WhatsApp Alternatives

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, Mac, Windows and iPad 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.

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WhatsApp 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 WhatsApp.

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Instant Messenger
Free • Proprietary

Free messaging without SMS fees, web sync, and multimedia sharing, supporting group and video chats, available on iPhone, Android, and desktop.

More about WhatsApp

WhatsApp alternatives page was last updated Dec 20, 2024

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Jitsi Meet
253 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.
145 Jitsi Meet alternatives
License model
Free • Open Source
Application types
Video Calling App
Instant Messenger
Platforms
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
Apple Watch
F-Droid
Properties
Privacy focused
Lightweight
Features
Browser-based
Video Conferencing
End-to-End Encryption
Video Calling
Screen Sharing
Ad-free
Encrypted Chat
Remote Work
No Tracking
Stream audio
Unlimited users
WebRTC
Jitsi Meet VS WhatsApp
Is Jitsi Meet a good alternative to WhatsApp?
Comments about Jitsi Meet as an Alternative to WhatsApp

EchtWahr
Jitsi is a conferencing platform not a messenger
Negative comment •Feb 15, 2021
6
vadim_the_brave
Its videoconferencing platform, not a messenger
Negative comment •Oct 11, 2024
0
- Most users think Jitsi Meet is a great WhatsApp alternative.
- Jitsi Meet is Free and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
- Jitsi Meet is Privacy focused and LightweightWhatsApp is not according to our users

Threema
115 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
+5
License model
Paid • Open Source
Application types
Instant Messenger
Video Calling App
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
HUAWEI AppGallery
iPad
F-Droid
Properties
Privacy focused
Features
End-to-End Encryption
Encrypted Chat
Integrated File Sharing
Confirm messages
Ad-free
Voting
Multiple Account support
Two-factor Authentication
Cloud Sync
No Tracking
Encrypted Backup
Dark Mode
Threema VS WhatsApp
Is Threema a good alternative to WhatsApp?
Comments about Threema as an Alternative to WhatsApp

Guest
Secure, non-US based and you're the Customer, not the product.

They really take care of your privacy!
Positive comment •Dec 24, 2016
1
Guest
Its trustworthy and just works well.
Positive comment •May 4, 2019
1
Guest
Threema is a great whatapp alternative. Just as easy to use as whatsapp, but (hopefully) more secure and non US based. However, just like whatsapp, it is an app only and lacks a client for PC.... :(
Positive comment •Nov 20, 2016
1
Show more comments
3 of 4 comments
- Most users think Threema is a great WhatsApp alternative.
- Threema is the most popular commercial alternative to WhatsApp.
- Threema is Paid and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
- Threema is Privacy focusedWhatsApp is not according to our users

Viber
334 likes
Free and secure calls and messages to anyone, anywhere.
166 Viber alternatives
+4
License model
Freemium • Proprietary
Application types
Video Calling App
Instant Messenger
Platforms
Windows
Mac
iPhone
iPad
Android
Android Tablet
Samsung Galaxy Store
HUAWEI AppGallery
Android Wear
Properties
Privacy focused
Features
Desktop Sharing
Phone calls
VoiP Calls
Animated stickers
End-to-End Encryption
Dark Mode
Support for @mentions
Cloud Sync
Voice Chat
Call Transfer
Secret chats
Hidden chat
Viber VS WhatsApp
Is Viber a good alternative to WhatsApp?
Comments about Viber as an Alternative to WhatsApp
UnleavenedEagle
Best commercial solution!

Active userbase

End to end encryption

No conference calling

Requires phone number

Positive comment •Jun 8, 2020
-1
- Most users think Viber is a great WhatsApp alternative.
- Viber is Freemium and ProprietaryWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
- Viber is Privacy focusedWhatsApp is not according to our users

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Conversations
98 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].
160 Conversations alternatives
License model
Free • Open Source
Application types
Instant Messenger
Group Chat App
Platforms
Android
Android Tablet
F-Droid
+4
Properties
Lightweight
Privacy focused
Features
Decentralized
End-to-End Encryption
Encrypted Chat
Image Sharing
Supports XMPP
OMEMO
OpenPGP
Encrypted Connection
GPG Encryption
Ad-free
Self Destructing Messages
Dark Mode
Conversations VS WhatsApp
Is Conversations a good alternative to WhatsApp?
Comments about Conversations as an Alternative to WhatsApp

Guest
It is open source, using the XMPP protocol, you can host your own (XMPP) server, it has a nice layout and much more...
Positive comment •Mar 21, 2018
9
Third Opinion
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
Positive comment •Nov 7, 2020
1
Samenaga
You can pick your own server or even self-host.
Positive comment •Mar 3, 2023
0
Show more comments
3 of 4 comments
- Almost everyone thinks Conversations is a great WhatsApp alternative.
- Conversations is Free and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
- Conversations is Decentralized, Lightweight and Privacy focusedWhatsApp is not according to our users

SimpleX Chat
66 likes
SimpleX - the most private and secure chat and applications platform - now with double ratchet E2E encryption! Built on Haskell with Love and Coffee.
58 SimpleX Chat alternatives
License model
Free • Open Source
Application types
Instant Messenger
Video Calling App
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
Self-Hosted
Flathub
F-Droid
Flatpak
+5
Properties
Privacy focused
Features
Encrypted Chat
End-to-End Encryption
Decentralized
Ad-free
No registration required
Video Calling
Dark Mode
Multiple Account support
Self Destructing Messages
Voice messages
VoiP Calls
No Tracking
SimpleX Chat VS WhatsApp
Is SimpleX Chat a good alternative to WhatsApp?

Briar
89 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.
74 Briar alternatives
+2
License model
Free • Open Source
Application types
Instant Messenger
Encrypted Chat App
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
Flathub
F-Droid
Properties
Lightweight
Privacy focused
Features
Decentralized
Works Offline
Bluetooth Support
End-to-End Encryption
Mesh network
Support for TOR
No registration required
Self Destructing Messages
Peer-To-Peer
Ad-free
Dark Mode
No Tracking
Briar VS WhatsApp
Is Briar a good alternative to WhatsApp?
Comments about Briar as an Alternative to WhatsApp

Samenaga
Briar is private, decentralized and free software. Sadly it doesn't support file transfers.
Positive comment •Mar 2, 2023
0
Guest
Privacy Oriented, Decentralized (not owned by an individual), Open Source.
Positive comment •Mar 1, 2020
1
- Almost everyone thinks Briar is a great WhatsApp alternative.
- Briar is Free and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary
- Briar is Decentralized, Lightweight and Privacy focusedWhatsApp is not according to our users

Zulip
203 likes
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.
228 Zulip alternatives
License model
Free Personal • Open Source
Application types
Instant Messenger
Video Calling App
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
BSD
iPad
Self-Hosted
+4
Top Zulip Features
Threaded Conversations
Team Collaboration
Support for Hotkeys
Community-based
Support for MarkDown
Syntax Highlighting
Chat Bot
Integrated File Sharing
Secure Chat
Third party integrations
GitHub Integration
Live topics
Zulip VS WhatsApp
Is Zulip a good alternative to WhatsApp?
Comments about Zulip as an Alternative to WhatsApp

hrishikeshpatil
Messages seperated by streams and topics
Positive comment •Jan 5, 2018
0
- Zulip is Free Personal and Open SourceWhatsApp is Free and Proprietary