Sideband AlternativesInstant Messengers & Encrypted Chat Apps like Sideband

Sideband is described as 'Decentralized messaging client for Android, Linux and macOS allowing you to communicate with people or LXMF-compatible systems over Reticulum networks using LoRa, Packet Radio, WiFi, I2P, or any other medium Reticulum supports' and is a instant messenger in the social & communications category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Sideband for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Linux, Android, Windows and Flathub apps. The best Sideband alternative is Element. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Tox or SimpleX Chat. Other great apps like Sideband are Briar, bitchat, Element X and Delta Chat.

Sideband iconSideband
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Decentralized messaging client for Android, Linux and macOS allowing you to communicate with people or LXMF-compatible...

More about Sideband
More about Sideband
Sideband alternatives page was last updated Jul 8, 2025
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  1. Element icon

    Element

     726 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.

    302 Element alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    Video calls for desktop and mobile

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Clean design

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Federated
    4.  Team Collaboration
    5.  Encrypted Chat
    6.  Video Calling
    7.  Matrix Protocol
    8.  Voice Chat
    9.  Direct Messaging
    10.  Federation
    11.  Cross-Platform
    12.  Dark Mode

    Element VS Sideband

     

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

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

    • Element is Free Personal and Open SourceSideband is Free and Open Source
    • Element is Privacy focusedSideband is not according to our users
  2. Tox icon

    Tox

     550 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.

    214 Tox alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    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.

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Chat
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Peer-To-Peer
    4.  End-to-End Encryption
    5.  Multiplatform
    6.  No registration required
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  AES-256 Encryption
    9.  Screen Sharing
    10.  P2P Network
    11.  Secure Chat
    12.  Anonymous Secure Filesharing

    Tox VS Sideband

     
  4. SimpleX Chat icon

    SimpleX Chat

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

    60 SimpleX Chat alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Chat
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Decentralized
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Multiple Account support
    7.  Self Destructing Messages
    8.  Video Calling
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Voice messages
    11.  VoiP Calls
    12.  No Tracking

    SimpleX Chat VS Sideband

     
  5. Briar icon

    Briar

     100 likes
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    An open-source decentralized and encrypted messaging app even without internet connection via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Messages are stored securely on your device, not in the cloud. Connect directly with nearby contacts - no Internet access is required.

    75 Briar alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    Briar screenshot 1
    Briar screenshot 2
    Briar screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  Mesh network
    5.  Bluetooth Support
    6.  Encrypted Chat
    7. Tor icon  Support for TOR
    8.  Secure Chat
    9.  Self Destructing Messages
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Dark Mode

    Briar VS Sideband

     
  6. bitchat icon

    bitchat

     18 likes
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    A secure, decentralized, peer-to-peer messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks. No internet required, no servers, no phone numbers — just pure encrypted communication.

    52 bitchat alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android
    bitchat screenshot 1
    bitchat screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  AES Encryption
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  AES-256 Encryption
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Peer-To-Peer
    9.  Mesh network
    10.  Bluetooth Support

    bitchat VS Sideband

     
  7. Element X icon

    Element X

     32 likes
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    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.

    98 Element X alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Element X screenshot 1
    Element X screenshot 2
    Element X screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Matrix Protocol
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  VoiP Calls
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Support for MarkDown
    8.  Decentralized
    9.  Support for @mentions
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    12.  Voice Chat

    Element X VS Sideband

     
  9. Delta Chat icon

    Delta Chat

     51 likes
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    Delta Chat looks and feels like other popular messenger apps, but does not involve centralized control, tracking or selling you, friends, colleagues or family out to large organizations. "Privacy by Design" has never been more fun.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    Delta Chat screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Encrypted Email
    3.  IMAP Support
    4.  Multiple languages
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  End-to-End Encryption
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Unified inbox
    9.  Self Destructing Messages
    10.  Multiple Account support
    11.  Portable
    12.  OpenPGP

    Delta Chat VS Sideband

     
  10. Conversations icon

    Conversations

     101 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].

    161 Conversations alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Conversations screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Intuitive Interface

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Encrypted Chat
    4. XMPP icon  Supports XMPP
    5.  Image Sharing
    6.  OMEMO
    7.  OpenPGP
    8.  Encrypted Connection
    9.  GPG Encryption
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Self Destructing Messages
    12.  Dark Mode

    Conversations VS Sideband

     
  11. FluffyChat icon

    FluffyChat

     31 likes
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    FluffyChat is an open, nonprofit and cute matrix messenger app for Ubuntu Touch, Android and iOS.

    195 FluffyChat alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu Touch
    • F-Droid
    • Matrix.org
    FluffyChat screenshot 1
    FluffyChat screenshot 2
    FluffyChat screenshot 3

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Matrix Protocol
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Encrypted Chat
    4.  Voice messages
    5.  End-to-End Encryption
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Multiple Account support
    10.  Two-factor Authentication
    11.  Support for @mentions
    12.  VoiP Calls

    FluffyChat VS Sideband

     
  12. Fractal icon

    Fractal

     15 likes
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    Fractal is a Matrix messaging app for GNOME written in Rust. Its interface is optimized for collaboration in large groups, such as free software projects.

    20 Fractal alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    • Flatpak
    Fractal screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Matrix Protocol
    3.  Multiple Account support
    4.  Decentralized
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Dark Mode

    Fractal VS Sideband

     
  13. 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.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    Dino screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Clean design

    Features

    1. XMPP icon  Supports XMPP
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  OMEMO
    4.  Multiple Account support
    5.  Federated
    6.  Community-based
    7.  Decentralized
    8.  OpenPGP
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Real time collaboration
    11.  File Sending
    12.  Team Messaging

    Dino VS Sideband

     
  14. Snikket icon

    Snikket

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

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1. XMPP icon  Supports XMPP
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  Multiple Account support
    5.  No registration required
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Decentralized
    8.  VoiP Calls
    9.  Desktop Sharing
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Public groups chat
    12.  Non profit

    Snikket VS Sideband

     
12 of 15 Sideband alternatives