Open Source Signal Alternatives

    The best open source alternative to Signal is Element. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Jitsi or Tox. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Signal and loads of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Signal are Wire (Free Personal, Open Source), Matrix.org (Free, Open Source), Jami (Free, Open Source) and Keybase (Free, Open Source).

    This page was last updated Sep 13, 2021

    1. Element

      • Free Personal • Open Source
      • Mac
      • Windows
      • Linux
      • Online
      • Android
      • iPhone
      • Android Tablet
      • iPad
      • Self-Hosted
      • Matrix.org
      • Cloudron
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      Element is a secure collaboration and messaging app based on the Matrix protocol. It’s decentralised to deliver digital sovereignty, and based on an open standard for easy connections and interoperability. It is end-to-end encrypted by default.
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      Element vs Signal opinions
      Almost everyone thinks Element is a great alternative to Signal.
      CatarinaTeles Decentralization and promotes home-servers
      Positive comment • 10 months ago

      2
    2. Jitsi (previously SIP Communicator) is an audio/video and chat communicator with full encryption that supports protocols such as SIP, XMPP/Jabber, ICQ/AIM, Windows Live, Yahoo!, GTalk/Hangouts extensions, as well as OTR, ZRTP, etc.
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      Jitsi vs Signal opinions
      Most users think Jitsi is a great alternative to Signal.
      jujujoly Good software but not the same purpose of Signal. Signal is more like a Whatsapp alternative, Jitsi is more an alternative to Zoom.
      Negative comment • over 1 year ago

      5

    4. Wire

      • Free Personal • Open Source
      • Mac
      • Windows
      • Linux
      • Online
      • Android
      • iPhone
      • Android Tablet
      • iPad
      • Self-Hosted
      • Software as a Service (SaaS)
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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. Why Wire?
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      Wire vs Signal opinions
      Most users think Wire is a great alternative to Signal.
      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
      Positive comment • over 2 years ago

      0
      jamiegray Beautiful user interface, recommended by security researchers, open source
      Positive comment • over 2 years ago

      -1
    5. 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.
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      Tox vs Signal opinions
      Most users think Tox is a great alternative to Signal.
      naught101 Tox is decentralised, so messages don't travel via a single server.
      Positive comment • over 2 years ago

      4
      iomezk Tox is P2P, so you don't need to watch ads or pay for servers with your private data
      Positive comment • 5 months ago

      0

    6. Matrix.org

      • Free • Open Source
      • Mac
      • Windows
      • Linux
      • Online
      • Android
      • iPhone
      • Android Tablet
      • iPad
      • Self-Hosted
      • WebRTC
      • Python
      • JavaScript
      • Go (Programming Language)
      • Cloudron
      • Java
      • Perl
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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.
      No screenshots yet
      Matrix.org vs Signal opinions
      Most users think Matrix.org is a great alternative to Signal.
      cadetdc1t8x Matrix is a protocol that Element uses. Matrix does not replace the functionality that element offers
      Negative comment • 9 months ago

      1
    8. Jami (formerly GNU Ring, SFLphone) positions itself as a potential free Skype replacement Open Source and cross-platform. Jami gives you a full control over your communications and an unmatched level of privacy.
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      Jami vs Signal opinions
      pros, cons and recent comments
      It's versatile and safer!
      Positive comment • 4 months ago

      0
    9. 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.
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      Keybase vs Signal opinions
      Almost everyone thinks Keybase is a great alternative to Signal.
      It doesn't need telephone number
      Positive comment • almost 3 years ago

      4
    10. Session is the world's first open-source, decentralised private messenger to use industry-leading Signal Protocol encryption — without asking for your phone number.
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      Session vs Signal opinions
      Almost everyone thinks Session is a great alternative to Signal.
       all • positive • negative      relevance • date
      JellyBoy It is forked from the signal code, so it offers similar great features while adding extra privacy measures such as decentralization and doesn't require a phone number
      Top positive comment  over 1 year ago

      3
      HellaBella Fully open source and decentralized
      Top positive comment  over 1 year ago

      2
      rikich Session doesn't require your phone number. Also decentralized - the big advantage.
      Positive comment • 3 months ago

      0
      I like the app because it routes you like what Tor does with its browser.
      Positive comment • 6 months ago

      0
      It's more secure and it's decentralised. Also you don't need a mobile phone to register, which is great.
      Positive comment • 8 months ago

      0
      kylepiira It's basically Signal but without phone numbers
      Positive comment • about 1 year ago

      0
      alexblinton Doesn't requite a phone number
      Positive comment • over 1 year ago

      0
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      7 of 9 comments
    11. Threema 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.
      No screenshots yet
      Threema vs Signal opinions
      Most users think Threema is a great alternative to Signal.
      aljasser User 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.
      Positive comment • over 4 years ago

      1
      konsumschaf It is secure, the business plan is clear and it respects you privacy
      Positive comment • almost 3 years ago

      0
      You don’t need to associate your account with a number or email.
      Positive comment • about 4 years ago

      0
      Threema's web component is open source.
      Positive comment • over 3 years ago

      0
    12. Zulip is a group chat app in which messages are threaded by topic, helping you have long-running, organized conversations.
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    Showing 10 of 70 alternatives