signal-cli Alternatives

signal-cli is described as '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' and is an app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to signal-cli for a variety of platforms, including Android, Linux, Mac, Windows and iPhone apps. The best signal-cli alternative is Signal, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like signal-cli are Telegram, Element, Matrix and Tox.

signal-cli iconsignal-cli
  1
  • Free • Open Source
  • ...

signal-cli is a commandline interface for the Signal messenger. It supports registering, verifying, sending and receiving...

More about signal-cli
More about signal-cli
signal-cli alternatives page was last updated Jul 8, 2025
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  1. Signal icon

    Signal

     1288 likes
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    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.

    222 Signal alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    Signal screenshot 1

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Encrypted Chat
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Video Calling
    5.  Self Destructing Messages
    6.  Private messaging
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Encrypted Connection
    9.  Mobile friendly
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Desktop Application
    12.  Secure Chat

    Signal VS signal-cli

     

    • Signal is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to signal-cli.

    • Signal is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to signal-cli.

    • Signal is Free and Open Sourcesignal-cli is also Free and Open Source
    • Signal is Privacy focused and Security-focusedsignal-cli is not according to our users
  2. Telegram icon

    Telegram

     2053 likes
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    Maximize your messaging experience with efficient communication, speedy delivery, and optional end-to-end encrypted Secret Chats. Engage in unlimited channels and groups up to 200,000 members. Enhance chat management and media sharing with Telegram Premium and its exclusive benefits. All core features remain free.

    297 Telegram alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Android Auto
    • Linux Mobile
    • Android Wear
    • PortableApps.com
    • FreeBSD
    • Apple Car Play
    Telegram Desktop

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Chat
    2.  Stickers
    3.  Chat Bot
    4.  Large File Transfer
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  End-to-End Encryption
    7.  Video Calling
    8.  Multi Device Support
    9.  Channels
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Bots
    12.  Secret chats

    Telegram VS signal-cli

     

    • Telegram is the most popular Web-based & Android Tablet alternative to signal-cli.

    • Telegram is Freemium and Proprietarysignal-cli is Free and Open Source
    • Telegram is Lightweight and Privacy focusedsignal-cli is not according to our users
  4. 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 signal-cli

     

    • Element is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to signal-cli.

    • Element is Free Personal and Open Sourcesignal-cli is Free and Open Source
    • Element is Decentralized and Privacy focusedsignal-cli is not according to our users
  5. Matrix icon

    Matrix

     365 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.

    162 Matrix alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • WebRTC
    • Python
    • JavaScript
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    • Java
    • Perl
    Main Page

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Federation
    4.  Team Collaboration
    5.  Random Video Chat
    6.  Encrypted Chat
    7.  Voice Chat
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Spaces
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Support for @mentions

    Matrix VS signal-cli

     
  6. 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 signal-cli

     
  7. Wire icon

    Wire

     309 likes
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    Wire is the most secure collaboration platform featuring messenger, voice, video, conference calls, file-sharing, and external collaboration –all protected by the most secure end-to-end-encryption.

    281 Wire alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Wire screenshot 1
    Wire screenshot 2
    Wire screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Security-focused
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Video Calling
    3.  Encrypted Chat
    4.  VoiP Calls
    5.  Encrypted calls
    6.  Screen Sharing
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Secure File Sharing
    9.  Multiple Account support
    10.  WebRTC
    11.  Private Chat
    12.  File Sending

    Wire VS signal-cli

     

    • Wire is the most popular SaaS alternative to signal-cli.

    • Wire is Free Personal and Open Sourcesignal-cli is Free and Open Source
    • Wire is Security-focused and Privacy focusedsignal-cli is not according to our users
  9. 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 signal-cli

     
  10. bitchat icon

    bitchat

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

    bitchat VS signal-cli

     
  11. Zulip icon

    Zulip

     210 likes
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    Zulip is the only modern team chat app that is designed for both live and asynchronous conversations. Zulip topics create a separate space for each discussion, so different conversations will never get in each other's way.

    225 Zulip alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    Zulip screenshot 1

    Top Zulip Features

    1.  Threaded Conversations
    2.  Team Collaboration
    3.  Support for Hotkeys
    4.  Community-based
    5.  Support for MarkDown
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Chat Bot
    8.  Secure Chat
    9.  Third party integrations
    10.  Integrated File Sharing
    11. GitHub icon  GitHub Integration
    12.  Integrated Search

    Zulip VS signal-cli

     
  12. Keybase icon

    Keybase

     141 likes
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    Keybase is a new and free security app for mobile phones and computers. For the geeks among us: it's open source and powered by public-key cryptography.

    78 Keybase alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Ruby
    • JavaScript
    • Tor
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Java
    Keybase screenshot 1
    Keybase screenshot 2
    Keybase screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Two-Step verification
    3.  Encrypted Chat
    4.  Public key encryption
    5. Git icon  Git integration
    6.  PGP Encryption
    7. Git icon  Git Support
    8.  Self Destructing Messages
    9.  Encrypted Backup
    10.  GPG Encryption
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  File Storage

    Keybase VS signal-cli

     
  13. Molly icon

    Molly

     35 likes
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    Molly is an independent Signal fork for Android.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Secure Chat
    2.  Encrypted Chat
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Text messaging
    6.  Monero exchange
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Cloud Sync
    10.  SOCKS proxy client and server

    Molly VS signal-cli

     
  14. 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 signal-cli

     
12 of 38 signal-cli alternatives