WhatsApp Alternatives

One of the most popular alternatives to WhatsApp is Signal, which is free and open source. Other popular alternatives are Telegram, Element, Matrix and Fluxer. You're spoiled for choice with Instant Messengers like WhatsApp: we list more than 100 alternatives for Android, iPhone, Windows, iPad and the web.

filter to find the best alternatives

Most WhatsApp alternatives are Instant Messengers, but you can also narrow the list to Group Chat Apps or Encrypted Chat Apps. Other popular filters are Apple Watch, Open Source, Android, Windows and Windows Phone. You can also filter for EU-based alternatives if you prefer software from the European Union.
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Alternatives
WhatsApp alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. 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.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2021

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Linux
    • Debian
    • Nix Package Manager
    • Docker
    • Docker Hub
    Good alternative?
     
  2. Talkatone icon
     21 likes

    Talkatone gives you free calls, text messages, real-time location sharing and picture sharing to Facebook and Google friends, or any phone number in US.

    56 Talkatone alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2011

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Good alternative?
     
  3. Quaternion icon
     3 likes

    Quaternion is a cross-platform Qt5-based desktop IM client for Matrix, a reference desktop application using libQMatrixClient. Source code, issue tracker, roadmap etc. can be found at GitHub. Releases (with links to cross-platform source code archives, as well as binaries for...

    54 Quaternion alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2019

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Good alternative?
     
  4. KryptEY icon
     9 likes

    Android keyboard for secure E2EE communication through the signal protocol in any messenger. Communicate securely and independent, regardless of the legal situation or whether messengers use E2EE.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2023

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
    Good alternative?
     
  5. Zalo icon
     1 like

    Zalo is a Vietnamese instant messaging multi-platform service developed by VNG Corporation.

    28 Zalo alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2019

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Mac
    • Online
    Good alternative?
     
  6. VeilidChat icon
     4 likes

    VeilidChat is a 1-to-1, person-to-person text only chat application which serves as a technology demonstration for the Veilid application development framework. All communication is end to end encrypted, authenticated, private routed, and peer-to-peer. It's currently in early beta.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2024

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    Good alternative?
     
  7. NYNJA icon
     1 like

    all-in-one Communication and Collaboration Platform. The NYNJA platform combines the benefits of instant chat, video conferencing, screen sharing, file sharing, asset management collaboration, and much more, in one fast, easy and reliable platform.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2022

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • US flagUnited States
    Screen Sharing
    Good alternative?
     
  8. ShooChat icon
     1 like

    Free encrypted P2P chat that vanishes on tab close. No account, no phone number, no app. Video calls, screen share & group chat — AES-256.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2026

    Platforms

    • Online
    Good alternative?
     
  9. Huddle App icon
     2 likes

    Huddle is a social app where you can be yourself and share anything. Dive straight into posts, journals, threads, GIFs, capsules, and a bunch of other cool features.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2023

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • Android
    Good alternative?
     
  10. Steam Chat icon
     8 likes

    Offers real-time chat with friends, supports group messaging, organizes contacts by favorites and categories, enables media sharing with GIFs and videos, provides customizable notifications, allows invite links, and is accessible on desktop or mobile for gaming sessions.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2019

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Steam
    Good alternative?
     
  11. Unofficial whatsapp web desktop client for OSX, Linux and Windows. Build with Electron.

    18 WhatsApp Desktop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Since

    • Since 2017

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
You are at page 7 of WhatsApp alternatives