Free Signal Alternatives for iPad

There are many alternatives to Signal for iPad if you are looking for a replacement. The best free iPad alternative is Element. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Element or Wire. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Signal and loads of them are free and available for iPad so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free iPad alternatives to Signal are Discord, Telegram, Session and Jitsi Meet.

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. Other popular filters include EU, Open Source, Blackberry, Encrypted Chat, Self-Hosted, Apple Watch and Instant Messaging. 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.
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Alternatives list

  1. Element icon

    Element

     794 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.

    316 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
     
    |
    4
    Element vs Signal Comments
    LinuxDoge
    Positive
    3

    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.

    CatarinaTeles
    Positive
    8

    Decentralization and promotes home-servers

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It offers encrypted communication with a bonus of decentralized infrastructure.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 4 comments
    • Element is Free Personal and Open SourceSignal is Free and Open Source
  2. Wire icon

    Wire

     320 likes

    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.

    288 Wire alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    Wire screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Wire vs Signal Comments
    jamiegray
    Positive
    1

    Beautiful user interface, recommended by security researchers, open source

    Guest
    Positive
    2

    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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Wire is Free Personal and Open SourceSignal is Free and Open Source
  4. Matrix icon

    Matrix

     395 likes

    Open standard protocol enabling decentralized, encrypted instant messaging, VoIP signaling, IoT device connectivity, and persistent data management across federated servers without central control or single points of failure, bridging communication platforms.

    175 Matrix alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • WebRTC
    • Python
    • JavaScript
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    • Java
    • Perl
    Main Page
     
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    4
    Matrix vs Signal Comments
    cadetdc1t8x
    Negative
    5

    Matrix is a protocol that Element uses. Matrix does not replace the functionality that element offers

    James Browne
    Negative
    3

    Its 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.

    RemovedUser
    Negative
    1

    Matrix 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.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 4 comments
    • Matrix is Free and Open SourceSignal is also Free and Open Source
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  6. Discord icon

    Discord

     1115 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.

    190 Discord alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Epic Games Store
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
    Desktop UI
     
  7. Telegram icon

    Telegram

     2090 likes

    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

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    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
     
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    10
    Telegram vs Signal Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Radach Kajak
    -2

    more of my friends have it, they have channels for news, entertainment, with movies, etc.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Top Negative Comment
    LinuxDoge
    12

    You literally need an Android emulator to have encrypted chats on desktop. Group chats and channels are always unencrypted, this is the shadiest messenger existing, apart from Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, TikTok Messenger, Snapchat, Twitter Messenger, and all the others maybe.

    Telegram is bullshit, dont deal with it, only if its a replacement for Whatsapp. Go to Element or even Signal.

    Sam Lander
    Negative
    0

    Telegram has a great UI. It also has the opportunity for E2EE (but only on mobile, and only if you select it). The E2EE is likely as good as Signal, or so we hope. That's because it isn't fully open-source. So you can't necessarily trust it.

    And before it was pro-free-speech. Now, after Pavel Durov was arrested, they have started censoring people who post "offensive memes" like crazy. It has basically become Whatsapp.

    3 of 10 comments
    • Telegram is Freemium and ProprietarySignal is Free and Open Source
  8. Session icon

    Session

     125 likes

    Decentralized messenger featuring end-to-end encryption for individual and group chats, no registration needed, no tracking or metadata logs, IP address protection, secure attachment sharing, multi-device sync, dark mode, open-source code, and ad-free use.

    75 Session alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    Session screenshot 1
     
    |
    16
    Session vs Signal Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Open Source
    6

    Session doesn't require your phone number. Also decentralized - the big advantage.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    -2

    It lacks Perfect Forward Secrecy which makes it not applicable to be a Signal competitor as it makes it vulnerable to Key Compromise Impersonation attacks.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    RemovedUser
    Positive
    2

    It is a great alternative, forked from Signal and also not requiring a phone number.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 16 comments
    • Session is Free and Open SourceSignal is also Free and Open Source
  10. Jitsi Meet icon

    Jitsi Meet

     290 likes

    Go ahead, video chat with the whole team. In fact, invite everyone you know. Jitsi Meet is a fully encrypted, 100% open source video conferencing solution that you can use all day, every day, for free.

    156 Jitsi Meet alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Apple Watch
    • F-Droid
    Jitsi Meet screenshot 1
     
    |
    2
    Jitsi Meet vs Signal Comments
    RemovedUser
    Negative
    0

    Jitsi is more focused, if not completely, on the video calling functionality. Signal is primarily for messaging. This is not a good alternative for Signal, but only for its video calls.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    saviour-simple
    Positive
    -1

    signal desktop should not be used due to massive vulnerabilities existing since 2018

    • Jitsi Meet is Free and Open SourceSignal is also Free and Open Source
  11. Jami icon

    Jami

     239 likes

    Jami (formerly GNU Ring, SFLphone) positions itself as a potential free Skype replacement

    165 Jami alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Jami video conference OS X
     
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    1
    Jami vs Signal Comments
    RemovedUser
    Positive
    0

    Jami 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.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Jami is Free and Open SourceSignal is also Free and Open Source
  12. bitchat icon

    bitchat

     47 likes

    Decentralized messaging app enabling secure peer-to-peer communication over Bluetooth mesh networks with end-to-end encryption, channel-based group chats, store & forward delivery, automatic peer discovery, no accounts or phone numbers, and privacy safeguards.

    58 bitchat alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    bitchat screenshot 1
     
  13. WhatsApp icon

    WhatsApp

     852 likes

    Exchange messages without SMS fees using this app for iPhone, Android and desktop, featuring group chats, multimedia sharing, and video calls. The app requires an internet connection and the latest version for optimal functionality.

    256 WhatsApp alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Android Auto
    • Android Wear
    • Apple Car Play
    • Android Tablet
    WhatsApp screenshot 1
     
    |
    3
    WhatsApp vs Signal Comments
    arndtadler
    Negative
    34

    WhatsApp is not Free Software and is not focused on privacy. Difficult to use in Usecases which demand high control of the Software and a verifiable Data-protection

    Guest
    Negative
    2

    WhatsApp is owned by facebook. Google "Facebook Privacy" and you'll see why this is one of the worst alternatives.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    -15

    Also end-to-end encrypted by default.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • WhatsApp is Free and ProprietarySignal is Free and Open Source
  14. Zulip icon

    Zulip

     268 likes

    Threaded group conversations combine live and asynchronous messaging, separating topics for organized collaboration, supporting open-source, cloud, and self-hosted deployments, secure communication with encryption, and multi-platform access for diverse teams.

    231 Zulip alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    Zulip screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Zulip vs Signal Comments
    PlaidRadish
    Positive
    0

    Zulip is the only other open source, secure option in the list of alternatives on this site.

    • Zulip is Free Personal and Open SourceSignal is Free and Open Source
  15. Delta Chat icon

    Delta Chat

     70 likes

    Provides a chat experience over email, with all messages and contacts stored on user devices, open source code, group media support, and compatibility with any provider. No central servers, no tracking, works without SIM, and can be used by anyone just via email.

    81 Delta Chat alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    Delta Chat screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Delta Chat vs Signal Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    The concept of DeltaChat is so simple and brilliant! Secure chat on top of an infrastructure that is already there: Email and the IMAP-protocol.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Delta Chat is Free and Open SourceSignal is also Free and Open Source
12 of 70 Signal alternatives