The Best WhatsApp AlternativesTop Instant Messengers & Video Calling Apps like WhatsApp

WhatsApp is described as 'Free messaging without SMS fees, web sync, and multimedia sharing, supporting group and video chats, available on iPhone, Android, and desktop' and is a leading instant messenger in the social & communications category. There are more than 100 alternatives to WhatsApp for a variety of platforms, including Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows and Web-based apps. The best WhatsApp alternative is Signal, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like WhatsApp are Telegram, Element, Wire and Tox.

filter to find the best alternatives

WhatsApp alternatives are mainly Instant Messengers, but if you're looking for Group Chat Apps or Encrypted Chat Apps you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Apple Watch, EU, Open Source, Self-Hosted, Windows Phone, Blackberry and Android. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to WhatsApp.
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Alternatives list

  1. Signal icon

    Signal

     1370 likes

    An open-source messaging app emphasizing privacy with encrypted communication. Share texts, calls, photos, and videos without ads or trackers, available across major platforms. Developed by Signal Technology Foundation and praised globally for security measures.

    217 Signal alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    • Snapcraft
    Signal screenshot 1
     
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    58
    Comments about Signal as an Alternative to WhatsApp
    Top Positive Comment
    Joseph Leskey
    2

    Signal is an excellent open source WhatsApp alternative, offering simplicity, competitive features, simplicity, and privacy-focused design.

    JOPloume
    Positive
    1

    everyhing is end-to-end encryped, it is open-source, it is free, it is making profits via donation, it is just great!

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Does not track you! Very good security features Nice functionnalities

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 58 comments
    Signal icon
    Signal icon
    • Signal is Free and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
    • Signal is Privacy focused, Security-focused and LightweightWhatsApp is not according to our users
  2. Telegram icon

    Telegram

     2082 likes

    Maximize your messaging experience with efficient communication, speedy delivery, and optional end-to-end encrypted Secret Chats. Engage in unlimited channels and groups up to 200,000 members. Enhance chat management and media sharing with Telegram Premium and its exclusive benefits. All core features remain free.

    285 Telegram alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Android Auto
    • Linux Mobile
    • Android Wear
    • PortableApps.com
    • FreeBSD
    • Apple Car Play
    Telegram Desktop
     
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    42
    Comments about Telegram as an Alternative to WhatsApp
    Top Positive Comment
    mrmbl
    21

    You can have a username that you can change any time, so you don't have to share your phone number with strangers in groups

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    12

    If you are looking for a more secure and privacy friendly alternative to WhatsApp, then Telegram is NOT for you. Chats are unencrypted by default, group chats can't be encrypted at all and the business model is not transparent.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    s b
    Negative
    0

    Russian FSB operation, stay away.

    3 of 42 comments
    Telegram icon
    Telegram icon
    • Telegram is Freemium and ProprietaryWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
    • Telegram is Lightweight, Privacy focused and Security-focusedWhatsApp is not according to our users
  4. Element icon

    Element

     779 likes

    Provides secure collaboration with end-to-end encryption, supporting chat, voice, and video calls. Available on all major platforms, it enables digital sovereignty with a decentralized design and interoperability through bridges to systems like Slack and Teams. Includes enterprise-grade SaaS.

    302 Element alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • Snapcraft
    Video calls for desktop and mobile
     
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    11
    Comments about Element as an Alternative to WhatsApp
    Top Positive Comment
    Vladimir Studinsky
    9

    Decentral (federation), sure. Open source - client, protocol and server

    Biep
    Positive
    0

    It gives access to the federated, open source, free Matrix network, and through bridges to lots of other social media.

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    It is floss (free/libre and open source) and the developers are friendly and open to the community.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 11 comments
    Element icon
    Element icon
    • Element is Free Personal and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
    • Element is Privacy focused and LightweightWhatsApp is not according to our users
  5. Ad
  6. Wire icon

    Wire

     316 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

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    Wire screenshot 1
     
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    7
    Comments about Wire as an Alternative to WhatsApp
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    8

    Basically Signal on steroids. Also, open source and doesn't ask for your phone number, allows creation of throwaway accounts as well as basic group conversation functionality. Perfect.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    More Privacy oriented, more secure, but best of all OpenSource. Unfortunately it ain't free (as in money but free as in freedom).

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    4

    Elegant UI, encrypted communication, on all relevant operating systems, has great VoIP and video call quality and so on.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 7 comments
    Wire icon
    Wire icon
    • Wire is Free Personal and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
    • Wire is Security-focused and Privacy focusedWhatsApp is not according to our users
  7. Tox icon

    Tox

     558 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.

    214 Tox alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • F-Droid
    The Universal Tox Client. A Tox client that runs on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, FreeBSD & the web. Written in JS using React & React Native / electron.
     
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    3
    Comments about Tox as an Alternative to WhatsApp
    Guest
    Positive
    4

    Focused on security messages are encrypted and it is Open Source. Like whatsapp, you can send files, groups chats and video messaging. Skype is more popular with normies, but Tox has all the bells and whistles that whatsapp did.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    MetaPixel_
    Positive
    3

    Secure and high quality peer-to-peer communication, audio and video group calls, and unlimited file transfers. The only disadvantage compared to alternatives is that you can only successfully communicate if both peers are online, but that is part of the nature of the protocol and thus safety is prioritized.

    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Works well on desktop but not mobile like Whatsapp. Only mobile apps are experimental and not user friendly.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Tox icon
    Tox icon
    • Tox is Free and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
    • Tox is Privacy focused, Security-focused and LightweightWhatsApp is not according to our users
  8. Matrix icon

    Matrix

     387 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.

    166 Matrix alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • WebRTC
    • Python
    • JavaScript
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    • Java
    • Perl
    Main Page
     
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    3
    Comments about Matrix as an Alternative to WhatsApp
    Biep
    Positive
    0

    It is open source, e2ee, free, federated, well-maintained, open protocol (allowing bridges to other social media).

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    You can choose, which client you like the most and use it

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    WhatsApp without spyware of Facebook

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Matrix icon
    Matrix icon
    • Matrix is Free and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
    • Matrix is Privacy focused, Security-focused and LightweightWhatsApp is not according to our users
  10. Threema icon

    Threema

     137 likes

    Threema is a new mobile messaging app that puts security first. With true end-to-end encryption, you can rest assured that only you and the intended recipient can read your messages.

    122 Threema alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • F-Droid
    • Flathub
    Threema screenshot 1
     
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    5
    Comments about Threema as an Alternative to WhatsApp
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    0

    Serves in Switzerland & above all it works perfectly.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    duco
    Positive
    1

    It's also end to end encryped but not run by a US company that could force the company to give out data. It has a better data protection then signal as no mobile phone number is required. The address book can be uploaded but doesn't has to. Also you can scan the IDs of others as QR-Code and three dots display very prominent for each contact how secure it is.

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Its trustworthy and just works well.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 5 comments
    Threema icon
    Threema icon
    • Threema is Paid and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
    • Threema is Privacy focused and Security-focusedWhatsApp is not according to our users
  11. Jitsi Meet icon

    Jitsi Meet

     287 likes

    Go ahead, video chat with the whole team. In fact, invite everyone you know. Jitsi Meet is a fully encrypted, 100% open source video conferencing solution that you can use all day, every day, for free.

    149 Jitsi Meet alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Apple Watch
    • F-Droid
    Jitsi Meet screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about Jitsi Meet as an Alternative to WhatsApp
    EchtWahr
    Negative
    7

    Jitsi is a conferencing platform not a messenger

    vadim_the_brave
    Negative
    0

    Its videoconferencing platform, not a messenger

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Jitsi Meet icon
    Jitsi Meet icon
    • Jitsi Meet is Free and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
    • Jitsi Meet is Security-focused, Privacy focused and LightweightWhatsApp is not according to our users
  12. Jami icon

    Jami

     237 likes

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

    160 Jami alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Jami video conference OS X
     
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    1
    Comments about Jami as an Alternative to WhatsApp
    Oscar Sanderson
    Positive
    1

    Jami is a great alternative to Whatsapp since it is decentrailsed so no one can read your messages and it is open source so its privacy claims are verifyable unlike Whatsapp

    Jami icon
    Jami icon
    • Jami is Free and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
    • Jami is Privacy focusedWhatsApp is not according to our users
  13. SimpleX Chat icon

    SimpleX Chat

     93 likes

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

    69 SimpleX Chat alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Self-Hosted
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Flatpak
    SimpleX Chat screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about SimpleX Chat as an Alternative to WhatsApp
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    this is probably the best private and secure alternative to WhatsApp as of 2025, I can personally say it's even better than Session in some ways. More people should use it.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Jaak Dragon
    Positive
    0

    The UI of this app need to be polished, but everything is done correctly. I am really happy that this app and the service exist in this age.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    SimpleX Chat icon
    SimpleX Chat icon
    • SimpleX Chat is Free and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
    • SimpleX Chat is Privacy focused and LightweightWhatsApp is not according to our users
  14. Conversations icon

    Conversations

     103 likes

    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].

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Conversations screenshot 1
     
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    4
    Comments about Conversations as an Alternative to WhatsApp
    Guest
    Positive
    9

    It is open source, using the XMPP protocol, you can host your own (XMPP) server, it has a nice layout and much more...

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Third Opinion
    Positive
    1

    Any centralistic program like whatsapp is moot:

    WHY on earth would you rely on a single company... that on top has the worst reputation? The answer strongly with IQ, I am afraid ;)

    Conversations is federalistic, it can use any provider, like email. Its encryption is solid and you can check the source yourself.

    Quite possibly it helps you to get rid of that IQ60 folks that keeps pestering you to use whatsapp :D

    Samenaga
    Positive
    0

    You can pick your own server or even self-host.

    3 of 4 comments
    Conversations icon
    Conversations icon
    • Conversations is Free and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
    • Conversations is Lightweight and Privacy focusedWhatsApp is not according to our users
  15. Briar icon

    Briar

     111 likes

    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.

    77 Briar alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    Briar screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about Briar as an Alternative to WhatsApp
    Samenaga
    Positive
    0

    Briar is private, decentralized and free software. Sadly it doesn't support file transfers.

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Privacy Oriented, Decentralized (not owned by an individual), Open Source.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Briar icon
    Briar icon
    • Briar is Free and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
    • Briar is Privacy focused and LightweightWhatsApp is not according to our users
12 of 251 WhatsApp alternatives