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Conversations alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Conversations: android only, and experience depends on the server you pick. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Conversations, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Monal currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Element logoElementOpen sourceYesWeb, Windows, macOS +44 of 459.6
  1. Element logo

    1. ElementTop pick

    Best for: Communities and organisations that want open, federated, encrypted chat they can run themselves

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Conversations

    Federated Matrix chat with a larger community and richer group features.

    Pros

    • Federated: talk across servers, or host your own
    • Encrypted by default for private chats
    • Open source, with bridges to other networks

    Cons

    • More complex than mainstream messengers
    • Key backup and device verification confuse newcomers
    • Self-hosting a homeserver takes real admin work
    Visit Element Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Element a good Conversations alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Free community edition
    Checked Oct 25, 2026element.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Enterprise pricing
    Per seat/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026element.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Certification
    ISO/IEC 27001:2022
    Checked Oct 25, 2026element.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Conversations alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Monal logo

Best Conversations alternative for most people

Monal

The equivalent XMPP client for iPhone and Mac users.

Gajim logo

Best Conversations alternative for a free option

Gajim

A full-featured XMPP client for Windows, Mac and Linux desktops.

Element logo

Best Conversations alternative for open source

Element

Federated Matrix chat with a larger community and richer group features.

Delta Chat logo

Best Conversations alternative for self-hosting

Delta Chat

Another open-standards messenger, with even easier sign-up.

Signal logo

Best Conversations alternative for Mac

Signal

Simpler and more widely used, if federation isn't a priority.

Gajim logo

Best Conversations alternative for Windows

Gajim

A full-featured XMPP client for Windows, Mac and Linux desktops.

Gajim logo

Best Conversations alternative for Linux

Gajim

A full-featured XMPP client for Windows, Mac and Linux desktops.

Element logo

Best Conversations alternative for iPhone and Android

Element

Federated Matrix chat with a larger community and richer group features.

Element logo

Best Conversations alternative for working in the browser

Element

Federated Matrix chat with a larger community and richer group features.

Conversations alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Conversations?

Monal ranks first right now. The equivalent XMPP client for iPhone and Mac users. Gajim and Element follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Conversations?

Yes. Monal (free), Gajim (free), Element (open source) and Delta Chat (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Conversations?

Yes: Monal, Gajim, Element and Delta Chat, plus 1 more in the list above. Element and Delta Chat can also be self-hosted.

Which Conversations alternatives work on Linux?

Gajim, Element, Delta Chat and Signal run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Conversations?

The complaints we hear most: android only; experience depends on the server you pick; few mainstream contacts use XMPP.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Conversations, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.