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Signal alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Signal: needs a phone number to register, and desktop app only works linked to a phone. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Signal, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. WhatsApp currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1WhatsApp logoWhatsAppFreeNoWeb, Windows, macOS +26 of 666.5
2Session logoSessionFree plan + paidYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 557.2
3SimpleX Chat logoSimpleX ChatOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 455.3
4Element logoElementOpen sourceYesWeb, Windows, macOS +44 of 453.6
  1. WhatsApp logo

    1. WhatsAppTop pick

    Best for: Anyone who wants to reach friends, family and businesses on the messenger they already use

    FreeWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Signal

    The same encryption protocol on a far bigger network, if reaching people matters more than metadata.

    Pros

    • Almost everyone in many countries already has it
    • Chats and calls are end-to-end encrypted by default
    • Reliable group chats, voice notes and group video calls

    Cons

    • Owned by Meta, which collects usage metadata
    • Requires a phone number to sign up
    • Ads and Meta AI are creeping into the app
    Visit WhatsApp Compare with SignalDetails 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 WhatsApp a good Signal alternative?

    Verified facts

    6 of 6 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026whatsapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Yes, by default
    Checked Oct 25, 2026whatsapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Group size
    Up to 1,000 people
    Checked Oct 25, 2026whatsapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Group calls
    Up to 32 people
    Checked Oct 25, 2026whatsapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Users
    More than 3 billion
    Checked Oct 25, 2026whatsapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Meta (joined Facebook in 2014)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026whatsapp.com(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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Signal

    No phone number and onion-routed delivery, for people who want Signal-level privacy without an account.

    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 ×0.369
    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 Session a good Signal 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

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Signal

    Removes user identifiers entirely, going a step beyond Signal on metadata protection.

    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 ×0.363
    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 SimpleX Chat a good Signal 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. Element logo

    4. Element

    Best for: Communities and organisations that want open, federated, encrypted chat they can run themselves

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Signal

    Federated and self-hostable, so no single organisation runs the whole network.

    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
    Visit Element Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    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 Element a good Signal alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Free community edition
    Checked Oct 25, 2026element.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Enterprise pricing
    Per seat/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026element.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Certification
    ISO/IEC 27001:2022
    Checked Oct 25, 2026element.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Signal alternative for…

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

WhatsApp logo

Best Signal alternative for most people

WhatsApp

The same encryption protocol on a far bigger network, if reaching people matters more than metadata.

Molly logo

Best Signal alternative for a free option

Molly

A hardened Signal fork for Android with database encryption, Tor support and no Google services.

Session logo

Best Signal alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Session

No phone number and onion-routed delivery, for people who want Signal-level privacy without an account.

Threema logo

Best Signal alternative for open source

Threema

Similar privacy without needing a phone number, from a Swiss company that charges once.

SimpleX Chat logo

Best Signal alternative for self-hosting

SimpleX Chat

Removes user identifiers entirely, going a step beyond Signal on metadata protection.

Element logo

Best Signal alternative for Mac

Element

Federated and self-hostable, so no single organisation runs the whole network.

WhatsApp logo

Best Signal alternative for Windows

WhatsApp

The same encryption protocol on a far bigger network, if reaching people matters more than metadata.

Threema logo

Best Signal alternative for Linux

Threema

Similar privacy without needing a phone number, from a Swiss company that charges once.

WhatsApp logo

Best Signal alternative for iPhone and Android

WhatsApp

The same encryption protocol on a far bigger network, if reaching people matters more than metadata.

WhatsApp logo

Best Signal alternative for working in the browser

WhatsApp

The same encryption protocol on a far bigger network, if reaching people matters more than metadata.

Signal alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Signal?

WhatsApp ranks first right now. The same encryption protocol on a far bigger network, if reaching people matters more than metadata. Molly and Threema follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Signal?

Yes. WhatsApp (free), Molly (free), Session (free plan + paid) and SimpleX Chat (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Signal?

Yes: Molly, Threema, Session and SimpleX Chat, plus 1 more in the list above. SimpleX Chat and Element can also be self-hosted.

Which Signal alternatives work on Linux?

Threema, Session, SimpleX Chat and Element run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Signal?

The complaints we hear most: needs a phone number to register; desktop app only works linked to a phone; smaller network than WhatsApp in most countries.

How is this list ranked?

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