Kaidan review
A capable open-source XMPP client, with experimental calls and ecosystem limits.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Kaidan is a free, open-source messaging client for people who want encrypted chat through the XMPP (Jabber) protocol. It runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android, and supports text messaging, media, files, groups, search, and multiple XMPP accounts. Users can choose an XMPP provider rather than depending on a single centralized service. That makes Kaidan a natural fit for XMPP users who want a modern client with encryption and a broad set of everyday messaging tools.
Encryption is a central strength. OMEMO 2 provides end-to-end encryption for messages, files, and metadata, with Automatic Trust Management and QR-code-based key authentication. Encryption is enabled by default when a contact supports it, while it can be disabled for individual contacts. Messaging includes reactions, replies, corrections, and read markers, while group chats add invitations, participant lists, mentions, and private/public filtering. Audio and video messages, file sharing, a media overview, and chat and message search give the client useful depth beyond basic text exchange.
Kaidan’s main trade-off is the combination of an XMPP-oriented ecosystem and experimental calling features. Provider selection and multiple-account support suit users who value choice, but they also make the experience more dependent on the selected XMPP service and its compatibility. One-to-one audio and video calls are experimental and currently intended to work on Linux, so users prioritizing mature cross-platform calling should choose an alternative. Kaidan is well suited to people who already use XMPP or want an open protocol with modern encrypted messaging; it is less suitable for those seeking a single-service experience with established calling across every supported platform.
Kaidan pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free and open-source across desktop and Android
- OMEMO 2 encrypts messages, files, and metadata
- Supports groups, search, media, and multiple XMPP accounts
- Where it doesn't
- Audio and video calls are experimental
- Calls currently target Linux
- XMPP provider and ecosystem choices add setup constraints
Kaidan fact sheet, pricing and score →
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.
Last updated · How we research and update