Open Source WeChat Alternatives

The best open source alternative to WeChat is Signal. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to WeChat and many of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to WeChat are Element, Tox, Wire and Zulip.

WeChat 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 WeChat.

WeChat alternatives page was last updated

WeChat

105

Freemium • Proprietary
Instant Messenger

Mac
Windows
Android
iPhone
Blackberry
Android Tablet
Windows Phone
iPad
Apple Watch

WeChat is a complete mobile communication and private social networking app. Free, cross-platform, and full-featured,...

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Signal
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat App
Group Chat App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
iPad
Flathub
Ubuntu
Debian
204 Signal alternatives
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 Open Source alternative to WeChat.
Suggest and vote on features
Signal Features
1. End-to-End EncryptionSignal has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
2. Privacy focusedSignal is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
3. Ad-freeSignal doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. Self Destructing MessagesSignal supports the use of private messages that will be auto deleted according to a specified time or action.
5. No TrackingSignal will not track you or use your personal data.
6. Dark ModeSignal supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
7. VoiP CallsSignal allows you to make voice calls over Internet using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
8. LightweightSignal consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
9. Works OfflineSignal can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Security focused
Private messaging
Encrypted Connection
GPLv3
Stickers
Mobile friendly
Secure Chat
Desktop Application
Based on phone number
Protected by Password
Comments about Signal as a Alternative to WeChat
pros, cons and recent comments
jdakfkj333
Signal is private and secure. Even Snowden endorsed it, and he has a threat model that is likely above any user on this site.

It is clean, fast, and not bloated like WeChat.
Positive comment•
0
Element
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Group Chat App
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
Matrix.org
Flathub
F-Droid
Cloudron
269 Element alternatives
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 Self-Hosted alternative to WeChat.
Suggest and vote on features
Element 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. No TrackingElement will not track you or use your personal data.
6. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Element simultaneously.
7. Dark ModeElement supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
8. Ad-freeElement doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
9. File VersioningElement has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
Federated
Matrix Protocol
Voice Chat
Federation
Direct Messaging
Community-based
Per-room avatars
Multiple languages
Custom widgets
Message redaction
Tox
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat App
Group Chat App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
Android Tablet
BSD
F-Droid
186 Tox alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Tox Features
1. DecentralizedTox is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
2. Privacy focusedTox is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
3. End-to-End EncryptionTox has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Tox without registration.
5. AES-256 EncryptionTox has AES-256 Encryption, i.e. very strong security.
6. No TrackingTox will not track you or use your personal data.
7. Screen SharingYou can use Tox to share your screen with your colleages or friends.
8. LightweightTox consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
9. Dark ModeTox supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Peer-To-Peer
Security focused
Multiplatform
P2P Network
Built-in player
GPLv3
White-labeled
Client side encryption
Video Conferencing
Point-to-point encryption
Wire
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Open Source
Group Chat App
Instant Messenger
Video Calling App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
F-Droid
Software as a Service (SaaS)
259 Wire alternatives
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 WeChat.
Suggest and vote on features
Wire 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
Security focused
Encrypted calls
Voice Chat
File Sending
Voice messages
WebRTC
Private Chat
Secure Chat
Integrated File Sharing
Secure File Sharing
Zulip
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Open Source
Group Chat App
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
BSD
iPad
Self-Hosted
220 Zulip alternatives
Zulip is the only modern team chat app that is designed for both live and asynchronous conversations. Zulip topics create a separate space for each discussion, so different conversations will never get in each other's way.
Suggest and vote on features
Zulip Features
1. Support for MarkDownZulip supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Syntax HighlightingZulip supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
Threaded Conversations
Support for Hotkeys
Community-based
Integrated File Sharing
Chat Bot
Code Syntax Highlighting
GitHub integration
Secure Chat
Third party integrations
Chat organizer
Conversations
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Instant Messenger
Group Chat App
Encrypted Chat App
Android
Android Tablet
F-Droid
143 Conversations alternatives
Conversations is a privacy focused, open source XMPP Texting [Jabber] client for Android 4.0+ smart phones with wife-approved easy encryption [OTR, OMEMO, or GPG].
Suggest and vote on features
Conversations Features
1. DecentralizedConversations is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
2. End-to-End EncryptionConversations has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
3. OpenPGPConversations supports OpenPGP, a standard of PGP encryption that is open-source for public use.
4. GPG EncryptionConversations supports GPG (aka GnuPG) for encryption of things like emails, messages, files, etc.
5. LightweightConversations consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
6. Dark ModeConversations supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
7. Ad-freeConversations doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
8. Self Destructing MessagesConversations supports the use of private messages that will be auto deleted according to a specified time or action.
9. Privacy focusedConversations is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
Image Sharing
Encrypted Connection
Supports XMPP
OMEMO
OTR
Federated
Chat Bot
Intuitive Interface
Xmpp
Secure Chat
SimpleX Chat
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat App
Group Chat App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
Self-Hosted
45 SimpleX Chat alternatives
SimpleX - the most private and secure chat and applications platform - now with double ratchet E2E encryption! Built on Haskell with Love and Coffee.
Suggest and vote on features
SimpleX Chat Features
1. Privacy focusedSimpleX Chat is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
2. End-to-End EncryptionSimpleX Chat has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
3. DecentralizedSimpleX Chat is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
Molly
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat App
Group Chat App
Android
F-Droid
177 Molly alternatives
Molly is an independent Signal fork for Android.
Suggest and vote on features
Molly Features
1. End-to-End EncryptionMolly has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
2. No TrackingMolly will not track you or use your personal data.
3. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
4. Privacy focusedMolly is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
Secure Chat
Text messaging
Monero exchange
SOCKS proxy client and server
Add a screenshot
FluffyChat
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Instant Messenger
Group Chat App
Encrypted Chat App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Flathub
Ubuntu Touch
F-Droid
174 FluffyChat alternatives
FluffyChat is an open, nonprofit and cute matrix messenger app for Ubuntu Touch, Android and iOS.
Suggest and vote on features
FluffyChat Features
1. DecentralizedFluffyChat is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
2. End-to-End EncryptionFluffyChat has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
3. Privacy focusedFluffyChat is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
4. Ad-freeFluffyChat doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Dark ModeFluffyChat supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Matrix Protocol
Voice messages
Security focused
Franz
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Instant Messenger
Application Launcher
Mac
Windows
Linux
69 Franz alternatives
Franz is a free messaging app / former Emperor of Austria and combines chat & messaging services into one application. Franz currently supports Slack, WhatsApp, WeChat, HipChat and many more. You can download Franz for Mac, Windows & Linux.
Suggest and vote on features
Franz Features
1. Multiple Account supportFranz support multiple accounts without the need to logout and login
Support for Multiple protocols
Whatsapp integration
Unified messaging
Web application wrapper
Multi-messenger
Slack client
Lightweight wrapper
Gmail integration
iPhone/iPod sync
Slack integration
Status
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Instant Messenger
Group Chat App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
F-Droid
APK Downloader
173 Status alternatives
Status combines a private messenger, secure crypto wallet, and Ethereum Web3 DApp browser into one powerful communication tool. Chat with friends and growing communities. Buy, sell, store, and exchange digital assets.
Suggest and vote on features
Status Features
1. End-to-End EncryptionStatus has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
2. DecentralizedStatus is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
3. Privacy focusedStatus is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
Blockchain
Peer-To-Peer
Stickers
Desktop Application
Xabber
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat App
Online
Android
F-Droid
136 Xabber alternatives
Open source Jabber (XMPP) client with multi-account support, clean and simple interface. Being both free (as in freedom!) and ad-free, Xabber is designed to be the best Jabber client for Android .
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Xabber Features
Xmpp
Discontinued
The project seems no longer developed since 2019. Last version, 2.6.6, released in October 2019, can be still downloaded from F-Droid, it's no longer available on Google Play Store