Free Telegram Alternatives for Windows

There are many alternatives to Telegram for Windows if you are looking for a replacement. The best free Windows alternative is Signal, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Telegram and loads of them are free and available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free Windows alternatives to Telegram are Element, Tox, Wire and Matrix.

filter to find the best alternatives

Telegram alternatives are mainly Instant Messengers, but if you're looking for Group Chat Apps or Encrypted Chat Apps you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Android + Free. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Telegram.
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Telegram alternatives page was last updated Jun 13, 2025
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  1. Signal icon

    Signal

     1282 likes
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    An open-source messaging app emphasizing privacy with encrypted communication. Share texts, calls, photos, and videos without ads or trackers, available across major platforms. Developed by Signal Technology Foundation and praised globally for security measures.

    219 Signal alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    Signal screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Encrypted Chat
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Video Calling
    5.  Self Destructing Messages
    6.  Private messaging
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Encrypted Connection
    9.  Mobile friendly
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Desktop Application
    12.  Secure Chat

    Signal VS Telegram

     
    Comments about Signal as an Alternative to Telegram
    Comment summary: Telegram is admired for its user-friendly design, cloud messaging, and versatile features like bots, but concerns exist about ads and privacy compared to Signal. Signal is favored for its end-to-end encryption and privacy focus, being fully open-source. Some users argue Signal is not an alternative to Telegram due to the latter's cloud-based functionality. While both are seen as secure, Signal prioritizes privacy, offering features like default e2e encryption and no cloud storage of conversations.
    Top Positive Comment
    revxo5852
    Sep 7, 2020
    14

    Signal has end-to-end encryption by default, Telegram does not. Signal does not store your conversations and files in the cloud, Telegram does.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    Sep 14, 2019
    25

    can't use signal without smartphone. (scan qr-code bla-bla-bla...)

    Most Recent Comment
    DoodlePoddle
    Negative Sep 16, 2024
    1

    Not a Telegram alternative since it doesn't offer Telegram's core function, the cloud.

    So Signal can only be compared to Whatsapp and other old style messengers.

    Show more comments
    3 of 26 comments
    Telegram Icon
    Signal icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Signal is a great Telegram alternative.

    • Signal is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Telegram.

    • Signal is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Telegram.

    • Signal is Free and Open SourceTelegram is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Signal is Privacy focused and Security-focusedTelegram is not according to our users
  2. Element icon

    Element

     724 likes
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    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.

    301 Element alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    Video calls for desktop and mobile

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Clean design

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Federated
    4.  Team Collaboration
    5.  Encrypted Chat
    6.  Video Calling
    7.  Matrix Protocol
    8.  Voice Chat
    9.  Direct Messaging
    10.  Federation
    11.  Cross-Platform
    12.  Dark Mode

    Element VS Telegram

     
    Comments about Element as an Alternative to Telegram
    Comment summary: Element is praised for its decentralization and privacy features, as well as strong encryption and versatility provided by the Matrix protocol. However, users note Element's lower user base compared to more popular platforms like Telegram, which limits its appeal despite its potential. Some also criticize its less intuitive UI and occasional encryption issues, suggesting it needs more development to become widely popular.
    Top Positive Comment
    Sam Lander
    May 30, 2023
    1

    Element is a good privacy chat that you can host yourself. However, not many people use it compared to Signal or Telegram.

    Most Recent Comment
    calkesh
    Negative May 13, 2022
    -3

    Element 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.

    FiTekno
    Positive Mar 18, 2022
    0

    I 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.

    Show more comments
    3 of 12 comments
    Telegram Icon
    Element icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Element is a great Telegram alternative.

    • Element is the most popular Web-based, Android Tablet & Self-Hosted alternative to Telegram.

    • Element is Free Personal and Open SourceTelegram is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Element is Decentralized and Privacy focusedTelegram is not according to our users
  4. Tox icon

    Tox

     551 likes
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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.

    213 Tox alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • F-Droid
    The Universal Tox Client. A Tox client that runs on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, FreeBSD & the web. Written in JS using React & React Native / electron.

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Chat
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Peer-To-Peer
    4.  End-to-End Encryption
    5.  Multiplatform
    6.  No registration required
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  AES-256 Encryption
    9.  Screen Sharing
    10.  P2P Network
    11.  Secure Chat
    12.  Anonymous Secure Filesharing

    Tox VS Telegram

     
    Comments about Tox as an Alternative to Telegram
    rrhyast
    Negative Apr 26, 2021
    2

    Ugly UI and less user friendly

    Centaro
    Positive Jun 1, 2020
    1

    P2P encrypted communication

    Telegram Icon
    Tox icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Tox is a great Telegram alternative.

    • Tox is Free and Open SourceTelegram is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Tox is Decentralized, Privacy focused, Security-focused and LightweightTelegram is not according to our users
  5. Wire icon

    Wire

     309 likes
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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.

    280 Wire alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Wire screenshot 1
    Wire screenshot 2
    Wire screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Security-focused
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Video Calling
    3.  Encrypted Chat
    4.  VoiP Calls
    5.  Encrypted calls
    6.  Screen Sharing
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Secure File Sharing
    9.  Multiple Account support
    10.  WebRTC
    11.  Private Chat
    12.  File Sending

    Wire VS Telegram

     
    Comments about Wire as an Alternative to Telegram
    Top Positive Comment
    cityroler
    Apr 28, 2017
    10

    always End-to-End encrypted; servers in the EU; high quality audio and video calls;

    Most Recent Comment
    gnudesign
    Positive Sep 9, 2020
    0

    Privacy and security focused, lot of features but way behind Telegram's user experience design.

    Guest
    Positive Jul 16, 2018
    0

    It is fully open source instead Telegram (server and client).

    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Telegram Icon
    Wire icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Wire is a great Telegram alternative.

    • Wire is the most popular SaaS alternative to Telegram.

    • Wire is Free Personal and Open SourceTelegram is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Wire is Security-focused and Privacy focusedTelegram is not according to our users
  6. Matrix icon

    Matrix

     364 likes
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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.

    162 Matrix alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • WebRTC
    • Python
    • JavaScript
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    • Java
    • Perl
    Main Page

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight
    4.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Federation
    4.  Team Collaboration
    5.  Random Video Chat
    6.  Encrypted Chat
    7.  Voice Chat
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Spaces
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Support for @mentions

    Matrix VS Telegram

     
    Comments about Matrix as an Alternative to Telegram
    LeSnake
    Negative Jun 24, 2021
    11

    Matrix is a protocol used by i.e. Element, not a messenger iself

    Telegram Icon
    Matrix icon

    • Most users think Matrix is a great Telegram alternative.

    • Matrix is Free and Open SourceTelegram is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Matrix is Decentralized, Privacy focused and LightweightTelegram is not according to our users
  7. Pidgin icon

    Pidgin

     1522 likes
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    Pidgin is a chat program which lets you log into accounts on multiple chat networks simultaneously. This means that you can be chatting with friends on XMPP and sitting in an IRC channel at the same time.

    122 Pidgin alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    For accounts on multiple chat networks

    Top Pidgin Features

    1.  Support for Multiple protocols
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3. XMPP icon  Supports XMPP
    4.  Multiple Account support
    5.  IRC
    6.  Portable
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  VoiP Calls
    10.  Multiple languages
    11.  Multiple chat protocols
    12.  Messages

    Pidgin VS Telegram

     
  9. Jami icon

    Jami

     231 likes
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    Jami (formerly GNU Ring, SFLphone) positions itself as a potential free Skype replacement

    159 Jami alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Jami video conference OS X

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Video Conferencing
    4.  Peer-To-Peer
    5.  Video Calling
    6.  Multi Platform
    7.  Distributed
    8.  Encrypted Chat
    9.  End-to-End Encryption
    10.  SIP client
    11.  Screen Sharing
    12.  No Tracking

    Jami VS Telegram

     
    Comments about Jami as an Alternative to Telegram
    UsernameUn
    Positive Oct 12, 2020
    1

    Decentralized and encrypted. Available on all major devices. There is video conferencing and the ability to show a desktop.

    Telegram Icon
    Jami icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Jami is a great Telegram alternative.

    • Jami is Free and Open SourceTelegram is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Jami is Decentralized and Privacy focusedTelegram is not according to our users
7 of 92 Telegram alternatives