Telegram Alternatives
Telegram is described as 'messaging app created by former VK creators with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free. It is like SMS, but more powerful' and is a leading Group Chat app in the social & communications category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Telegram for a variety of platforms, including Android, Windows, Linux, Mac and iPhone. The best alternative is Signal, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Telegram are Element, Tox, Wire and Matrix.org.
Telegram alternatives are mainly Group Chat Apps but may also be Encrypted Chat Apps or Instant Messengers. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Telegram.- Freemium • Proprietary
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- Free • Open Source
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Signal is a messaging app with an unexpected focus on privacy, combined with all the features expected from a modern IM app. Signal has received a lot of praise from all around the world for its security and privacy-respecting technologies.
Signal vs Telegram opinions
revxo5852Signal has end-to-end encryption by default, Telegram does not. Signal does not store your conversations and files in the cloud, Telegram does.
JohnFastmanSignal uses open source, end-to-end encryption to keep your messages to another Signal user secure and private. It installs on your Android and replaces your default messaging app. (On iPhone it's a separate app.) It's super easy to use. You can still send messages to people who don't have it, but I'd encourage everyone to use it. Plain SMS messages are routinely recorded and stored forever without your persmission. Signal combats that in a very user friendly way.
LeSnakerequires a phone number, uses it own protocols,
server is open source, but seemed to be closed source for a short time
If you are already making the effort to switch, use element instead, since it uses the open protocol instead of an own
mpodana2im not so sure, but it helpfull i guess
randompersonUnlike Telegram, Signal is fully end-to-end encrypted, even for non-disappearing messages.
PlanetjunkieTelegram is amazing, the downside is that the server is closed source and E2EE is not by default on groups, it would be nice if they added a option to keep all chats E2EE by default when signing up or in the options of the app, but overall a great app
Is a Open Source project App and also Server
- Freemium • Open Source
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- Self-Hosted
- Matrix.org
- Cloudron
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.
Element vs Telegram opinions
Element is structured more honestly out in the open, compared to Telegram.
Great group functionality
calkeshElement is severely lacking in uptake. It could be the best messenger in the world (and may well be) but ultimately, if I can't talk to my friends on there, there's no incentive for me to use it.
FiTeknoI like this because of fact its purpose is to be decentralized. however time shows as knowledge is needed to bridges be made from other platforms.
LeSnakeGreat encryption, uses matrix protocol, so it's decentralized, while offering similar and even more functions.
But the UI isn't as intuitive as the telegram one, and the encryption sometimes can't decrypt a message.
rrhyastBetter than telegram and discord but need a lot of work to be popular
The group features match up to telegrams with a more discordesqe UI.
- Free • Open Source
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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.
Tox vs Telegram opinions
rrhyastUgly UI and less user friendly
CentaroP2P encrypted communication
- Free Personal • Open Source
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- F-Droid
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
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.
Wire vs Telegram opinions
cityroleralways End-to-End encrypted; servers in the EU; high quality audio and video calls;
Multiplatform, chat, audio and video calling with great quality and: Clientside is already open source and they are currently working on completely opensourcing the serverside too. Great application.
gnudesignPrivacy and security focused, lot of features but way behind Telegram's user experience design.
It is fully open source instead Telegram (server and client).
Always end-to-end encrypted. Fully open source.
- Free • Open Source
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- WebRTC
- Python
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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.
Matrix.org vs Telegram opinions
LeSnakeMatrix is a protocol used by i.e. Element, not a messenger iself
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Jami (formerly GNU Ring, SFLphone) positions itself as a potential free Skype replacement
Jami vs Telegram opinions
UsernameUnDecentralized and encrypted. Available on all major devices. There is video conferencing and the ability to show a desktop.
- Free • Open Source
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- PortableApps.com
- Xfce
Pidgin is an easy to use, multi-protocol chat client client used by millions. Connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, XMPP, and more chat networks all at once. It has built-in support for NSS, offering client-to-server message encryption for protocols that support it.
- Free • Proprietary
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Hangouts is a messaging app that lets you send and receive messages, photos and more, and even start free video and voice calls – one to one or with a group!
Hangouts vs Telegram opinions
JohnFastmanHangouts is not end-to-end encrypted. Google, who own it, make money by spying on users (every bit of info they can get) and selling it to advertisers. That's appalling. Telegram is not perfect but it is end-to-end encrypted, which means that only the intended recipient can read your messages - not the case with Hangouts. Google can see everything, and others can force them to give that info up (e.g. by subpoena).
Hangouts lacks most of the administrative-type functionality that Telegram has.
sadlyfatobguhHangouts does not care about your privacy at all. Telegram is primarily marketed as a private communication service
mozdevcontribNot encrypted. Owned by Google.
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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.
Keybase vs Telegram opinions
everything is encrypted and gives cloud drive, git, a stellar wallet other than a chat
- Free • Proprietary
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WhatsApp is an iPhone and Android messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS.
WhatsApp vs Telegram opinions
it is not hosted virtually... you cannot access data once it got downloaded on other devices later... plus very limited on sizes and what can be uploaded... tons of limits on so much...
for true user of telegram, whatsapp fail to compete.... imagine having group, in telegram, the new members can see the old messages...
man way not same level even if same category
Planetjunkieabsolutely unsecure, E2EE is questionable, and Facebook are planning on implementing a feature to decrypt messages for advertisers (as if that was not a thing since they acquired whatsapp...)
CentaroToo many limitations and is owned by Facebook.
WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted and relies on the Signal protocol to protect the user's privacy while Telegram uses its own custom encryption algorithm, which is a big flaw in cryptography. Telegram only fully encrypts communications when starting a "secret chat", but the default conversations are not secured.
Whatsapp is the 386 of instant messaging. Telegram receives fresh new features every month, so their streets are increasingly far away