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Molly alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Molly: android only, and updates trail official Signal releases. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Molly, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Signal currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Signal logoSignalFreeYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 566.5
2Session logoSessionFree plan + paidYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 562.6
3SimpleX Chat logoSimpleX ChatOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 459.6
4Conversations logoConversationsOpen sourceYesAndroid, Self-hosted3 of 357.2
  1. Signal logo

    1. SignalTop pick

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

    FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Molly

    The official app, on every platform and updated first.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 Signal a good Molly 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)
  2. Session logo

    2. Session

    Best for: People who want an anonymous messenger with no phone number and minimal metadata

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Molly

    No phone number at all, if Signal's registration is the concern.

    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
    Visit Session 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 Session a good Molly alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Phone number
    Not required
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getsession.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Routing
    Onion routing network
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getsession.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Session Pro price
    From $2.99/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getsession.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Steward
    Session Technology Foundation
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getsession.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. SimpleX Chat logo

    3. 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

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Molly

    No identifiers and self-hostable relays for de-Googled setups.

    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 ×0.377
    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 SimpleX Chat a good Molly 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)
  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 Molly

    A battery-friendly XMPP client that doesn't rely on Google push either.

    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 Molly 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 Molly alternative for…

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

Signal logo

Best Molly alternative for most people

Signal

The official app, on every platform and updated first.

SimpleX Chat logo

Best Molly alternative for a free option

SimpleX Chat

No identifiers and self-hostable relays for de-Googled setups.

Session logo

Best Molly alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Session

No phone number at all, if Signal's registration is the concern.

Conversations logo

Best Molly alternative for open source

Conversations

A battery-friendly XMPP client that doesn't rely on Google push either.

SimpleX Chat logo

Best Molly alternative for self-hosting

SimpleX Chat

No identifiers and self-hostable relays for de-Googled setups.

Signal logo

Best Molly alternative for Mac

Signal

The official app, on every platform and updated first.

Signal logo

Best Molly alternative for Windows

Signal

The official app, on every platform and updated first.

Signal logo

Best Molly alternative for Linux

Signal

The official app, on every platform and updated first.

Signal logo

Best Molly alternative for iPhone and Android

Signal

The official app, on every platform and updated first.

Molly alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Molly?

Signal ranks first right now. The official app, on every platform and updated first. Session and SimpleX Chat follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Molly?

Yes. Signal (free), Session (free plan + paid), SimpleX Chat (open source) 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 Molly?

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

Which Molly alternatives work on Linux?

Signal, Session and SimpleX Chat run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Molly?

The complaints we hear most: android only; updates trail official Signal releases; not in the Play Store, so installing takes extra steps.

How is this list ranked?

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