Telegram Alternatives for Android

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

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Telegram alternatives are mainly Instant Messengers but may also be Video Calling Apps or Group Chat Apps.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Telegram.
Telegram iconTelegram
  2024
  • ...

Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple, and free. It is like SMS, but more powerful.

More about Telegram
Telegram alternatives page was last updated Sep 16, 2024
  1. Signal icon
     1209 likes

    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.

    220 Signal alternatives
    Signal screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No Tracking

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Encrypted Chat
    3.  Video Calling
    4.  Instant Messaging
    5.  Self Destructing Messages
    6.  Private messaging
    7.  Encrypted Connection
    8.  Mobile friendly
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Desktop Application
    11.  Secure Chat
    12.  Stickers
    13.  GPLv3
    14.  Based on phone number
    15.  Protected by Password
    16.  VoiP Calls
    17.  Client side encryption
    Signal iconTelegram Icon

    Signal VS Telegram

    Is Signal a good alternative to 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.
    revxo5852

    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 positive commentSep 7, 2020
    12
    Guest

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

    Top negative commentSep 14, 2019
    26
    DoodlePoddle

    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.

    Negative commentSep 16, 2024
    1
    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
     690 likes

    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.

    294 Element alternatives
    Video calls for desktop and mobile

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron

    Properties

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Federated
    3.  Team Collaboration
    4.  Encrypted Chat
    5.  Video Calling
    6.  Instant Messaging
    7.  Matrix Protocol
    8.  Voice Chat
    9.  Direct Messaging
    10.  Federation
    11.  Simple installation
    12.  Cross-Platform
    13.  Dark Mode
    14.  Custom widgets
    15.  VoiP Calls
    Element iconTelegram Icon

    Element VS Telegram

    Is Element a good alternative to 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.
    Sam Lander

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

    Top positive commentMay 30, 2023
    1
    calkesh

    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.

    Negative commentMay 13, 2022
    -3
    FiTekno

    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.

    Positive commentMar 18, 2022
    0
    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 Freemium and Open SourceTelegram is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Element is Decentralized and Privacy focusedTelegram is not according to our users
  3. Tox icon
     546 likes

    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.

    210 Tox alternatives
    Antox. A Tox client written in Scala for Android.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Security-focused
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Lightweight
    6.  No Tracking

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Chat
    2.  Peer-To-Peer
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  Multiplatform
    5.  Screen Sharing
    6.  AES-256 Encryption
    7.  P2P Network
    8.  Client side encryption
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  White-labeled
    11.  Built-in player
    12.  GPLv3
    13.  VoiP Calls
    Tox iconTelegram Icon

    Tox VS Telegram

    Is Tox a good alternative to Telegram?
     
    Comments about Tox as an Alternative to Telegram
     
    rrhyast

    Ugly UI and less user friendly

    Negative commentApr 26, 2021
    2
    Centaro

    P2P encrypted communication

    Positive commentJun 1, 2020
    1
    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
  4. Wire icon
     303 likes

    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.

    282 Wire alternatives
    Wire screenshot 1
    Wire screenshot 2
    +2
    Wire screenshot 3

    License model

    • Free PersonalOpen Source

    Platforms

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

    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.  Multiple Account support
    8.  WebRTC
    9.  Secure File Sharing
    10.  Voice Chat
    11.  Voice messages
    Wire iconTelegram Icon

    Wire VS Telegram

    Is Wire a good alternative to Telegram?
     
    Comments about Wire as an Alternative to Telegram
     
       
    cityroler

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

    Top positive commentApr 28, 2017
    10
    gnudesign

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

    Positive commentSep 9, 2020
    0
    Guest

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

    Positive commentJul 16, 2018
    0
    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
  5. Matrix.org icon
     337 likes

    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.

    159 Matrix.org alternatives
    Main Page

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No Tracking

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Federation
    3.  Team Collaboration
    4.  Random Video Chat
    5.  Distributed
    6.  Voice Chat
    7.  VoiP Calls
    8.  Spaces
    9.  Chat Bot
    10.  Multiple Account support
    11.  Real time collaboration
    12.  Support for Multiple protocols
    13.  WebRTC
    14.  Server side history
    Matrix.org iconTelegram Icon

    Matrix.org VS Telegram

    Is Matrix.org a good alternative to Telegram?
     
    Comments about Matrix.org as an Alternative to Telegram
     
    LeSnake

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

    Negative commentJun 24, 2021
    8
    Telegram Icon
    Matrix.org icon
    • Most users think Matrix.org is a great Telegram alternative.

    • Matrix.org is Free and Open SourceTelegram is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Matrix.org is Decentralized and Privacy focusedTelegram is not according to our users
  6. Jami icon
     222 likes

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

    162 Jami alternatives
    Ring on Android app

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No Tracking

    Features

    1.  Video Conferencing
    2.  Peer-To-Peer
    3.  Video Calling
    4.  Multi Platform
    5.  Encrypted Chat
    6.  SIP client
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8.  Distributed
    9.  Multiple languages
    10.  Team Messaging
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Screen Sharing
    13.  SIP
    14.  Voice Chat
    Jami iconTelegram Icon

    Jami VS Telegram

    Is Jami a good alternative to Telegram?
     
    Comments about Jami as an Alternative to Telegram
     
    UsernameUn

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

    Positive commentOct 12, 2020
    1
    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. SimpleX Chat icon
     57 likes

    SimpleX - the most private and secure chat and applications platform - now with double ratchet E2E encryption! Built on Haskell with Love and Coffee.

    56 SimpleX Chat alternatives
    SimpleX Chat screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Self-Hosted
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No registration required

    Features

    1.  Instant Messaging
    2.  Encrypted Chat
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  Video Calling
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Multiple Account support
    7.  Self Destructing Messages
    8.  Voice messages
    9.  VoiP Calls
    10.  Private notes
    SimpleX Chat iconTelegram Icon

    SimpleX Chat VS Telegram

    Is SimpleX Chat a good alternative to Telegram?
     
7 of 189 Telegram alternatives