/Messaging-Apps-Comparision

A quick reference comparing different messaging apps and its features.

Messaging Apps Comparision

A quick reference comparing different messaging apps and their features. We're only listing protocols and their official implementation. For example, not multiprotocol messengers like Pidgin or Trillian which have many more variables to be taken into account.

Legend

❓ = not enough data, undisclosed, unknown
❌ = no, zero
⭕ = optional, incomplete, medium, limited
✔️ = yes, high, full

❤️ = AlternativeTo likes
E2EE = End-To-End Encrypted

Skype Hangouts Telegram WhatsApp Viber Tox Signal Fb Messenger LINE iMessage Threema Wire BBM Vector Peerio
❤️ 2128 813 637 431 246 214 155 130 76 34 30 22 20 17 2 ❤️
Country USA USA Russia USA Japan ❓ USA USA Japan USA Switzerland Switzerland Canada ❓ USA Country
Free (no cost) ⭕ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ⭕ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ⭕ ⭕ ❌ ✔️ ⭕ ✔️ Freemium Free (no cost)
Audio/video chat ✔️ ✔️ ⭕ Audio only ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Audio only ❌ ❌ ✔️ Audio only ✔️ ❌ Audio/video chat
Self-destructing messages ❌ ❌ ⭕ ❌ ✔️ ❌ ❌ ⭕ ⭕ ❌ ❌ ❌ ⭕ ❌ ❌ Self-destructing messages
Open source ❌ ❌ Client only ❌ ❌ ✔️ ✔️ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ✔️ ❌ ✔️ Client only Open source
E2EE chat ❌ ❌ ⭕ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ⭕ ⭕ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ❌ ✔️ ✔️ E2EE chat
Plausible deniability ❌ ❌ ⭕ ❌ ❌ ❓ ✔️ ❌ ❌ ❓ ✔️ ❓ ❌ ❓ ❓ Plausible deniability
Perfect forward secrecy ❌ ❌ ⭕ ⭕ ❌ ✔️ ✔️ ⭕ ❓ ❓ ✔️ ✔️ ❌ ❓ ✔️ Perfect Forward Secrecy
Cryptographic contact verification ❌ ❌ ⭕ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ⭕ ❓ ❓ ✔️ ✔️ ❌ ❓ ✔️ Cryptographic contact verification
E2EE audio/video ❌ ❌ ❌ Audio only ✔️ ✔️ Audio only ⭕ ❓ ❌ ❌ ✔️ ❌ ✔️ ❌ E2EE audio/video
Audited ❌ ❌ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ❌ ✔️ ❌ ⭕ ✔️ ✔️ ⭕ ❌ ❌ ✔️ Audited
Multi-device ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ⭕ ✔️ ⭕ ⭕ ✔️ ✔️ ⭕ ❌ ✔️ ❌ ✔️ ✔️ Cross-platform
Network model Centralised Centralised Centralised Centralised Centralised Peer-to-peer Centralised Centralised Centralised Centralised Centralised Centralised Centralised Federated Centralised Network model

Template:

Name               |
:----------------: |
Likes              |
Country            |
Pricing            |
AV chat            |
Self-destruct      |
Source             |
E2EE               |
Deniability        |
PFS                |
contact ID         |
E2EE AV            |
Audited            |
Cross-platform     |
NM                 |

Missing apps:

  • Conversations (XMPP client)
  • Google Allo
  • Cryptocat
  • Slack
  • HipChat
  • Wickr
  • Retroshare
  • TeamSpeak 3
  • Mumble
  • Richochet https://github.com/ricochet-im/ricochet
  • Bitmessage
  • I2P-Bote
  • Surespot
  • Bleep
  • Sicher
  • Kik
  • WeChat
  • Rocket chat
  • Riot (Matrix protocol)

TODO:

  • Threat level (suspicion? PRISM? criticisms?)
  • Does it require e-mail, phone number, real name, Google, Facebook account, etc?
  • Two Factor Auth
  • Stickers, GIFs
  • Bot API
  • Extra features (channels? customizable usernames?)
  • Privacy: Can you hide last seen?
  • E2EE files