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LINE alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave LINE: little used outside its core markets, and app is crowded with services and promotions. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces LINE, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. KakaoTalk currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Telegram logoTelegramFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 559.6
2Signal logoSignalFreeYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 555.3
  1. Telegram logo

    1. TelegramTop pick

    Best for: Communities, channel followers and power users who want every chat synced on every device

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from LINE

    Large communities and channels with cloud sync, used across many more countries.

    Pros

    • Instant sync across phone, desktop and web without the phone online
    • Very large groups and broadcast channels
    • Open bot platform and open-source client apps

    Cons

    • Regular chats are not end-to-end encrypted
    • Secret Chats are one-to-one and tied to a single device
    • Public groups attract spam and scams
    Visit Telegram 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 Telegram a good LINE alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Price
    Free, with optional Premium
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Group size
    Up to 200,000 members
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Secret Chats and calls only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
    File size limit
    2 GB (4 GB with Premium)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Client apps, reproducible builds
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Signal logo

    2. Signal

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

    FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from LINE

    Encrypted by default with no services, ads or stickers shop attached.

    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 ×0.363
    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 LINE 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)

The best LINE alternative for…

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

KakaoTalk logo

Best LINE alternative for most people

KakaoTalk

The Korean counterpart with a similar sticker culture and built-in services.

WhatsApp logo

Best LINE alternative for a free option

WhatsApp

Far more widely used internationally for personal chats and calls.

Telegram logo

Best LINE alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Telegram

Large communities and channels with cloud sync, used across many more countries.

Signal logo

Best LINE alternative for open source

Signal

Encrypted by default with no services, ads or stickers shop attached.

WeChat logo

Best LINE alternative for Mac

WeChat

The Chinese super-app if your contacts are in mainland China.

KakaoTalk logo

Best LINE alternative for Windows

KakaoTalk

The Korean counterpart with a similar sticker culture and built-in services.

Telegram logo

Best LINE alternative for Linux

Telegram

Large communities and channels with cloud sync, used across many more countries.

KakaoTalk logo

Best LINE alternative for iPhone and Android

KakaoTalk

The Korean counterpart with a similar sticker culture and built-in services.

WhatsApp logo

Best LINE alternative for working in the browser

WhatsApp

Far more widely used internationally for personal chats and calls.

LINE alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to LINE?

KakaoTalk ranks first right now. The Korean counterpart with a similar sticker culture and built-in services. WhatsApp and Telegram follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to LINE?

Yes. KakaoTalk (free plan + paid), WhatsApp (free), Telegram (free plan + paid) and WeChat (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to LINE?

Yes: Signal.

Which LINE alternatives work on Linux?

Telegram and Signal run on Linux.

Why do people switch from LINE?

The complaints we hear most: little used outside its core markets; app is crowded with services and promotions; desktop use depends on linking your phone account.

How is this list ranked?

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