Best Messenger Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 apps from encrypted messaging apps ranked against Messenger on the same published basis.
- 1Messenger vs Olvid
- 2Messenger vs Session
- 3Messenger vs Wire
- 4Messenger vs Delta Chat
- 5Messenger vs imo
- 6Messenger vs Jami
- 7Messenger vs Signal
- 8Messenger vs SimpleX Chat
- 9Messenger vs Zangi
- 10Messenger vs Cyph
- 11Messenger vs Keybase
- 12Messenger vs Element
- 13Messenger vs Speek!
- 14Messenger vs Threema
- 15Messenger vs Berty
- 16Messenger vs Confide
- 17Messenger vs KeeperChat
- 19Messenger vs Monal
- 20Messenger vs Skred
- 21Messenger vs Status
Messenger alternatives compared
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olvid | 7.9 | Free plan | €82.50/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 2 | Session | 7.9 | Free plan | $2.99/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 3 | Wire | 7.9 | Free plan | €7.45/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 4 | Delta Chat | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows |
| 5 | imo | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 6 | Jami | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Android, API, Browser, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 7 | Signal | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 8 | SimpleX Chat | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Android, API, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows |
| 9 | Zangi | 7.8 | Free plan | $5/mo | Android, iOS |
| 10 | Cyph | 7.4 | No | $7/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 11 | Keybase | 7.3 | No | — | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 12 | Element | 7.2 | No | — | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 13 | Speek! | 7.1 | No | — | Android, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 14 | Threema | 7.1 | No | $3/mo | Android, API, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 15 | Berty | 6.9 | No | — | iOS, Android |
| 16 | Confide | 6.9 | No | — | Android, iOS, Mac, Windows |
| 17 | KeeperChat | 6.9 | No | — | Android, iOS, Mac, Windows |
| 19 | Monal | 6.9 | No | — | Mac, iOS |
| 20 | Skred | 6.9 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| 21 | Status | 6.9 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
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Questions about Messenger alternatives
What is the best alternative to Messenger?
Olvid, number 1 in encrypted messaging apps with a score of 7.9 out of 10. The others here: Session, Wire, Delta Chat and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to Messenger?
Olvid is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 9 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation.