Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to SimpleX Chat

The most private & secure chat - double ratchet encryption!

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. SimpleX Chat launched in 2022; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Telegram Desktop 1.0▲234

   Fast and secure desktop messaging app, now updated

   2017 · desktop.telegram.org · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Let's Chat▲323

   Like Slack, but opensource and self-hosted.

   2015 · sdelements.github.io · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Let's Chat, a self-hosted chat app for small teams▲350

   Self-hosted chat for small teams.

   2015 · sdelements.github.io · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Jan▲329

   Open-source ChatGPT alternative that runs 100% offline

   2024 · jan.ai · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Keybase for Chrome▲174

   A secure chat button for every profile

   2017 · book.keybase.io · its alternatives →

6. 6
   ChatX▲121

   A powerful ChatGPT client for iOS/macOS (GPT3.5 & GPT-4)

   2023 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   SimpleX Chat v1 released – the most private chat/application platform▲8

   SimpleX - the first messaging network operating without user identifiers of any kind - 100% private by design! iOS, Android and desktop apps 📱! - simplex-chat/blog/20220112-simplex-chat-v1-released.md at master · simplex-chat/simplex-chat

   2022 · github.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Chat by X▲129

   DMs on X are now just "Chat"

   Nov 2025 · x.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   XChat▲175

   The standalone, encrypted messaging app from X

   Apr 2026 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

10. 10
    CapeChat▲248

    Keep sensitive data private while still using ChatGPT

    2023 · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Tor Messenger▲117

    The easiest app yet for anonymous, encrypted IM

    2015 · blog.torproject.org · its alternatives →

12. 12
    04-x▲91

    End-to-end encrypted chat UI for LLMs

    2023 · 04-x.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Chatex▲79

    The simple service for everyday use of cryptocurrencies

    2019 · chatex.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Re:plain▲95

    The simplest live chat in the world

    2018 · replain.cc · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Chot.xyz▲71

    Privacy focused chat that doesn't store your messages

    2019 · chot.xyz · its alternatives →

16. 16
    ChatSecure iOS v4.0 – OMEMO and Signal Protocol▲107

    Free and open source encrypted chat for iOS.

    2017 · chatsecure.org · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Tunnel X▲55

    A tool for secure and private conversations.

    2014 · tunnelx.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Tex▲101

    Chat Safe with your Friends

    2016 · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Push Chat▲113

    Your decentralized, uncensorable & web3-native chat solution

    2023 · app.push.org · its alternatives →

20. 20
    StealthChat - Private Messaging▲66

    Encrypted calls and chats

    2017 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Keychat▲108

    Start a free secure chat with anyone without signing up

    2020 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    safer.chat▲61

    Group end-to-end encrypted chat that respects your privacy

    2019 · safer.chat · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Brie.fi/ng▲93

    Secure group video chat

    2020 · brie.fi · its alternatives →

24. 24
    ADAMANT Messenger▲79

    Decentralized anonymous blockchain messenger. Crypto In-Chat

    2020 · adamant.im · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →