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Olvid alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Olvid: no contact discovery; adding people takes effort, and some features such as starting calls need a paid option. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Olvid, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Threema currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Threema logoThreemaPaidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 466.5
2Signal logoSignalFreeYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 562.6
3Session logoSessionFree plan + paidYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 559.6
4Wire logoWireFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 557.2
  1. Threema logo

    1. ThreemaTop pick

    Best for: Privacy-minded people who want an anonymous messenger and are happy to pay once

    PaidOpen sourceWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Olvid

    Also anonymous and audited, from a Swiss company, with a one-time price.

    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
    Visit Threema 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 Threema a good Olvid alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    One-time purchase (about 6 CHF/EUR/USD)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026threema.ch(opens source in a new tab)
    Phone number
    Not required
    Checked Oct 25, 2026threema.ch(opens source in a new tab)
    Country
    Switzerland
    Checked Oct 25, 2026threema.ch(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    AGPL-3.0 (Android app)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(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

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Olvid

    Free with full calling and a larger network, though it needs a phone number.

    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 ×0.387
    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 Signal a good Olvid 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)
  3. Session logo

    3. Session

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

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

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Olvid

    No personal data and free, with onion routing for extra metadata protection.

    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 ×0.377
    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 Session a good Olvid 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)
  4. Wire logo

    4. Wire

    Best 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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Olvid

    A European encrypted messenger with email sign-up and business features.

    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
    Visit Wire 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 Wire a good Olvid alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Free for teams up to 5 people
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wire.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    €7.45 per person/month (annual)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wire.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Devices
    Up to 8
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wire.com(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    GPL-3.0 (web app)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    MLS, end-to-end by default
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wire.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Olvid alternative for…

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

Threema logo

Best Olvid alternative for most people

Threema

Also anonymous and audited, from a Swiss company, with a one-time price.

Signal logo

Best Olvid alternative for a free option

Signal

Free with full calling and a larger network, though it needs a phone number.

Session logo

Best Olvid alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Session

No personal data and free, with onion routing for extra metadata protection.

Wire logo

Best Olvid alternative for open source

Wire

A European encrypted messenger with email sign-up and business features.

Wire logo

Best Olvid alternative for self-hosting

Wire

A European encrypted messenger with email sign-up and business features.

Threema logo

Best Olvid alternative for Mac

Threema

Also anonymous and audited, from a Swiss company, with a one-time price.

Threema logo

Best Olvid alternative for Windows

Threema

Also anonymous and audited, from a Swiss company, with a one-time price.

Threema logo

Best Olvid alternative for Linux

Threema

Also anonymous and audited, from a Swiss company, with a one-time price.

Threema logo

Best Olvid alternative for iPhone and Android

Threema

Also anonymous and audited, from a Swiss company, with a one-time price.

Threema logo

Best Olvid alternative for working in the browser

Threema

Also anonymous and audited, from a Swiss company, with a one-time price.

Olvid alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Olvid?

Threema ranks first right now. Also anonymous and audited, from a Swiss company, with a one-time price. Signal and Session follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Olvid?

Yes. Signal (free), Session (free plan + paid) and Wire (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Olvid?

Yes: Threema, Signal, Session and Wire. Wire can also be self-hosted.

Which Olvid alternatives work on Linux?

Threema, Signal, Session and Wire run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Olvid?

The complaints we hear most: no contact discovery; adding people takes effort; some features such as starting calls need a paid option; small network outside France.

How is this list ranked?

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