy
    12.  International Numbers

    Signal-FOSS VS Session

     
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