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Self-Hosted Telegram Alternatives

Telegram is not available as a self-hosted solution but there are plenty of alternatives for power users and business that want to host a solution on-premise. The best Self-Hosted alternative is Element, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Telegram and many of them are available as a self-hosted solution so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Self-Hosted alternatives to Telegram are Wire, Matrix.org, Zulip and Kontalk Messenger.

Telegram alternatives are mainly Encrypted Chat Apps but may also be Group Chat Apps or Instant Messengers. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Telegram.
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Telegram is a messaging app created by former VK creators with a focus on speed and security. It’s...

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  1. Element icon

    Element

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    • Mac
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    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Cloudron
    • F-Droid
    • FLATHUB
    264 alternatives to Element 

    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.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  DecentralizedElement is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
    2.  End-to-End EncryptionElement has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
    3.  Privacy focusedElement is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
    4.  VoiP CallsElement allows you to make voice calls over Internet using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
    5.  Support for MarkDownElement supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    6.  File VersioningElement has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
    7.  No TrackingElement will not track you or use your personal data.
    8.  Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Element simultaneously.
    9.  DRM FreeNo Digital rights management (DRM), i.e. no copy protection.
    Video calls for desktop and mobile
    Collaboration widgets
    Collaboration and screen sharing
    Element vs Telegram opinions
    Almost everyone thinks Element is a great alternative to Telegram.
     all • positive • negative      relevance • date
    Guest

    Element is structured more honestly out in the open, compared to Telegram.

    Top positive comment• ago
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    4
    Guest

    Great group functionality

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    2
    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.

    Top negative comment• ago
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    -1
    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.

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    0
    LeSnake

    Great 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.

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    0
    rrhyast

    Better than telegram and discord but need a lot of work to be popular

    Positive comment• ago
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    0
    Guest

    The group features match up to telegrams with a more discordesqe UI.

    Positive comment• ago
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    1
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  2. Wire icon

    Wire

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

    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.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  End-to-End EncryptionWire has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
    2.  VoiP CallsWire allows you to make voice calls over Internet using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
    3.  Screen SharingYou can use Wire to share your screen with your colleages or friends.
    4.  Privacy focusedWire is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
    5.  Multiple Account supportWire support multiple accounts without the need to logout and login
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
    Wire vs Telegram opinions
    Almost everyone thinks Wire is a great alternative to Telegram.
    cityroler

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

    Top positive comment• ago
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    10
    Guest

    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.

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    7
    gnudesign

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

    Positive comment• ago
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    0
    Guest

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

    Positive comment• ago
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    0
    Guest

    Always end-to-end encrypted. Fully open source.

    Positive comment• ago
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    6
  4. Matrix.org icon

    Matrix.org

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    • Mac
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    • Online
    • Android
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    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • WebRTC
    • Python
    • JavaScript
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    • Java
    • Perl
    134 alternatives to Matrix.org 

    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.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  End-to-End EncryptionMatrix.org has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
    2.  DecentralizedMatrix.org is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
    3.  Multiple Account supportMatrix.org support multiple accounts without the need to logout and login
    4.  VoiP CallsMatrix.org allows you to make voice calls over Internet using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
    5.  Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Matrix.org simultaneously.
    Main Page
    Matrix.org vs Telegram opinions
    Almost everyone thinks Matrix.org is a great alternative to Telegram.
    LeSnake

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

    Negative comment• ago
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    3
  5. Zulip icon

    Zulip

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    • Mac
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    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    225 alternatives to Zulip 

    Zulip is a group chat app in which messages are threaded by topic, helping you have long-running, organized conversations. Zulip's threading makes it easy for people not always on chat (like managers, remote team members, contractors, part-time workers, etc) to weigh in on...

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  Support for MarkDownZulip supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    2.  Syntax HighlightingZulip supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
  6. Kontalk Messenger icon

    Kontalk Messenger

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    • Android
    • Self-Hosted
    54 alternatives to Kontalk Messenger 

    Kontalk is a secure instant messenger, allowing you to send and receive text, image and voice messages (other file types coming soon) to and from other Kontalk users completely free of charge.

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    Features
    1.  End-to-End EncryptionKontalk Messenger has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
    2.  OpenPGPKontalk Messenger supports OpenPGP, a standard of PGP encryption that is open-source for public use.
      Screenshot
      Screenshot
      Kontalk Messenger vs Telegram opinions
      Most users think Kontalk Messenger is a great alternative to Telegram.
    • Tinode icon

      Tinode

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      • Online
      • Android
      • iPhone
      • Self-Hosted
      • Software as a Service (SaaS)
      188 alternatives to Tinode 

      Fully open source instant messaging server and clients. No proprietary components or non-free dependencies. Backend in pure Go (GPL 3.0), with a command-line administration tool in python + gRPC. Clients for Android, iPhone, and Web - ReactJS (all licensed under Apache 2.0).

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      Features
      1.  Ad-freeTinode doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
      2.  Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Tinode simultaneously.
      iOS client
      iOS client
    • SimpleX Chat icon

      SimpleX Chat

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      • Self-Hosted
      12 alternatives to SimpleX Chat 

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

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      Features
      1.  Privacy focusedSimpleX Chat is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
        Screenshot
        Screenshot
      • Cyanide icon

        Cyanide

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        • Self-Hosted
        • Sailfish OS
        72 alternatives to Cyanide 

        Cyanide is Tox client for Sailfish OS .

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        Features
        1.  Multiple Account supportCyanide support multiple accounts without the need to logout and login
        Discontinued

        The project seems no longer developed. Last version, released in January 2017, can be still downloaded from GitHub

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      • Conduit Chat Server icon

        Conduit Chat Server

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        • Online
        • Self-Hosted
        • Raspberry Pi
        243 alternatives to Conduit Chat Server 

        Conduit is a simple, fast and reliable chat server powered by Matrix. Conduit is an alternative to Synapse and tries to be lightweight and easy to install, but it is still in development.

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        Features
        Screenshot
      • Mirotalk icon

        Mirotalk

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        • Online
        • Self-Hosted
        34 alternatives to Mirotalk 

        Powered by WebRTC, Real-time video call, chat room and screen sharing entirely browser based.

         Suggest and vote on features
        Features
        1.  Screen SharingYou can use Mirotalk to share your screen with your colleages or friends.
        Screenshot
      Showing 10 of 22 alternatives
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