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SimpleX Chat alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave SimpleX Chat: no contact discovery; you must share links, and multi-device use and phone migration are awkward. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces SimpleX Chat, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Session currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Element logoElementOpen sourceYesWeb, Windows, macOS +44 of 459.6
  1. Element logo

    1. ElementTop pick

    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

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from SimpleX Chat

    Self-hostable and federated, with richer community features.

    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 ×0.377
    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 Element a good SimpleX Chat 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 SimpleX Chat alternative for…

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

Session logo

Best SimpleX Chat alternative for most people

Session

Also needs no phone number, with smoother multi-device support and onion routing.

Signal logo

Best SimpleX Chat alternative for a free option

Signal

Much easier to use with a big network, if you can accept phone-number sign-up.

Session logo

Best SimpleX Chat alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Session

Also needs no phone number, with smoother multi-device support and onion routing.

Element logo

Best SimpleX Chat alternative for open source

Element

Self-hostable and federated, with richer community features.

Delta Chat logo

Best SimpleX Chat alternative for self-hosting

Delta Chat

Decentralised and easy to onboard, using interoperable chatmail relays.

Session logo

Best SimpleX Chat alternative for Mac

Session

Also needs no phone number, with smoother multi-device support and onion routing.

Session logo

Best SimpleX Chat alternative for Windows

Session

Also needs no phone number, with smoother multi-device support and onion routing.

Session logo

Best SimpleX Chat alternative for Linux

Session

Also needs no phone number, with smoother multi-device support and onion routing.

Session logo

Best SimpleX Chat alternative for iPhone and Android

Session

Also needs no phone number, with smoother multi-device support and onion routing.

Element logo

Best SimpleX Chat alternative for working in the browser

Element

Self-hostable and federated, with richer community features.

SimpleX Chat alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to SimpleX Chat?

Session ranks first right now. Also needs no phone number, with smoother multi-device support and onion routing. Signal and Element follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to SimpleX Chat?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to SimpleX Chat?

Yes: Session, Signal, Element and Briar, plus 1 more in the list above. Element and Delta Chat can also be self-hosted.

Which SimpleX Chat alternatives work on Linux?

Session, Signal, Element and Delta Chat run on Linux.

Why do people switch from SimpleX Chat?

The complaints we hear most: no contact discovery; you must share links; multi-device use and phone migration are awkward; large groups can be slow.

How is this list ranked?

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