Tor Messenger AlternativesInstant Messengers and other similar apps like Tor Messenger
Tor Messenger is described as 'Cross-platform chat program that aims to be secure by default and sends all of its traffic over Tor. It supports a wide variety of transport networks, Off-the-Record (OTR) messaging and has an easy-to-use graphical user interface' and is a instant messenger in the social & communications category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Tor Messenger for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and BSD apps. The best Tor Messenger alternative is Signal, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Tor Messenger are Element, Pidgin, Tox and Jitsi Desktop.
Tor Messenger alternatives are mainly Instant Messengers but may also be Encrypted Chat Apps or Video Calling Apps. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Tor Messenger.- Free • Open Source
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
- Group Chat App
206 Signal alternatives- 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 Tor Messenger.
- - Signal is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Tor Messenger.
Signal Features
- Freemium • Open Source
- Group Chat App
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
275 Element alternatives- 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 Tor Messenger.
Element Features
- Free • Open Source
- Instant Messenger
- Group Chat App
- Video Calling App
122 Pidgin alternatives- 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
- Free • Open Source
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
- Group Chat App
193 Tox alternatives- 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
- Free • Open Source
- Video Calling App
- Web Conferencing Tool
- Group Chat App
79 Jitsi Desktop alternatives- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- BSD
- Self-Hosted
Jitsi Desktop (previously SIP Communicator) is a legacy audio/video and chat communicator with full encryption, precedessor of Jitsi Meet .
Jitsi Desktop Features
DiscontinuedJitsi Desktop is not actively developed anymore: last version, released in October 2017, can be still downloaded from GitHub. Its successor is
Jitsi Meet
- Free • Open Source
- Video Calling App
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
148 Jami alternatives- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
Jami (formerly GNU Ring, SFLphone) positions itself as a potential free Skype replacement
Jami Features
- Free • Open Source
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
- Video Calling App
113 RetroShare alternatives- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- BSD
- OpenSSL
- OpenPGP
RetroShare is a open source cross-platform, private and secure decentralized communication system. It lets you to securely chat, share photos, videos, and more, using OpenPGP to authenticate peers and .
RetroShare Features
- Free • Open Source
- Instant Messenger
- Group Chat App
- Encrypted Chat App
56 Briar alternatives- Linux
- Android
- Flathub
- F-Droid
- Windows
- Mac
An open-source decentralized and encrypted messaging app even without internet connection via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Messages are stored securely on your device, not in the cloud. Connect directly with nearby contacts - no Internet access is required.
Briar Features
- 69 Adium alternatives
- Free • Open Source
- Instant Messenger
- Mac
Adium is a free and open source instant messaging application for Mac OS X, written using Mac OS Xs Cocoa API, released under the GNU GPL and developed by the Adium team. Based on the libpurple protocol library, Adium can connect you to any number of messaging accounts on any...
Adium Features
DiscontinuedThe last update is from March 2021.
Empathy is a messaging program which supports text, voice, video chat, and file transfers over many different protocols. You can tell it about your accounts on all those services and do all your chatting within one application.
Empathy Features
DiscontinuedEmpathy is currently unmaintained. Last version, 3.25, released in August 2017, can be still downloaded from the official website.
Bitmessage is a P2P communications protocol used to send encrypted messages to another person or to many subscribers. It is decentralized and trustless, meaning that you need-not inherently trust any entities like root certificate authorities.
Bitmessage Features
Instantbird is an instant messaging client based on Mozilla XULRunner and the open source library libpurple created by the software developers of Pidgin . Over 250 add-ons allow user customization of, and addition of, features.
Instantbird Features
DiscontinuedSite last updated 2013. Site security certificate expired April 2017.