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 13 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 XMPP.
WhatsApp alternatives are mainly Group Chat Apps but may also be Video Calling Apps or Instant Messengers. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of WhatsApp.- Freemium • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- Matrix.org
- Cloudron
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 vs WhatsApp opinions
Element 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).
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).
It is floss (free/libre and open source) and the developers are friendly and open to the community.
resuFederated, strong focus on privacy and security.
This service is an alternative to Slack & MS Teams, but too technical and not designed for individual use.
Decentralised because of the matrix protocol and open source.
UnleavenedEagleBest open-source alternative.
- Free Personal • Open Source
- 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 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.
You don't need to give your phone number for use. Still safe, good and nice chat app. On phone and on pc, web too.
More Privacy oriented, more secure, but best of all OpenSource. Unfortunately it ain't free (as in money but free as in freedom).
Elegant UI, encrypted communication, on all relevant operating systems, has great VoIP and video call quality and so on.
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.
Crossplatform messaging with end-to-end encryption... Just like iMessage
Cannot check Outlook for common contacts.
- Free • Open Source
- 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 vs WhatsApp opinions
You can choose, which client you like the most and use it
- Free • Open Source
- 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 vs WhatsApp opinions
EchtWahrJitsi is a conferencing platform not a messenger
- Free • Open Source
- 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.
No screenshots yet- Free • Open Source
- 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.
- Free Personal • Proprietary
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Self-Hosted
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
Dialog Messenger is a customized self-hosted platform usable across multi operation systems simultaneously. dialog provides SDK tools for client interface as well as for server.
Dialog Messenger vs WhatsApp opinions
White-label option is a good touch
- Free • Open Source
- 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 vs WhatsApp opinions
Completely open source and free end-to-end. Download and run.
- Free • Open Source
- Online
- Self-Hosted
- Raspberry Pi
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.
SimpleX - the most private and secure chat and applications platform - now with double ratchet E2E encryption!