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Threema alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Threema: costs money, which deters friends from joining, and much smaller network than WhatsApp or Signal. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Threema, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Signal currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Signal logoSignalFreeYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 566.5
2Session logoSessionFree plan + paidYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 562.6
3Wire logoWireFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 557.2
4SimpleX Chat logoSimpleX ChatOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 455.3
  1. Signal logo

    1. SignalTop pick

    Best for: Anyone who wants the strongest mainstream privacy without giving up a familiar chat app

    FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Threema

    Free, with similar end-to-end encryption 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 ×0.3100
    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 Signal a good Threema 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)
  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

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Threema

    Also anonymous with no phone number, free, and routes messages through an onion network.

    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 ×0.387
    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 Session a good Threema 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. Wire logo

    3. 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 Threema

    Another European encrypted messenger, with a free tier for personal and small-team use.

    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 Threema 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)
  4. SimpleX Chat logo

    4. 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 Threema

    Free and open source, with no user IDs at all rather than a random ID.

    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 Threema 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)

The best Threema alternative for…

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

Signal logo

Best Threema alternative for most people

Signal

Free, with similar end-to-end encryption and a larger network, though it needs a phone number.

SimpleX Chat logo

Best Threema alternative for a free option

SimpleX Chat

Free and open source, with no user IDs at all rather than a random ID.

Session logo

Best Threema alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Session

Also anonymous with no phone number, free, and routes messages through an onion network.

Olvid logo

Best Threema alternative for open source

Olvid

A French no-phone-number messenger with a free tier and strong cryptographic design.

Wire logo

Best Threema alternative for self-hosting

Wire

Another European encrypted messenger, with a free tier for personal and small-team use.

Signal logo

Best Threema alternative for Mac

Signal

Free, with similar end-to-end encryption and a larger network, though it needs a phone number.

Signal logo

Best Threema alternative for Windows

Signal

Free, with similar end-to-end encryption and a larger network, though it needs a phone number.

Signal logo

Best Threema alternative for Linux

Signal

Free, with similar end-to-end encryption and a larger network, though it needs a phone number.

Signal logo

Best Threema alternative for iPhone and Android

Signal

Free, with similar end-to-end encryption and a larger network, though it needs a phone number.

Wire logo

Best Threema alternative for working in the browser

Wire

Another European encrypted messenger, with a free tier for personal and small-team use.

Threema alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Threema?

Signal ranks first right now. Free, with similar end-to-end encryption and a larger network, though it needs a phone number. Session and Olvid follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Threema?

Yes. Signal (free), Session (free plan + paid), Olvid (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 Threema?

Yes: Signal, Session, Olvid and Wire, plus 1 more in the list above. Wire and SimpleX Chat can also be self-hosted.

Which Threema alternatives work on Linux?

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

Why do people switch from Threema?

The complaints we hear most: costs money, which deters friends from joining; much smaller network than WhatsApp or Signal; desktop app depends on the phone app.

How is this list ranked?

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