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Delta Chat alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Delta Chat: less polished than mainstream messengers, and small user base. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Delta Chat, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Element currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Element logoElementOpen sourceYesWeb, Windows, macOS +44 of 466.5
2SimpleX Chat logoSimpleX ChatOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 462.6
3Signal logoSignalFreeYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 559.6
4Conversations logoConversationsOpen sourceYesAndroid, Self-hosted3 of 357.2
  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

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Delta Chat

    Federated Matrix chat with richer group and community 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 ×0.3100
    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 Delta Chat 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)
  2. SimpleX Chat logo

    2. SimpleX Chat

    Best for: Privacy-focused users and groups who want to minimise metadata as far as possible

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Delta Chat

    Decentralised relays with no user identifiers at all.

    Pros

    • No phone numbers, usernames or account IDs
    • Self-hostable relay servers
    • Open source and independently audited

    Cons

    • No contact discovery; you must share links
    • Multi-device use and phone migration are awkward
    • Large groups can be slow
    Visit SimpleX Chat Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    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 SimpleX Chat a good Delta Chat alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    User identifiers
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplex.chat(opens source in a new tab)
    Monthly users
    600K
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplex.chat(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplex.chat(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Signal logo

    3. Signal

    Best for: Anyone who wants the strongest mainstream privacy without giving up a familiar chat app

    FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Delta Chat

    A larger network and a more polished app, run centrally by a nonprofit.

    Pros

    • Everything end-to-end encrypted by default, including groups
    • Collects almost no metadata
    • No ads, tracking or paid tier; open source

    Cons

    • Needs a phone number to register
    • Desktop app only works linked to a phone
    • Smaller network than WhatsApp in most countries
    Visit Signal 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 Signal a good Delta Chat alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Organisation
    Independent nonprofit
    Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Ads and tracking
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Always on
    Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop app
    Requires Signal on your phone
    Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Conversations logo

    4. Conversations

    Best for: Android users who want an independent, federated messenger on open standards

    Open sourceSelf-hostableAndroid, Self-hosted

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Delta Chat

    Another open-standards messenger, using federated XMPP on Android.

    Pros

    • Works with any XMPP server, including your own
    • Battery-friendly without Google push
    • OMEMO end-to-end encryption

    Cons

    • Android only
    • Experience depends on the server you pick
    • Few mainstream contacts use XMPP
    Visit Conversations Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 Conversations a good Delta Chat alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Protocol
    XMPP (Jabber)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026conversations.im(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    GPLv3
    Checked Oct 25, 2026conversations.im(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    TLS to servers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026conversations.im(opens source in a new tab)

The best Delta Chat alternative for…

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

Element logo

Best Delta Chat alternative for most people

Element

Federated Matrix chat with richer group and community features.

SimpleX Chat logo

Best Delta Chat alternative for a free option

SimpleX Chat

Decentralised relays with no user identifiers at all.

Signal logo

Best Delta Chat alternative for open source

Signal

A larger network and a more polished app, run centrally by a nonprofit.

Conversations logo

Best Delta Chat alternative for self-hosting

Conversations

Another open-standards messenger, using federated XMPP on Android.

Element logo

Best Delta Chat alternative for Mac

Element

Federated Matrix chat with richer group and community features.

Element logo

Best Delta Chat alternative for Windows

Element

Federated Matrix chat with richer group and community features.

Element logo

Best Delta Chat alternative for Linux

Element

Federated Matrix chat with richer group and community features.

Element logo

Best Delta Chat alternative for iPhone and Android

Element

Federated Matrix chat with richer group and community features.

Element logo

Best Delta Chat alternative for working in the browser

Element

Federated Matrix chat with richer group and community features.

Delta Chat alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Delta Chat?

Element ranks first right now. Federated Matrix chat with richer group and community features. SimpleX Chat and Signal follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Delta Chat?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Delta Chat?

Yes: Element, SimpleX Chat, Signal and Conversations. Element, SimpleX Chat and Conversations can also be self-hosted.

Which Delta Chat alternatives work on Linux?

Element, SimpleX Chat and Signal run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Delta Chat?

The complaints we hear most: less polished than mainstream messengers; small user base; calling is newer and more limited.

How is this list ranked?

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