Self-Hosted Signal Alternatives

Signal is not available as a self-hosted solution but there are plenty of alternatives for power users and business that want to host a solution on-premise. The best Self-Hosted alternative is Element. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Element or Matrix. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Signal and many of them are available as a self-hosted solution so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Self-Hosted alternatives to Signal are SimpleX Chat, Wire, Armada and Zulip.

filter to find the best alternatives

Most Signal alternatives are Instant Messengers, but you can also narrow the list to Group Chat Apps or Video Calling Apps. Other popular filters are Self-Hosted, Apple Watch, Encrypted Chat, Instant Messaging and Android Tablet. You can also filter for EU-based alternatives if you prefer software from the European Union.
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Alternatives
Signal alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Element icon
     851 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.

    372 Element alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2016

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android Tablet
    • Cloudron
    • GB flagUnited Kingdom
    Element screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
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    4
  2. Matrix icon
     424 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.

    213 Matrix alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2016

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android Tablet
    • Python
    • GB flagUnited Kingdom
    Main Page
    Good alternative?
     
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    4
  3. Jitsi Meet icon
     298 likes

    Open-source video conferencing platform with encryption by default, up to 75 participants, live group chat, HD audio, screen and document sharing, Etherpad editing, mobile and browser support, custom deployment options, privacy-first features, and community-driven development.

    187 Jitsi Meet alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2016

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android Tablet
    • Apple Watch
    • F-Droid
    Good alternative?
     
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    2
  4. SimpleX Chat icon
     122 likes

    Open-source messaging platform enabling private, identifier-free chats, encrypted group discussions, file and media sharing, plus audio and video calls. Employs double-ratchet protocol, stores user data on-device, protects metadata, and lets users self-host relay servers.

    97 SimpleX Chat alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2022

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    • Flathub
    • OpenAPK
    Good alternative?
     
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    1
  5. Wire icon
     335 likes

    Secure communication platform featuring encrypted chats and calls, file and media sharing, self-deleting messages, device verification, group collaboration, and customizable settings. Supports use across multiple devices with no phone number required for access.

    317 Wire alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2014

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Self-Hosted
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android Tablet
    Good alternative?
     
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    2
  6. Armada icon
     20 likes

    Open-source, end-to-end encrypted chat supporting decentralized, serverless communities and Concord. Features self-hosting, cryptographic login, encrypted text channels, threads, live voice and video rooms, compatibility with Nostr and other protocols, custom emojis, and GIFs.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2026

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • US flagUnited States
    Armada screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  7. Zulip icon
     277 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.

    260 Zulip alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2015

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    • US flagUnited States
    Zulip screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
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    1
  8. Nextcloud Talk icon
     36 likes

    Self-hosted communication platform with secure audio, video, chat, web conferencing, screensharing, advanced encryption, and metadata privacy, running on user-controlled servers, supporting web and mobile apps, and eliminating third-party data exposure.

    125 Nextcloud Talk alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2018

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Nextcloud
    • F-Droid
    Good alternative?
     
  9. Snikket icon
     9 likes

    Snikket is an ambitious project to build a new kind of XMPP-based messaging platform.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2022

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android Tablet
    • Docker
    • F-Droid
    Good alternative?
     
  10. Tinode icon
     10 likes

    Fully open source instant messaging server and clients. No proprietary components or non-free dependencies. Backend in pure Go (GPL 3.0), with a command-line administration tool in python + gRPC. Clients for Android, iPhone, and Web - ReactJS (all licensed under Apache 2.0).

    161 Tinode alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2017

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Self-Hosted
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • US flagUnited States
    iOS client
    Good alternative?
     
  11. Conduit is a simple, fast and reliable chat server powered by Matrix. Conduit is an alternative to Synapse and tries to be lightweight and easy to install, but it is still in development.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2021

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Debian
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Docker Hub
    • Nix Package Manager
    Good alternative?
     
  12. Colibri is an open source chat platform built on the AT protocol for communities big and small. It gives you the ability to create communities, manage members, and communicate through text, voice, and forum channels, all while maintaining true ownership of your data.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2026

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    Good alternative?
     
12 of 29 Signal alternatives