Best Messenger Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 platforms from encrypted messaging apps ranked against Messenger on the same published basis.
- 1Messenger vs Olvid
- 2Messenger vs Wire
- 3Messenger vs Session
- 4Messenger vs SimpleX Chat
- 5Messenger vs Signal
- 6Messenger vs Threema
- 7Messenger vs Delta Chat
- 8Messenger vs Zangi
- 9Messenger vs Cyph
- 10Messenger vs Element
- 11Messenger vs Keybase
- 12Messenger vs imo
- 13Messenger vs Jami
- 14Messenger vs Status
- 15Messenger vs Confide
- 16Messenger vs iGap
- 17Messenger vs KeeperChat
- 18Messenger vs Keet
- 20Messenger vs Skred
- 21Messenger vs Berty
Messenger alternatives compared
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olvid | 8.1 | Free plan | €82.50/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 2 | Wire | 7.6 | Free plan | €7.45/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 3 | Session | 7.4 | Free plan | $2.99/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 4 | SimpleX Chat | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Android, API, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows |
| 5 | Signal | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 6 | Threema | 7.2 | No | $3/mo | Android, API, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 7 | Delta Chat | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows |
| 8 | Zangi | 7.1 | Free plan | $5/mo | Android, iOS |
| 9 | Cyph | 7.0 | No | $7/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 10 | Element | 6.8 | No | — | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 11 | Keybase | 6.6 | No | — | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 12 | imo | 6.3 | No | — | Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| 13 | Jami | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Android, API, Browser, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 14 | Status | 6.3 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
| 15 | Confide | 6.2 | No | — | Android, iOS, Mac, Windows |
| 16 | iGap | 6.2 | No | — | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 17 | KeeperChat | 6.2 | No | — | Android, iOS, Mac, Windows |
| 18 | Keet | 6.1 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
| 20 | Skred | 6.1 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| 21 | Berty | 6.0 | No | — | iOS, Android |
Make your platform an alternative to Messenger
See the priceThe sponsored alternative slot on this page is labelled Sponsored.
Questions about Messenger alternatives
What is the best alternative to Messenger?
Olvid, number 1 in encrypted messaging apps with a score of 8.1 out of 10. The others here: Wire, Session, SimpleX Chat and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to Messenger?
Olvid is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 8 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on.