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Telegram Alternatives

Telegram Alternatives

Telegram

Telegram is a messaging app created by former VK creators with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free. It is like SMS, but more powerful.

You can send messages, photos and videos to people who are in your phone contacts (and have Telegram). You can also create groups for up to 20000 people or channels for unlimited subscribers.

Your chats are not encrypted by default, which enables other people to see what you are writing. You can enable a "Secret Chat" to enable end-to-end encryption.

Telegram's security model has received notable criticism by cryptography experts. They criticized the general security model of permanently storing all contacts, messages and media together with their decryption keys on its servers by default and by not enabling end-to-end encryption for messages by default.

Telegram's client-side code is open-source software, whereas its server-side code is closed-source and proprietary. The service also provides public APIs with which developers can access the same functionality as Telegram's official apps to build their own messaging applications.

Telegram also provides a bot API for programmers to create different kinds of Telegram bots. Bots are simply Telegram accounts operated by software – not people – and they'll often have AI features. They can do anything – teach, play, search, broadcast, remind, connect, integrate with other services, or even pass commands to the Internet of Things.

Best Telegram Alternatives for Windows

Looking for a program that is like Telegram? We have our top picks here. If you need another program that has some of the features of Telegram on your device, read what we recommend in this post.

Pidgin

Pidgin

FreeOpen SourceMacWindowsLinuxBSDPortableApps.comXfce

Pidgin is an easy to use, multi-protocol chat client client used by millions. Connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, XMPP, and more chat networks all at once. It has built-in...

Features:

  • Support for Multiple protocols
  • Support for Multiple protocols
  • Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
  • IRC
  • Plugins
  • Supports XMPP
  • Chat
  • Messaging
  • Multiple languages
  • Multiple Account support
  • Multiple chat protocols
  • Portable
  • Video calling
  • Voice Call
  • Xmpp
Hangouts

Hangouts

FreeWindowsWebAndroidiPhoneChrome OSAndroid TabletiPadChromeAndroid Wear

Hangouts is a messaging app that lets you send and receive messages, photos and more, and even start free video and voice calls – one to one or with a group! ...

Features:

  • Video calling
  • Share your screen
  • Gmail integration
  • Group chat
  • Multi Device Support
  • Sms from PC
  • Video Conferencing
  • Multi-platform support
  • Share your screen
  • SMS Messaging
  • Supports archiving conversations
  • Video chat
  • Voice Call
  • Voice messages
  • WebRTC
WhatsApp

WhatsApp

FreeMacWindowsLinuxWebAndroidiPhoneAndroid WearKaiOS

With WhatsApp, you'll get fast, simple, secure messaging and calling, available on phones all over the world.

Features:

  • End-to-End Encryption
  • Custom Backgrounds
  • Forums
  • Group chat
  • Mobile friendly
  • Stickers
  • Chat
  • Encrypted chat
  • Integrated File Sharing
  • Messaging
  • Based on phone number
  • Video calling
  • Voice chat
  • Voice messages
Signal

Signal

FreeOpen SourceMacWindowsLinuxAndroidiPhoneAndroid TabletiPadChromeUbuntu Touch

TextSecure and RedPhone have been merged to create Signal! Using Signal, you can communicate instantly while avoiding SMS fees, create groups so that you can chat in...

Features:

  • End-to-End Encryption
  • Encrypted chat
  • Security focused
  • Privacy-friendly
  • Encrypted Connection
  • Security & Privacy
  • Self destructing messages
  • Video calling
  • Ad-free
  • Client side encryption
  • Electron based
  • Encrypted calls
  • Encrypted VoIP calls
  • Forward Secrecy
  • Night mode/Dark Theme
  • Privacy focused
  • SMS Messaging
  • Video calling
  • Voice Call
  • Chat
  • Color coding
  • Group chat
  • Group Messaging
  • Integrated File Sharing
  • Mobile friendly
  • Works Offline
  • Protected by Password
  • Based on phone number
  • Private messaging
  • File Sending
  • Voice chat
  • Voice messages
Tox

Tox

FreeOpen SourceMacWindowsLinuxAndroidAndroid TabletBSD

Send messages, files, create groups and make Tox to Tox audio and video calls. Securely.

Features:

  • Decentralized
  • Encrypted chat
  • Peer-To-Peer
  • Privacy focused
  • End-to-End Encryption
  • Built-in player
  • Share your screen
  • Security focused
  • Video calling
  • Ad-free
  • Anonymity
  • Anonymous Secure Filesharing
  • Client side encryption
  • Decentralisation
  • GPLv3
  • Group chat
  • P2P Network
  • Peer-To-Peer
  • Point-to-point encryption
  • Secure Chat
  • Video calling
  • Video chat
  • Video Conferencing
  • Voice Call
  • White-labeled
Jitsi

Jitsi

FreeOpen SourceMacWindowsLinuxWebAndroidiPhoneAndroid TabletBSDiPad

Jitsi (previously SIP Communicator) is an audio/video and chat communicator with full encryption that supports protocols such as SIP, XMPP/Jabber, ICQ/AIM, Windows Live...

Features:

  • SIP
  • Video Conferencing
  • Security & Privacy
  • Privacy-friendly
  • Browser based
  • Chat
  • Cross-platform
  • Desktop Sharing
  • File sharing
  • Group chat
  • iPhone/iPod sync
  • Live Meeting
  • Support for Multiple protocols
  • Multiple Account support
  • No download
  • No installation required
  • No Login Required
  • OTR
  • Plugins
  • Privacy focused
  • Share your screen
  • SIP
  • Softphone
  • Unlimited users
  • Video calling
  • Video chat
  • Video Conferencing
  • Voice chat
  • WebRTC
  • Xmpp
Riot.im

Riot.im

FreeOpen SourceMacWindowsLinuxWebAndroidiPhoneAndroid TabletiPadSelf-Hosted

A free instant messaging and collaboration software based on the Matrix protocol.

Features:

  • End-to-End Encryption
  • Decentralized
  • Group chat
  • Security & Privacy
  • Team Collaboration
  • Federated
  • Privacy-friendly
  • Video chat
  • Video calling
  • Voice Call
  • Add-ons
  • Clean design
  • Custom widgets
  • Direct Messaging
  • Encrypted chat
  • Group collaboration
  • Matrix.org protocol
  • Message redaction
  • Mobile friendly
  • Moderation tools
  • Per-room avatars
  • Privacy focused
  • Read receipts
  • Text chat
  • Typing notifications
  • User Management
  • User mentions
  • Video/Audio Calling
  • Voice chat
  • Web Integaration
  • Chat Bot
  • Community based
  • DRM Free
  • GitHub integration
  • Integrated File Sharing
  • Live Chat
  • MarkDown support
  • Real time collaboration
  • File Sending
  • Server Moderation
  • Server side history
  • Slack integration
  • Social network
  • Video calling
  • Voice chat
  • Web-Based
Wire

Wire

FreemiumOpen SourceMacWindowsLinuxWebAndroidiPhoneAndroid TabletiPadSelf-HostedSoftware 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...

Features:

  • End-to-End Encryption
  • Security focused
  • Encrypted chat
  • Video calling
  • Voice Call
  • Encrypted calls
  • Encryption
  • Group chat
  • Share your screen
  • Security & Privacy
  • Anonymity
  • Integrated File Sharing
  • Multiple Account support
  • Photo Sharing
  • Privacy focused
  • Privacy Protected
  • Private Chat
  • Secure Chat
  • Secure File Sharing
  • File Sending
  • Video calling
  • Video chat
  • Voice chat
  • Voice messages
  • WebRTC
Matrix.org

Matrix.org

FreeOpen SourceMacWindowsLinuxWebAndroidiPhoneAndroid TabletiPadSelf-HostedWebRTCPythonJavaScriptGo (Programming Language)JavaPerl

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...

Features:

  • End-to-End Encryption
  • Chat
  • Decentralized
  • Random video chat
  • Voice chat
  • Chat Bot
  • Distributed
  • Encrypted chat
  • Group chat
  • Messaging
  • Real time collaboration
  • Server side history
  • Team Collaboration
  • Voice Call
  • WebRTC
Jami

Jami

FreeOpen SourceMacWindowsLinuxAndroidiPhoneAndroid TabletiPad

Voice, video and chat communications, secure, decentralized, strong privacy and freedoms.

Features:

  • File sharing
  • Decentralized
  • File transfer
  • SIP client
  • Team messaging
  • Distributed
  • End-to-End Encryption
  • Intercom Support
  • Messaging
  • Multiple languages
  • Peer-To-Peer
  • Privacy focused
  • Privacy-friendly
  • Share your screen
  • SIP
  • Video calling
  • Video chat
  • Video Conferencing
  • Voice chat

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