Conversations is an open-source messaging application designed for seamless communication. It focuses on providing a secure and private environment for users who prefer decentralized chat solutions. The application is built on the...
Delta Chat is a unique messaging application that aims to provide a secure and private communication experience. Unlike traditional messaging platforms, Delta Chat leverages existing email infrastructure, allowing users to send and...
Element.io is a prominent platform that provides secure and decentralized communication services, focusing on privacy and user control. With a robust set of features designed for both individual and enterprise use, Element...
ginlo Privat is a secure messaging app designed to prioritize users' privacy and data protection. Developed in Germany, it offers end-to-end encryption for user communications, ensuring that sensitive information remains confidential and...
monocles chat is an Android chat app for the open XMPP protocol, based on Conversations with features from blabber.im and Cheogram. It is free software under the GPL-3.0 and developed in the...
Olvid is a European digital privacy company offering a secure messaging application that prioritizes user confidentiality and data protection. The app enables private communication without compromising users' personal information.
SKRED is a decentralized communication platform focused on privacy and security, allowing users to connect and share information without the worry of unauthorized access or data leakage.
Snikket is a European-based messaging platform that focuses on privacy and decentralization. Designed to provide secure communication, Snikket utilizes the XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) standard, allowing users to chat, share...
Stoat is an open-source chat app for friends and communities, formerly known as Revolt. It is operated by Revolt Platforms Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales with its registered office...
TeleGuard is a European-based secure messaging platform designed to prioritize privacy and data protection for its users. With an emphasis on confidentiality, it provides a safe alternative to mainstream messaging applications.
Threema is a secure messaging application that places a strong emphasis on privacy and data protection. Developed in Switzerland, Threema enables users to communicate without compromising their personal information, making it a...
Twinme is a European messaging application designed with a focus on privacy and user control. It enables secure communication, allowing users to connect with friends, family, or colleagues without revealing sensitive personal...
Wire is a secure messaging platform designed for individuals and businesses seeking to enhance their communication privacy. With a strong emphasis on security and encryption, Wire offers a suite of features that...
The Open Source category highlights projects that, while originally developed in countries outside of Europe, allow anyone from around the world to contribute. These projects are not bound by geographic location—anyone, regardless of where they are based, can review, modify, and improve the code. The key factor is that the source code is available for anyone to examine, ensuring that the product can be independently verified and trusted, regardless of its origin. By featuring open-source projects, we promote transparency, collaboration, and innovation on a global scale.
Did we miss one? Feel free to submit a suggestion!
Submit SuggestionThe main European alternatives to WhatsApp are Threema (Switzerland), Element (UK), Wire, Olvid (France), Delta Chat and Snikket. All of them encrypt messages end to end and none needs a phone number to sign up. WhatsApp itself belongs to Meta in Menlo Park, California; in the EEA the service is provided by WhatsApp Ireland Limited, a Meta subsidiary. Threema comes closest to everyday WhatsApp use with groups, voice messages, calls and an optional contact sync, but it is a paid app. For every option the same catch applies: contacts have to install it too.
The table lists every messenger on this page with the facts that matter when leaving WhatsApp. Status: October 2026, checked against the providers' own websites, app stores and source code repositories.
| Name | Country | End-to-end encryption | Phone number required | Cost | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threema | Switzerland | Yes, by default | No (random Threema ID) | One-time purchase per platform | Yes (apps) |
| Element | UK | Yes, by default in private chats | No | Free for private use | Yes (apps and server) |
| Wire | Germany (operator in Switzerland) | Yes, by default | No (email or username) | Free personal account | Yes (apps and server) |
| Olvid | France | Yes, by default | No | Free basic plan, paid Premium | Yes (apps) |
| Delta Chat | Germany (community project) | Yes, by default | No | Free | Yes |
| Snikket | UK | Yes (OMEMO, private chats) | No (invite link) | App free, needs a server | Yes |
| Conversations | Germany | Yes (OMEMO) | No (XMPP account) | Free | Yes |
| ginlo | Germany | Yes | Optional | Free | Not documented |
| TeleGuard | Switzerland | Claimed, no independent audit found | No (TeleGuard ID) | Android free, iOS one-time | No source code found |
| Skred | France | Yes, peer to peer | No | Free | Yes (apps) |
| twinme | France | Yes, peer to peer | No | Free | Yes (apps) |
| monocles chat | Germany | OMEMO supported | No (XMPP account) | Free client | Yes |
No European messenger can read WhatsApp contacts directly. In practice the switch works in steps: install the new app next to WhatsApp, send invitation links or QR codes to the people you talk to most, and move one group at a time, starting with a family or club group. For a group, create it in the new app and post the invitation link in the old chat. WhatsApp can export single chats as a text file, which is useful for archiving, but chat histories generally do not move to another messenger.
Meta announced in November 2025 that WhatsApp users in Europe would be able to chat with selected third-party apps under the Digital Markets Act. The first named partners were BirdyChat and Haiket, none of the apps above, and Threema has publicly declined to take part. So cross-app messaging is no way to switch gradually.
WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook all belong to Meta; the pages for Instagram and Facebook list European alternatives for the other two.
Yes. Threema, Element, Wire, Olvid, Delta Chat and Snikket are developed by companies and projects based in Europe. The full list is in the messenger apps category.
Threema, Element, Wire, Olvid, Delta Chat, Snikket and Conversations all work without one. ginlo makes it optional.
No. Threema is a one-time purchase per platform. In October 2026 the Apple App Store listed it at 7.99 EUR in Germany, with prices varying by country. Element and Delta Chat are free.
Not today with the apps listed here. WhatsApp's announced interoperability in the EU covers only selected partners, and Threema has opted out.
No. Signal is operated by a non-profit organisation in the United States. It is therefore not listed as a European alternative.
