The Best WhatsApp Alternatives in 2026
We researched WhatsApp alternatives using official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings consider each app’s core job for private and everyday communication, value for money, and verified features, so individuals and groups can compare messaging options that fit their needs.
Our top picks
-
Top ranked
Signal#1 of 559.3/10A capable free messenger with default encryption and optional paid media backups.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
Telegram#2 of 559.1/10A broad messaging app for communities, with end-to-end encryption confined to Secret Chats.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Element#3 of 558.9/10An open, encrypted messaging choice for groups that want control over deployment and data.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.
The full ranking 55 tools, best first · page 1 of 2
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Best forPrivacy-focused users wanting a full-featured messenger
A capable free messenger with default encryption and optional paid media backups.
- Voice and video calls
- Open source
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Signal -
Best forLarge communities and cross-device messaging
A broad messaging app for communities, with end-to-end encryption confined to Secret Chats.
- Desktop apps
- Open source
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Telegram -
Best forTeams and communities wanting open, self-hostable messaging
An open, encrypted messaging choice for groups that want control over deployment and data.
- Open source
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Element -
Best forPeople who want free messaging, calls and group chats
A free messenger with calls, group chats and synced desktop and mobile apps.
- Desktop apps
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Viber -
Best forPeople who want encrypted chats on mobile and desktop
A free messaging app with default end-to-end encryption across devices.
- Voice and video calls
- Open source
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Delta Chat -
Best forPrivacy-minded users avoiding phone-number identities
Private messaging across mobile and desktop, with encrypted calls and identifier-free connections.
- Voice and video calls
- Open source
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit SimpleX Chat -
Best forPeople willing to pay once for private messaging
A paid messaging app with encrypted calls, groups, backups, and desktop access.
- Desktop apps
- Open source
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Threema -
Best forFree messaging with large groups and translation
A free messaging app with large groups and automatic encryption for one-to-one chats and calls.
- Default E2E encryption
- Desktop apps
- Voice and video calls
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit BiP -
Best forCommunities that prioritize voice and video
A free community chat platform built around voice, video, and shared servers.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Discord -
Best forUsers wanting free, open-source calls and messaging
A privacy-focused WhatsApp alternative with messaging, calls, and SIP support at no cost.
- Voice and video calls
- Open source
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Jami -
Best forOrganizations coordinating securely with external guests
A secure messenger with guest collaboration and business administration features.
- Open source
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Wire -
Best forPeople who want private chats without phone registration
Private messaging with pseudonymous IDs, onion routing, and a free plan.
- Voice and video calls
- Open source
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Session -
Best forFree group messaging with calls and chat organization
A free messenger with flexible chat organization, but its listed platforms exclude iOS.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit KakaoTalk -
Best forPeople seeking free web and mobile messaging
A free, familiar messenger for everyday personal chats, groups and calls.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Messenger -
Best forPeople who want multiple messaging networks in one inbox
Beeper brings supported messaging networks into one inbox, with paid tools for organizing chats.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Beeper -
Best forGroups that want polls, events, and SMS access
A free group-messaging app with useful community tools, but not a private-chat specialist.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit GroupMe -
Best forClubs and groups organizing activities together
Free group chat pairs calls and sharing with tools for coordinating activities.
- Multi-device support
- Desktop apps
- Voice and video calls
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit BAND -
Best forPeople who want free messaging and large file sharing
A free cross-platform messenger with voice calls, group chats and files up to 1 GB on Zalo PC.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Zalo -
Best forLarge chats and channels that share files
A free messenger for large chats, file sharing, channels, and group video calls.
- Desktop apps
- Voice and video calls
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit TamTam -
Best forAndroid users who want SMS, MMS, and RCS together
A free Android messaging app that combines SMS, MMS and supported RCS with web access.
- Multi-device support
- Default E2E encryption
7.1/10★★★★☆Try Google Messages -
Best forUsers who want free calls and very large groups
A free messaging app for calls, encrypted private chats, and groups of up to 5,000.
- Voice and video calls
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit imo -
Best forPeople who message and transfer files across devices
QQ combines group messaging, calls, file transfers and Qzone social features.
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Tencent QQ -
Best forPeople combining messaging, calls and payments
A free messaging app that combines group calls, chats and wallet services.
- Desktop apps
- Voice and video calls
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit BOTIM -
Best forPrivate peer-to-peer messaging without a server
A free, open-source messenger built for private communication without a central server.
- Open source
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Briar -
Best forUsers wanting default encryption and protected backups
A capable free messenger with protected backups; multi-device use and calls require a paid plan.
- Voice and video calls
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Olvid -
Best forDesktop users who prefer XMPP and provider choice
A desktop XMPP client for encrypted chats, file sharing, and provider choice.
- Open source
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Gajim -
Best forAndroid users already using federated XMPP
A feature-rich Android XMPP client for encrypted, federated messaging.
- Voice and video calls
- Open source
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Conversations -
Best forApple users seeking an open-source XMPP client
A free Apple-platform XMPP client with encrypted chats, calls and message archiving.
- Voice and video calls
- Open source
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Monal -
Best forApple users who want XMPP messaging and calling
A free, open-source XMPP client for Apple users who want chats, calls, and multiple accounts.
- Voice and video calls
- Open source
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Siskin IM -
Best foriOS users seeking encrypted, interoperable XMPP chat
A focused iOS XMPP client with encryption options and Tor connectivity.
- Open source
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit ChatSecure -
Best forMatrix users who primarily need desktop and Android chat
A focused Matrix messenger for text, media, Spaces, and room search—without calls.
- Desktop apps
- Open source
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit NeoChat -
Best forUsers wanting peer-to-peer calls and profile backups
Free messaging, calls, screen sharing, and encrypted profile backups across desktop and mobile.
- Voice and video calls
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Keet -
Best forPeople seeking phone-free, peer-to-peer communication
Free, open-source Tox messaging for private, peer-to-peer chats and calls.
- Default E2E encryption
- Desktop apps
- Voice and video calls
5.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Khandaq -
Best forPrivate mobile messaging without a phone number
A peer-to-peer messaging option for people who want encrypted chats without sharing contact details.
- Voice and video calls
- Open source
5.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Skred -
Best forMobile users who want private messaging without an account
A free, open-source messenger for encrypted chats that can work offline nearby.
- Open source
5.5/10★★★☆☆Try Berty Messenger -
Best forMatrix users wanting a customizable client across devices
An open-source Matrix client family with layout and theme options across devices.
- Desktop apps
- Open source
5.4/10★★★☆☆Visit SchildiChat -
Best forUsers wanting a self-hosted Matrix desktop client
A free Matrix client with encrypted messaging, desktop apps, and self-hosting.
- Desktop apps
- Open source
5.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Cinny -
Best forMobile users wanting encrypted calls and large groups
A mobile-first encrypted messenger with large groups and a $5 monthly Premium plan.
- Voice and video calls
5.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Zangi -
Best forMobile users seeking phone-number-based federated chat
Free mobile XMPP chat connects phone contacts while keeping encryption optional.
- Voice and video calls
- Open source
5.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Quicksy -
Best forAndroid users who want multi-account XMPP messaging
A multi-account XMPP client with OMEMO chats and free and paid account options.
- Multi-device support
- Open source
5.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit Xabber -
Best forAndroid users who want open XMPP messaging
A free, open-source Android XMPP client with encryption, calls, and gateway connections.
- Open source
4.9/10★★☆☆☆Visit Cheogram -
Best forMobile users who want calls and family plans
A free mobile messenger centered on calls, with paid upgrades for groups and families.
- Default E2E encryption
- Voice and video calls
4.8/10★★☆☆☆Visit JusTalk -
Best forAndroid users wanting calls and large group chats
A free Android messaging app with large group chats, calls, and social posts.
4.7/10★★☆☆☆Visit WeChat -
Best forLinux users wanting open-source encrypted XMPP chat
A Linux-focused XMPP messenger for encrypted chats, groups, and file sharing.
- Voice and video calls
- Open source
4.6/10★★☆☆☆Visit Kaidan -
Best forGroups preferring asynchronous video messages
A mobile-first alternative for groups that prefer asynchronous video over chat.
- Multi-device support
4.5/10★★☆☆☆Visit Marco Polo -
Best forMessaging nearby without internet access
A mobile messenger for nearby chats when internet access is unavailable.
4.4/10★★☆☆☆Visit Bridgefy -
Best forUsers seeking encrypted chat with a crypto wallet
A free, open-source messaging app for people who also want wallet and community features.
- Open source
4.2/10★★☆☆☆Visit Status -
Best forPrivacy-focused users wanting anonymous, free chat
Free, anonymous messaging with encrypted IPFS file sharing and chat-based crypto transfers.
- Default E2E encryption
- Desktop apps
- Open source
4.1/10★★☆☆☆Visit ADAMANT -
Best forPrivacy-focused users comfortable with experimental chat
A free, open-source Tor-based messenger for privacy-focused users willing to accept experimental features.
- Open source
4.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit Cwtch -
Best forMobile users prioritizing disappearing private messages
A free mobile messenger focused on encrypted conversations that can disappear.
- Default E2E encryption
3.9/10★★☆☆☆Visit Dust
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Default E2E encryption | Max group size | Desktop apps | Multi-device support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Signal | Yes | $1.99/mo | — | — | — | — | 9.3 |
| 2 | Telegram | Yes | — | — | 200000 members | Yes | — | 9.1 |
| 3 | Element | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 8.9 |
| 4 | Viber | Yes | — | — | 250 members | Yes | — | 8.8 |
| 5 | Delta Chat | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 6 | SimpleX Chat | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 8.6 |
| 7 | Threema | No | $7.49/unit one-time | — | 256 members | Yes | — | 8.5 |
| 8 | BiP | Yes | None | Yes | 1000 members | Yes | — | 8.4 |
| 9 | Discord | Yes | $29.99/user/yr | — | — | — | — | 8.3 |
| 10 | Jami | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 8.2 |
| 11 | Wire | Yes | €7.45/user/mo | — | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 12 | Session | Yes | $2.99/mo | — | — | — | — | 8.0 |
| 13 | KakaoTalk | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 7.9 |
| 14 | Messenger | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 15 | Beeper | Yes | $99.99/yr | — | — | — | — | 7.7 |
| 16 | GroupMe | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 7.6 |
| 17 | BAND | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | 7.5 |
| 18 | Zalo | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 7.4 |
| 19 | TamTam | Yes | None | — | 20000 members | Yes | — | 7.3 |
| 20 | Google Messages | Yes | None | Yes | — | No | Yes | 7.1 |
| 21 | imo | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 7.0 |
| 22 | Tencent QQ | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 6.9 |
| 23 | BOTIM | Yes | None | — | 500 members | Yes | — | 6.8 |
| 24 | Briar | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 6.7 |
| 25 | Olvid | Yes | €4.99/user/mo | — | — | — | — | 6.6 |
| 26 | Gajim | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 6.4 |
| 27 | Conversations | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 6.3 |
| 28 | Monal | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 6.2 |
| 29 | Siskin IM | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 6.1 |
| 30 | ChatSecure | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 6.0 |
| 31 | NeoChat | Yes | None | — | — | Yes | — | 5.9 |
| 32 | Keet | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 5.8 |
| 33 | Khandaq Messenger | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | No | 5.7 |
| 34 | Skred | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 5.6 |
| 35 | Berty Messenger | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 5.5 |
| 36 | SchildiChat | Yes | None | — | — | Yes | — | 5.4 |
| 37 | Cinny | Yes | None | — | — | Yes | — | 5.3 |
| 38 | Zangi | Yes | $5/user/mo | — | — | — | — | 5.2 |
| 39 | Quicksy | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 5.1 |
| 40 | Xabber | Yes | $1/mo | — | — | No | Yes | 5.0 |
| 41 | Cheogram | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 4.9 |
| 42 | JusTalk | Yes | $49.99/yr | Yes | 50 members | — | — | 4.8 |
| 43 | Yes | None | — | 500 members | — | — | 4.7 | |
| 44 | Kaidan | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 4.6 |
| 45 | Marco Polo | Yes | $47.99/yr | — | 200 members | No | Yes | 4.5 |
| 46 | Bridgefy | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 4.4 |
| 47 | Status | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 4.2 |
| 48 | ADAMANT Messenger | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | — | 4.1 |
| 49 | Cwtch | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 4.0 |
| 50 | Dust | Yes | None | Yes | — | — | — | 3.9 |
Head-to-head All 21 comparisons →
- Signal vs Telegram
- Signal vs Viber
- Signal vs Threema
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How we rank WhatsApp alternatives
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update