Session alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data
Common reasons people leave Session: slower delivery and less reliable calls, and lost recovery password means a lost account. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Session, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Signal currently ranks first.
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Show all 5 alternativesThe best Session alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best Session alternative for most people
SignalFaster and more reliable with a bigger network, if a phone number at sign-up is acceptable.
Best Session alternative for a free option
SimpleX ChatGoes further by having no account ID at all, with self-hostable relays.
Best Session alternative for open source
ThreemaAnonymous IDs and a polished app, paid once with a Swiss company behind it.
Best Session alternative for self-hosting
CwtchTor-based, metadata-resistant messaging without any central servers.
Best Session alternative for Mac
SignalFaster and more reliable with a bigger network, if a phone number at sign-up is acceptable.
Best Session alternative for Windows
SignalFaster and more reliable with a bigger network, if a phone number at sign-up is acceptable.
Best Session alternative for Linux
SignalFaster and more reliable with a bigger network, if a phone number at sign-up is acceptable.
Best Session alternative for iPhone and Android
SignalFaster and more reliable with a bigger network, if a phone number at sign-up is acceptable.
Best Session alternative for working in the browser
ThreemaAnonymous IDs and a polished app, paid once with a Swiss company behind it.
Session alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to Session?
Signal ranks first right now. Faster and more reliable with a bigger network, if a phone number at sign-up is acceptable. SimpleX Chat and Threema follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to Session?
Yes. Signal (free), SimpleX Chat (open source), Briar (free) and Cwtch (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.
Is there an open-source alternative to Session?
Yes: Signal, SimpleX Chat, Threema and Briar, plus 1 more in the list above. SimpleX Chat and Cwtch can also be self-hosted.
Which Session alternatives work on Linux?
Signal, SimpleX Chat, Threema and Cwtch run on Linux.
Why do people switch from Session?
The complaints we hear most: slower delivery and less reliable calls; lost recovery password means a lost account; network is tied to a cryptocurrency token.
How is this list ranked?
Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Session, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.