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WhatsApp alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave WhatsApp: owned by Meta, which collects usage metadata, and requires a phone number to sign up. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces WhatsApp, 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
2Threema logoThreemaPaidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 457.2
3SimpleX 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 WhatsApp

    The same easy chat experience with end-to-end encryption, run by a nonprofit that collects almost no metadata.

    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 Compare with WhatsAppDetails 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 WhatsApp 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. Threema logo

    2. Threema

    Best for: Privacy-minded people who want an anonymous messenger and are happy to pay once

    PaidOpen sourceWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from WhatsApp

    Swiss, paid once, and usable without a phone number for people leaving over privacy concerns.

    Pros

    • No phone number or email needed
    • Open-source apps, independently audited
    • One-time price, no ads or data harvesting

    Cons

    • Costs money, which deters friends from joining
    • Much smaller network than WhatsApp or Signal
    • Desktop app depends on the phone app
    Visit Threema 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 Threema a good WhatsApp alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    One-time purchase (about 6 CHF/EUR/USD)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026threema.ch(opens source in a new tab)
    Phone number
    Not required
    Checked Oct 25, 2026threema.ch(opens source in a new tab)
    Country
    Switzerland
    Checked Oct 25, 2026threema.ch(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    AGPL-3.0 (Android app)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(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 WhatsApp

    No phone number or user ID at all, for those who want to cut ties with account-based messengers.

    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 WhatsApp 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 WhatsApp alternative for…

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

Signal logo

Best WhatsApp alternative for most people

Signal

The same easy chat experience with end-to-end encryption, run by a nonprofit that collects almost no metadata.

SimpleX Chat logo

Best WhatsApp alternative for a free option

SimpleX Chat

No phone number or user ID at all, for those who want to cut ties with account-based messengers.

Telegram logo

Best WhatsApp alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Telegram

Cloud-synced chats on every device, huge groups and public channels, without a phone-tethered setup.

Threema logo

Best WhatsApp alternative for open source

Threema

Swiss, paid once, and usable without a phone number for people leaving over privacy concerns.

SimpleX Chat logo

Best WhatsApp alternative for self-hosting

SimpleX Chat

No phone number or user ID at all, for those who want to cut ties with account-based messengers.

Viber logo

Best WhatsApp alternative for Mac

Viber

Another free, encrypted mass-market messenger with good desktop apps and cheap calls to landlines.

Signal logo

Best WhatsApp alternative for Windows

Signal

The same easy chat experience with end-to-end encryption, run by a nonprofit that collects almost no metadata.

Signal logo

Best WhatsApp alternative for Linux

Signal

The same easy chat experience with end-to-end encryption, run by a nonprofit that collects almost no metadata.

Facebook Messenger logo

Best WhatsApp alternative for iPhone and Android

Facebook Messenger

Meta's other messenger, useful if your contacts are mainly Facebook friends rather than phone contacts.

Telegram logo

Best WhatsApp alternative for working in the browser

Telegram

Cloud-synced chats on every device, huge groups and public channels, without a phone-tethered setup.

WhatsApp alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to WhatsApp?

Signal ranks first right now. The same easy chat experience with end-to-end encryption, run by a nonprofit that collects almost no metadata. Telegram and Viber follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to WhatsApp?

Yes. Signal (free), Telegram (free plan + paid), Viber (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 WhatsApp?

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

Which WhatsApp alternatives work on Linux?

Signal, Telegram, Viber, Threema and SimpleX Chat run on Linux.

Why do people switch from WhatsApp?

The complaints we hear most: owned by Meta, which collects usage metadata; requires a phone number to sign up; ads and Meta AI are creeping into the app.

How is this list ranked?

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