Best Telegram Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 tools from secure messaging apps ranked against Telegram on the same published basis.
- 1Telegram vs Olvid
- 2Telegram vs Wire
- 4Telegram vs Threema
- 5Telegram vs Viber
- 6Telegram vs Crypho
- 7Telegram vs SimpleX Chat
- 8Telegram vs Delta Chat
- 9Telegram vs Signal
- 10Telegram vs Element
- 11Telegram vs Cinny
- 12Telegram vs TigerConnect Secure Text Messaging
- 13Telegram vs Keybase
- 14Telegram vs SchildiChat
- 15Telegram vs Zangi
- 16Telegram vs Jami
- 17Telegram vs Status
- 18Telegram vs WowApp
- 19Telegram vs Keet
- 20Telegram vs Briar
- 21Telegram vs Cwtch
Telegram alternatives compared
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olvid | 8.1 | Free plan | €82.50/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 2 | Wire | 8.0 | Free plan | €7.45/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 4 | Threema | 7.7 | No | $3/mo | Android, API, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 5 | Viber | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 6 | Crypho | 7.6 | Free plan | €379/mo | Android, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 7 | SimpleX Chat | 7.6 | Free plan | Free | Android, API, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows |
| 8 | Delta Chat | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows |
| 9 | Signal | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 10 | Element | 7.3 | No | — | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 11 | Cinny | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 12 | TigerConnect Secure Text Messaging | 7.2 | No | — | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 13 | Keybase | 7.1 | No | — | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 14 | SchildiChat | 7.0 | No | — | Android, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 15 | Zangi | 6.9 | Free plan | $5/mo | Android, iOS |
| 16 | Jami | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Android, API, Browser, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 17 | Status | 6.3 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
| 18 | WowApp | 6.3 | No | — | Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| 19 | Keet | 6.1 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
| 20 | Briar | 6.0 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android |
| 21 | Cwtch | 6.0 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android |
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Questions about Telegram alternatives
What is the best alternative to Telegram?
Olvid, number 1 in secure messaging apps with a score of 8.1 out of 10. The others here: Wire, Threema, Viber and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to Telegram?
Olvid is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 10 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.