Signal

There's regular upgrades and it feels like they actually care about security. It also works on all of my devices, and in more recent times they have enabled message syncing with new devices from conversation backups.

Not a fully open source and decentralized messaging. Just use tox or any soft with recent updates & P2P messaging. Maybe Retroshare or others too. . Edit 11/08/26: My bad, it's not fully decentralized from what i understand. But it's open source. From what i knew, it has been partially closed source before and most probably opened fully it's sources throughout the years. A quick search helped by ai directed me to this post, who seems very well done by proton (same enterprise as proton vpn/mail/etc ...) \[https://proton.me/blog/is-signal-safe\](https://proton.me/blog/is-signal-safe) Other alternatives who seems worth checking out to escape the centralized open source (and not free) tech: Session (seems to be a good fork of signal), Matrix (Check element also, who uses matrix but has more of a centralized and simple approach). Basically, just tinker and use the filters from the alternative to website to find an app alternative to signal with theses filters: all open source, f-droid, linux, android, iphone, mac, windows. And always be careful that even if it's open source, it doesn't mean it's automatically libre and decentralized. And yes, i know, the apps cannot be filtered with that many filters on alternative to. And yes, it's a shame but, as frank sinatra and the frenchies once said: that's life ! For what is worth, i still think it must be better for the security of everyone to have a decentralized AND libre AND open source messaging. A centralized mean of communication is always a risk, what if Trump or any other chief (dictators, elected or not) simply decide to seize the servers, even if they don't fully have the rights to do so ? Viva libre, viva decentralization, libre internet shall never die !

I’ve been using Signal for years, and I still think it’s the gold standard for private messaging. What I love most is its simplicity—no gimmicks, no ads, just rock-solid end-to-end encryption that works effortlessly. I also deeply appreciate Signal’s commitment to open-source transparency and its refusal to compromise user data.

That said, I’ve recently started experimenting with ETHOS for quick, ephemeral conversations. What fascinates me about ETHOS is its radically different approach: no phone number, no account, and no sign-up—just a browser-based, quantum-safe chat that starts with a shared "peer ticket." It’s not a Signal replacement (and it’s still experimental), but for situations where I want to chat without linking anything to my identity, it’s an intriguing tool to have in my back pocket. For my daily driver, though? Signal remains unbeatable.

https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/01/signal-creator-moxie-marlinspike-wants-to-do-for-ai-what-he-did-for-messaging/

Reduce security and eliminate privacy?

“Trust me, bro, i just like need your mobile number for privacy”

Sus

Not having my mobile number is better privacy