Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Alerts
- Discontinued
Platforms
- Online
- Android
- F-Droid




Signal is described as 'An encrypted messaging app focused on privacy, supporting texts, calls, photos, videos, files, and group chats, with no ads or trackers' and is a leading instant messenger in the social & communications category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Signal for a variety of platforms, including Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac and Linux apps. The best Signal alternative is Element. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Element or Tox. Other great apps like Signal are Matrix, Discord, Telegram and Threema.




SchildiChat is a Matrix client based on Element with a more traditional instant messaging experience.




TorChat is a peer to peer instant messenger with a completely decentralized design, built on top of Tor's location hidden services, giving you extremely strong anonymity while being very easy to use without the need to install or configure anything.

Provides comprehensive communication features including group video calls, voice calls, fast messaging, photo sharing, and location mapping. Access through mobile and web platforms with real-time notifications, ensuring seamless interactions using multimedia tools.




Facebook Messenger is a privacy-disrespecting app. I gathers as much data about users as possible so that Facebook can sell it to advertisers. That's a disgrace. The whole point of Signal is that it's not based on a business model that violates user privacy. Signal is end-to-end encrypted and gathers as little info about users as possible. Signal is hugely preferable. It's also open source (more trustworthy; you can check what it's designed to do).
This is not an alternative. Or a good reccomendation.
A true P2P phone application for voice and video calls. No Internet access needed, no registration, not advertisment or calling back "home". Scan each others QR-Code and call each other. This works in over local networks such as community and company networks or at...




jami-commander (jc for short) is a simple but convenient CLI-based Jami client app for setting up accounts and swarms as well as sending.


Vector encompasses the ideals of freedom through free and open-source technology, using a "Privacy by Principle" approach. This means that privacy is not a feature or add-on, but the core foundation that Vector is built upon, which is granted and accessible to everyone.
Ricochet Refresh is the new updated version of Ricochet, supported by Blueprint for Free Speech.. We are a non-government, not-for-profit organisation working to safeguard the freedom of expression for whistleblowers, activists, and everybody else, worldwide.







Tinfoil Chat (TFC) is a FOSS+FHD peer-to-peer messaging system that relies on high assurance hardware architecture to protect users from passive collection, MITM attacks and most importantly, remote key exfiltration.


When I think of Signal, it's more of an encrypted messaging app. Facebook messenger is not privacy-oriented in any way (though it is also a messaging app.)