Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience real numbers from our own analytics — open to see them
–Visitors
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · counted by iTechGuides's own first-party analytics, bots removed, every figure rounded down · how we count

Best Cheogram Alternatives in 2026

Free#18 of 36 in Secure Messaging AppsWhatsApp Alternatives

The top Cheogram alternatives are Signal, WhatsApp and Element: 15 secure messaging apps our editors would look at instead of Cheogram, in our ranking order.

7.4/10Editor score
Cheogram7.4 Visit Cheogram

Cheogram: A free, open-source Android messenger for XMPP users who need network gateways. Where it falls short: android-only platform coverage.

Switching from Cheogram? For most secure messaging apps buyers the best Cheogram alternative is Signal, built for most users wanting secure messaging. Telegram offers the most maximum group size (200000 members).

Why People Look for a Cheogram Alternative

  • Android-only platform coverage
  • Requires an account with a Jabber service
  • Connected gateway services may have separate costs

Quick Picks by What You Need

All 15 Cheogram Alternatives, Ranked

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.

  1. Signal

    Best forMost users wanting secure messaging

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 9.4 vs 7.4

    Free, open-source messaging with encrypted calls, groups, and optional paid backups.

    • Disappearing messages
    9.4/10★★★★★
    Visit Signal
  2. WhatsApp

    Best forMainstream users and large groups

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 9.3 vs 7.4

    A broadly available free messenger with strong everyday privacy features and wide platform support.

    • Disappearing messages
    9.3/10★★★★★
    Visit WhatsApp
  3. Element

    Best forTeams needing secure, extensible collaboration

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 9.1 vs 7.4

    A secure, extensible collaboration app for teams that need control and interoperability.

    9.1/10★★★★★
    Visit Element
  4. Wire

    Best forSecure enterprise collaboration

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 8.9 vs 7.4

    A broad secure workspace for enterprise messaging, calls, files, and administration.

    Free plan Our Wire verdict → Visit Wire
    8.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit Wire
  5. Best forFree users needing a complete private messenger

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 8.7 vs 7.4

    A free, private messenger with encryption by default and a broad feature set.

    • Disappearing messages
    8.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit Delta Chat
  6. Best forPrivacy-focused users wanting anonymous accounts

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 8.6 vs 7.4

    Private messaging with anonymous connections, encrypted calls, and no paid plan.

    • Disappearing messages
    8.6/10★★★★☆
    Visit SimpleX Chat
  7. Jami

    Best forUsers wanting secure calls and conferencing

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 8.5 vs 7.4

    A free, open-source choice for encrypted messaging, calls, and conferencing.

    Free plan Our Jami verdict → Visit Jami
    8.5/10★★★★☆
    Visit Jami
  8. Telegram

    Best forLarge communities and bot-enabled messaging

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 8.4 vs 7.4

    A broad messaging app for large communities, multi-device chats and bot-enabled workflows.

    • Encrypted backups
    • Multi-device support
    • Desktop apps
    8.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit Telegram
  9. Threema

    Best forUsers comfortable with a one-time purchase

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 8.3 vs 7.4

    A paid, open-source messenger with broad platform support and strong privacy features.

    • Encrypted backups
    • Multi-device support
    • Desktop apps
    30-day trial Our Threema verdict → Visit Threema
    8.3/10★★★★☆
    Visit Threema
  10. Viber

    Best forMainstream mobile-and-desktop messaging

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 8.2 vs 7.4

    A versatile free messenger with strong chat privacy but unencrypted backups.

    • Multi-device support
    • Desktop apps
    • Disappearing messages
    Free plan Our Viber verdict → Visit Viber
    8.2/10★★★★☆
    Visit Viber
  11. Briar

    Best forOffline and censorship-resistant messaging

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 8.1 vs 7.4

    A free, open-source messenger for private communication without a central server.

    • Disappearing messages
    Free plan Our Briar verdict → Visit Briar
    8.1/10★★★★☆
    Visit Briar
  12. Best forAndroid XMPP users needing calls

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 8.0 vs 7.4

    A focused Android XMPP client with encrypted chats, calls, and federated connectivity.

    8.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit Conversations
  13. Snikket

    Best forSmall groups wanting managed XMPP hosting

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 7.9 vs 7.4

    A private, open-source messenger for small groups, with hosting priced at $6 per month.

    • Encrypted backups
    • Multi-device support
    14-day trial Our Snikket verdict → Visit Snikket
    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit Snikket
  14. Monal

    Best forApple users wanting mature XMPP messaging

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 7.8 vs 7.4

    A capable free XMPP client for Apple users who want OMEMO encryption and calls.

    • Disappearing messages
    Free plan Our Monal verdict → Visit Monal
    7.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit Monal
  15. Status

    Best forSecure messaging with decentralized communities

    • Better than Cheogram:
    • Editor score 7.7 vs 7.4

    A free, privacy-focused messenger for decentralized communities, with a 20-member group limit.

    7.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit Status

Cheogram Alternatives: Common Questions

What is the best alternative to Cheogram?

Signal: #1 in our Secure Messaging Apps ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. Free, open-source messaging with encrypted calls, groups, and optional paid backups.

Is there a free alternative to Cheogram?

Yes. Signal, WhatsApp, Element, Wire and Delta Chat have a free plan or a free tier (13 of the 15 alternatives on this page).

What is the cheapest paid alternative to Cheogram?

Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Signal starts lowest, at $1.99/mo.

Why do people look for Cheogram alternatives?

Android-only platform coverage; Requires an account with a Jabber service; Connected gateway services may have separate costs.

Which Cheogram alternative has the most maximum group size?

Telegram, with 200000 members.

How do I switch from Cheogram?

Export your data from Cheogram (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Cheogram.

How to Switch from Cheogram

  1. Export your data from Cheogram (most tools have an export in their settings).
  2. Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
  3. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
  4. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Cheogram.

Cheogram vs Each Alternative

#ToolFree planPaid fromAccount requirementEncrypted backupsDesktop appsMaximum group sizeScore
18CheogramYesNoneUsernameYes——7.4
1SignalYes$1.99/mo————9.4
2WhatsAppYesNone————9.3
3ElementYes—————9.1
4WireYes€7.45/user/mo————8.9
5Delta ChatYesNone————8.7
6SimpleX ChatYesNone————8.6
7JamiYesNone————8.5
8TelegramYes—PhoneYesYes200000 members8.4
9ThreemaNo$7.49/unit one-timeNoneYesYes256 members8.3
10ViberYes—PhoneNoYes250 members8.2
11BriarYesNone————8.1
12ConversationsYes—————8.0
13SnikketNo$6/moUsernameYesNo10 members7.9
14MonalYesNone————7.8
15StatusYesNone————7.7

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update