Self-Hosted WhatsApp Alternatives
WhatsApp is not available as a self-hosted solution but there are plenty of alternatives for power users and business that want to host a solution on-premise. The best Self-Hosted alternative is Element, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to WhatsApp and 16 are available as a self-hosted solution so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Self-Hosted alternatives to WhatsApp are Wire, Matrix.org, Jitsi Meet and Zulip.
WhatsApp 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 WhatsApp.- Free • Proprietary
- Instant Messenger
- Mac
- Windows
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Wear
Element
Do you think this is a good alternative?YesNo- Freemium • Open Source
- Group Chat App
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
266 alternatives to Element- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- Matrix.org
- Cloudron
- F-Droid
- FLATHUB
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 Features
Element vs WhatsApp opinions
It is open source, encrypted (end to end), the server is also open source, which means that you or your university could run the server for you. This last point makes it very solid in the long run (like email survived because the protocol was federated).
13It is floss (free/libre and open source) and the developers are friendly and open to the community.
1resuFederated, strong focus on privacy and security.
0Element is end-to-end encrypted (including groups unlike Telegram) and does not require a phone number (which is personally identifiable information. Signal requires it). Element is very simple to use for the average person yet very useful for the advanced one (a personal server can be deployed). It is also libre/free (as in freedom) and fully open-source, based on a libre/free protocol (matrix.org).
11This service is an alternative to Slack & MS Teams, but too technical and not designed for individual use.
-8Wire
Do you think this is a good alternative?YesNo- Free Personal • Open Source
- Group Chat App
- Video Calling App
- Instant Messenger
257 alternatives to Wire- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- F-Droid
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
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 Features
Wire vs WhatsApp opinions
More a competition for skype then whatsapp. however there's nothing you can do on whatsapp that you cannot do on wire. its trustworthy, has phone calls, can be used on PC/Mac as well.. registration with phonenumber is optional, which is nice.
14You don't need to give your phone number for use. Still safe, good and nice chat app. On phone and on pc, web too.
4More Privacy oriented, more secure, but best of all OpenSource. Unfortunately it ain't free (as in money but free as in freedom).
0Elegant UI, encrypted communication, on all relevant operating systems, has great VoIP and video call quality and so on.
4Basically 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.
8Matrix.org
Do you think this is a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Group Chat App
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
133 alternatives to Matrix.org- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- WebRTC
- Python
- JavaScript
- Go (Programming Language)
- Cloudron
- Java
- Perl
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.
Matrix.org Features
Matrix.org vs WhatsApp opinions
You can choose, which client you like the most and use it
-1Jitsi Meet
Do you think this is a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Video Calling App
- Group Chat App
- Encrypted Chat App
127 alternatives to Jitsi Meet- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- Apple Watch
- F-Droid
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 — with no account needed.
Jitsi Meet Features
Jitsi Meet vs WhatsApp opinions
EchtWahrJitsi is a conferencing platform not a messenger
4Zulip
Do you think this is a good alternative?YesNo- Free Personal • Open Source
- Group Chat App
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
221 alternatives to Zulip- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
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.
Zulip Features
Zulip vs WhatsApp opinions
hrishikeshpatilMessages seperated by streams and topics
0SimpleX Chat
Do you think this is a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
- Group Chat App
44 alternatives to SimpleX Chat- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Self-Hosted
SimpleX - the most private and secure chat and applications platform - now with double ratchet E2E encryption! Built on Haskell with Love and Coffee.
SimpleX Chat Features
XMPP
Do you think this is a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Instant Messenger
25 alternatives to XMPP- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Windows Phone
- Self-Hosted
is the open standard for messaging and presence. XMPP powers emerging technologies like IoT, WebRTC, and social.
XMPP Features
Kontalk Messenger
Do you think this is a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Instant Messenger
- Encrypted Chat App
54 alternatives to Kontalk Messenger- Android
- Self-Hosted
Kontalk is a secure instant messenger, allowing you to send and receive text, image and voice messages (other file types coming soon) to and from other Kontalk users completely free of charge.
Kontalk Messenger Features
Kontalk Messenger vs WhatsApp opinions
Tinode
Do you think this is a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Instant Messenger
- Group Chat App
- Video Calling App
183 alternatives to Tinode- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Self-Hosted
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
Fully open source instant messaging server and clients. No proprietary components or non-free dependencies. Backend in pure Go (GPL 3.0), with a command-line administration tool in python + gRPC. Clients for Android, iPhone, and Web - ReactJS (all licensed under Apache 2.0).
Tinode Features
Tinode vs WhatsApp opinions
genesoMost feature-complete replacement.
0Completely open source and free end-to-end. Download and run.
0Snikket
Do you think this is a good alternative?YesNo- Free • Open Source
- Group Chat App
18 alternatives to Snikket- Android
- iPhone
- Self-Hosted
- F-Droid
- Docker
Snikket is an ambitious project to build a new kind of XMPP-based messaging platform.
Snikket Features