Signal AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Instant Messengers
The best Instant Messenger alternative to Signal is Element, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Signal and loads of them are Instant Messengers so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Instant Messenger alternatives to Signal are Tox, Wire, Matrix and Session.
filter to find the best alternatives
Signal alternatives are mainly Instant Messengers, but if you're looking for Encrypted Chat Apps or Group Chat Apps you can filter on that. 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 Signal.- Instant Messenger
- Free • Open Source
301 Element alternativesProvides 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.
License model
- Freemium • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- Matrix.org
- Flathub
- F-Droid
- Cloudron
Element VS Signal
Comments about Element as an Alternative to Signal
Most Recent CommentCatarinaTelesDecentralization and promotes home-servers
saviour-simpleElement is decentralized, which makes it less conducive to honeypot scheme. compare to Signal (centralized, us-based servers, closed source server code, US govt funding)
213 Tox alternativesWith 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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- F-Droid
Tox VS Signal
Comments about Tox as an Alternative to Signal
Most Recent Commentnaught101Tox is decentralised, so messages don't travel via a single server.
Schnatt_Appsimple, easy to use, no phone number required
It doesn't have Perfect Forward Secrecy which makes it not applicable to be a Signal competitor as it makes it vulnerable to Key Compromise Impersonation attacks. It also requires those who want to communicate to be online at the same time. Also it is no longer truly multi platform, as there is no client for iOS.
279 Wire alternativesWire 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.
License model
- Free Personal • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Switzerland
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- F-Droid
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
Wire VS Signal
Comments about Wire as an Alternative to Signal
jamiegrayBeautiful user interface, recommended by security researchers, open source
Works fairly similarly, easy to use, very smooth for the most part, seems actually a little less buggy than signal at times.. I still prefer signal because of the fact that it's from openwhisper systems and I believe it to be the most secure of all the secure private messengers
161 Matrix alternativesMatrix 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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- WebRTC
- Python
- JavaScript
- Go (Programming Language)
- Cloudron
- Java
- Perl
Matrix VS Signal
Comments about Matrix as an Alternative to Signal
Most Recent Commentcadetdc1t8xMatrix is a protocol that Element uses. Matrix does not replace the functionality that element offers
James BrowneIts NOT alternative t signal. It is great and I love the Matrix protocol but not a messenger. Its a protocol a messenger could use... those are two distinctly different things.
RemovedUserMatrix is a terrible and bloated protocol, and apart from this, it is not a good alternative to Signal. It is not a messenger that you could expect as an alternative and it is not viable for many reasons.
69 Session alternativesSession is the world's first open-source, decentralised private messenger to use industry-leading Signal Protocol encryption — without asking for your phone number.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
- Switzerland
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- iPad
- F-Droid
Session VS Signal
Comments about Session as an Alternative to Signal
Comment summary: Session is often praised for its decentralized nature and not requiring a phone number, unlike Signal which is still centralized. Users appreciate the enhanced privacy features of Session, including its open-source nature and similar functionality to Signal. Some mention minor issues with sending pictures on Windows. While Signal is respected for its security, concerns exist about its centralized platform.Top Positive CommentOpen SourceSession doesn't require your phone number. Also decentralized - the big advantage.
Top Negative CommentIt lacks Perfect Forward Secrecy which makes it not applicable to be a Signal competitor as it makes it vulnerable to Key Compromise Impersonation attacks.
Most Recent CommentRemovedUserIt is a great alternative, forked from Signal and also not requiring a phone number.
123 Threema alternativesThreema is a new mobile messaging app that puts security first. With true end-to-end encryption, you can rest assured that only you and the intended recipient can read your messages.
License model
- Paid • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
- Switzerland
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- HUAWEI AppGallery
- iPad
- F-Droid
Threema VS Signal
Comments about Threema as an Alternative to Signal
Top Positive CommentaljasserUser keys are not generated by an algorithm, but by the user. You don't need to register a phone number or an email. A pin will be given to you and that will be enough to connect.
Most Recent CommentRemovedUserA very good alternative, albeit paid. It requires you to buy it, which might not be a big issue to some, but it is a compromise. However, the app itself is open source, meaning you are not buying a cat in the bag.
konsumschafIt is secure, the business plan is clear and it respects you privacy
160 Jami alternativesJami (formerly GNU Ring, SFLphone) positions itself as a potential free Skype replacement
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Canada
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
Jami VS Signal
Comments about Jami as an Alternative to Signal
RemovedUserJami is great, open source and most importantly works well. It is not as secure as others, albeit still perfectly viable as a solution. Yet there is not enough security research to make it an instant swap, for example.
No phone number. You can choose a good server, but communicate with all. You can run it over Tor. The app is easy to use but full of features, that Signal still dreams of. There are Apps for every platform, in every Form.