The Best Open Source Telegram AlternativesTop Group Chat Apps & Instant Messengers like Telegram
The best open source alternative to Telegram is Signal. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Telegram and loads of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Telegram are Element, Tox, Wire and Matrix.org.
Telegram alternatives are mainly Instant Messengers but may also be Group Chat Apps or Encrypted Chat Apps. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Telegram.- 212 Signal alternatives
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
- Group Chat App
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- iPad
- Flathub
- Ubuntu
- Debian
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 is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Telegram.
- - Signal is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Telegram.
Signal Features
- End-to-End Encryption
- Privacy focused
- Ad-free
- Self Destructing Messages
- No Tracking
- Dark Mode
- VoiP Calls
- Lightweight
- Picture in Picture
- Works Offline
Comments about Signal as a Alternative to Telegram
revxo5852Signal has end-to-end encryption by default, Telegram does not. Signal does not store your conversations and files in the cloud, Telegram does.
12John FastmanSignal 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.
19can't use signal without smartphone. (scan qr-code bla-bla-bla...)
26history_undoThis is a different messenger and not compatible with Telegram, thus not really an alternative.
1gauri avri jaisTelegram offers secure, encrypted messaging and file sharing, ensuring privacy. Its user-friendly interface, cross-platform availability, and cloud-based sync enable seamless communication. With features like large group capacity and self-destructing messages, Telegram is a versatile platform for both personal and professional interactions.
-1 - 276 Element alternatives
- Group Chat App
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
- Freemium • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- Matrix.org
- Flathub
- F-Droid
- 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 is the most popular Web-based, Android Tablet & Self-Hosted alternative to Telegram.
Element Features
- End-to-End Encryption
- Decentralized
- Privacy focused
- VoiP Calls
- Real time collaboration
- Dark Mode
- Cloud Sync
- No Tracking
- Support for MarkDown
- File Versioning
- DRM Free
- Ad-free
Comments about Element as a Alternative to Telegram
Sam LanderElement is a good privacy chat that you can host yourself. However, not many people use it compared to Signal or Telegram.
1Element is structured more honestly out in the open, compared to Telegram.
6calkeshElement 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.
-3FiTeknoI 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.
0LeSnakeGreat 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.
0 - 196 Tox alternatives
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
- Video Calling App
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- F-Droid
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 Features
- Decentralized
- Privacy focused
- End-to-End Encryption
- No registration required
- Screen Sharing
- Lightweight
- No Tracking
- AES-256 Encryption
- Dark Mode
- VoiP Calls
Comments about Tox as a Alternative to Telegram
rrhyastUgly UI and less user friendly
2CentaroP2P encrypted communication
1 - 267 Wire alternatives
- Group Chat App
- Instant Messenger
- Video Calling App
- Free Personal • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- 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 is the most popular SaaS alternative to Telegram.
Wire Features
- End-to-End Encryption
- VoiP Calls
- Screen Sharing
- Privacy focused
- Multiple Account support
Comments about Wire as a Alternative to Telegram
cityroleralways End-to-End encrypted; servers in the EU; high quality audio and video calls;
10Multiplatform, 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.
7gnudesignPrivacy and security focused, lot of features but way behind Telegram's user experience design.
0It is fully open source instead Telegram (server and client).
0Always end-to-end encrypted. Fully open source.
6 - 141 Matrix.org alternatives
- Group Chat App
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- WebRTC
- Python
- JavaScript
- Go (Programming Language)
- Cloudron
- Java
- Perl
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 Features
- Decentralized
- End-to-End Encryption
- Privacy focused
- Ad-free
- VoiP Calls
- No Tracking
- Multiple Account support
- Real time collaboration
Comments about Matrix.org as a Alternative to Telegram
LeSnakeMatrix is a protocol used by i.e. Element, not a messenger iself
6 - 122 Pidgin alternatives
- Instant Messenger
- Group Chat App
- Video Calling App
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Flathub
- PortableApps.com
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.
Pidgin Features
- Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
- Multiple Account support
- Portable
- No Tracking
- Ad-free
- VoiP Calls
Opinions about Pidgin as a Alternative to Telegram
- 151 Jami alternatives
- Video Calling App
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
Jami (formerly GNU Ring, SFLphone) positions itself as a potential free Skype replacement
Jami Features
- Decentralized
- Privacy focused
- Ad-free
- End-to-End Encryption
- Screen Sharing
- Dark Mode
- No Tracking
Comments about Jami as a Alternative to Telegram
UsernameUnDecentralized and encrypted. Available on all major devices. There is video conferencing and the ability to show a desktop.
1