Quick comparison
| # | App | Pricing | Verified price | Open source | Platforms | Verified facts | Score |
|---|
| 1 |  Signal | Free | — | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux +2 | 5 of 5 | 83.8 |
| 2 |  Element | Open source | — | Yes | Web, Windows, macOS +4 | 4 of 4 | 70.6 |
| 3 |  Session | Free plan + paid | From $2.99 a month (Session Pro) | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux +2 | 7 of 7 | 65.2 |
| 4 |  Threema | Paid | — | Yes | Web, Windows, macOS +3 | 6 of 6 | 63.3 |
| 5 |  Wire | Free plan + paid | €7.45 per person/month billed annually | Yes | Web, Windows, macOS +3 | 6 of 6 | 63.1 |
1Best for: Anyone who wants the strongest mainstream privacy without giving up a familiar chat app
FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Why switch from Keybase
Actively developed, widely used encrypted messenger with calls; far easier to get friends and family onto.
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
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
2Best for: Communities and organisations that want open, federated, encrypted chat they can run themselves
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted
Why switch from Keybase
Matrix-based encrypted chat with rooms and spaces, and you can self-host the server for a team.
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
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.1539
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
3Best for: People who want an anonymous messenger with no phone number and minimal metadata
Free plan + paidOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Why switch from Keybase
Signs you up without a phone number or email and routes messages through an onion network.
Pros
- No phone number or email needed
- Onion routing hides who talks to whom
- Open source and audited
Cons
- Slower delivery and less reliable calls
- Lost recovery password means a lost account
- Network is tied to a cryptocurrency token
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.1539
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
4Best for: Privacy-minded people who want an anonymous messenger and are happy to pay once
PaidOpen sourceWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Why switch from Keybase
Swiss encrypted messenger that also needs no phone number, with a separate work edition.
Pros
- No phone number or email needed
- Open-source apps, independently audited
- One-time price, no ads or data harvesting
Cons
- Costs money, which deters friends from joining
- Much smaller network than WhatsApp or Signal
- Desktop app depends on the phone app
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.363
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.1539
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
5Best for: Small teams and organisations that want an encrypted European messenger they can audit or self-host
Free plan + paidOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Why switch from Keybase
Encrypted messaging with team and business plans, a close fit for Keybase's teams feature.
Pros
- End-to-end encryption with the MLS standard
- Sign up with email, no phone number required
- Open source, with on-premises deployment
Cons
- Few personal contacts use it
- Product direction centres on businesses
- Free plan limited to small teams
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.1539
Freshness ×0.1570
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula