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Messaging · 12 alternatives

Instead of Telegram, try one of these 12.

Every alternative is lined up against Telegram on what people actually switch for: price, open source, self-hosting, offline use and platforms. Telegram sits in the first row, so you can see what you give up.

Show onlySorted by likes · 12 of 12
Alternative
Price
Open source
Self-host
Offline
Platforms
TelegramWhat you have now
Cloud chat with channels, bots and large group support.
PriceFree
premium $5/mo
Open sourceNo
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
WhatsApp#1
The world’s default messaging app, tied to a phone number.
PriceFree
Open sourceNo
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Signal#2Our pick
End-to-end encrypted messaging from a nonprofit.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Element#3
Decentralised, encrypted chat built on the Matrix protocol.
PriceFree
hosting from $5
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Rocket.Chat#4
Open-source communications platform with omnichannel support.
PriceFreemium
from $4/seat
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Session#5
Anonymous, onion-routed messaging with no phone number.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Tox#6
Peer-to-peer encrypted chat and video calls
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflineYes
Platforms
Win · Mac · Linux · Android
Matrix#7
Open federated protocol powering decentralized chat and calls.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Wire#8
Encrypted messaging and calls aimed at business users.
PriceFreemium
from $7/mo
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
SimpleX Chat#9
Messaging with no identifiers at all — not even a username.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · iOS · Android · Mac · Linux · Win
Viber#10
Free calls and secure messaging with group chats
PriceFreemium
Open sourceNo
Self-hostNo
OfflineYes
Platforms
Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Briar#11
Peer-to-peer messaging that works even without the internet.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflineYes
Platforms
Android
Stoat Chat#12
Open-source community chat app with voice and video.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · Android

How to read this. “Yes” means fully supported by the maker. “Partial” means it works with caveats. Likes reflect community popularity; vendors can’t pay for them or for placement. Our pick, marked in lime, is the option we would point most people leaving Telegram to first. How we compare.

Telegram alternatives at a glance

Telegram is a free messaging app (premium $5/mo). We compared 12 alternatives: 10 are open source, 9 are completely free, 3 can be self-hosted and 3 work fully offline. The most popular is WhatsApp, with 4.2k likes, while our pick is Signal.

Most liked overallWhatsApp

The world’s default messaging app, tied to a phone number.

Free
Best free optionSignal

End-to-end encrypted messaging from a nonprofit.

Free · Open source
Best open-source optionElement

Decentralised, encrypted chat built on the Matrix protocol.

Free · Open source · Self‑hostable
Best to self-hostRocket.Chat

Open-source communications platform with omnichannel support.

Freemium · Open source · Self‑hostable

More messaging apps

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