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Status alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Status: wallet features add complexity for chat-only users, and small user base outside crypto circles. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Status, 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
1Telegram logoTelegramFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 559.6
  1. Telegram logo

    1. TelegramTop pick

    Best for: Communities, channel followers and power users who want every chat synced on every device

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Status

    Large communities and built-in crypto wallet features on a mainstream app.

    Pros

    • Instant sync across phone, desktop and web without the phone online
    • Very large groups and broadcast channels
    • Open bot platform and open-source client apps

    Cons

    • Regular chats are not end-to-end encrypted
    • Secret Chats are one-to-one and tied to a single device
    • Public groups attract spam and scams
    Visit Telegram 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 Telegram a good Status alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Price
    Free, with optional Premium
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Group size
    Up to 200,000 members
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Secret Chats and calls only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
    File size limit
    2 GB (4 GB with Premium)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Client apps, reproducible builds
    Checked Oct 25, 2026telegram.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Status alternative for…

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

Session logo

Best Status alternative for most people

Session

Also needs no phone number, with onion routing and a simpler chat-only app.

SimpleX Chat logo

Best Status alternative for a free option

SimpleX Chat

Chat-only privacy without crypto features or tokens.

Telegram logo

Best Status alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Telegram

Large communities and built-in crypto wallet features on a mainstream app.

Signal logo

Best Status alternative for open source

Signal

The simplest strong-privacy messenger if you don't need a wallet.

SimpleX Chat logo

Best Status alternative for self-hosting

SimpleX Chat

Chat-only privacy without crypto features or tokens.

Session logo

Best Status alternative for Mac

Session

Also needs no phone number, with onion routing and a simpler chat-only app.

Session logo

Best Status alternative for Windows

Session

Also needs no phone number, with onion routing and a simpler chat-only app.

Session logo

Best Status alternative for Linux

Session

Also needs no phone number, with onion routing and a simpler chat-only app.

Session logo

Best Status alternative for iPhone and Android

Session

Also needs no phone number, with onion routing and a simpler chat-only app.

Telegram logo

Best Status alternative for working in the browser

Telegram

Large communities and built-in crypto wallet features on a mainstream app.

Status alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Status?

Session ranks first right now. Also needs no phone number, with onion routing and a simpler chat-only app. SimpleX Chat and Telegram follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Status?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Status?

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

Which Status alternatives work on Linux?

Session, SimpleX Chat, Telegram and Signal run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Status?

The complaints we hear most: wallet features add complexity for chat-only users; small user base outside crypto circles; delivery can be slower than server-based apps.

How is this list ranked?

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