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Alternatives

Telegram alternatives for private chats, groups and communities

Six Telegram alternatives judged on encryption, group size and phone-number rules: Signal, WhatsApp, Threema, Element, Discord and Asyncbit, and when each fits.

By the Asyncbit teamReviewed 7 min read

Most people looking for a Telegram alternative want more privacy, and for them Signal is the clearest choice: every chat, including group chats, is end-to-end encrypted by default, which Telegram only offers in one-to-one secret chats. WhatsApp also encrypts personal chats by default and is the easiest switch if your contacts already use it. Threema and Element suit people who want no phone number or an open network.

If you're leaving for a different reason, because you want a community space rather than a messenger, Discord handles big groups with voice, and Asyncbit pairs group chats and calls with a social feed and clubs. Neither is a privacy upgrade on Telegram's secret chats; both are covered honestly below.

What people look for in a Telegram alternative

End-to-end encryption by default

Telegram's regular chats use client-server encryption and are stored in its cloud. Only secret chats, which are one-to-one and tied to the device they started on, are end-to-end encrypted, and group chats never are.

What the service can hand over

Telegram's privacy policy says it may disclose a user's IP address and phone number to authorities when a valid court order confirms that user is a suspect in a criminal case. Some people would rather use a service that holds less about them to begin with.

Quieter spaces

Big public groups and channels are easy to join and easy to spam. People who mainly talk with friends often want something smaller.

Not sharing a phone number

Telegram needs a phone number to sign up. Some people want an app that works without one.

A community, not just a chat

Channels broadcast well, but some groups want topic channels, voice rooms or a feed where posts don't vanish into the scrollback.

The alternatives

1.Signal

Official site

Best for: The straightforward privacy upgrade from Telegram

Signal encrypts every conversation end to end by default with the open-source Signal Protocol, including group chats, so there is no separate secret-chat mode to remember. It is run by an independent non-profit. You register with a phone number but can hide it and share a username instead. What you give up is Telegram's scale and extras: there are no broadcast channels or bot platform.

Strengths

  • Every chat end-to-end encrypted by default
  • Independent non-profit
  • Share a username instead of your number
  • Apps for phones and desktop

Trade-offs

  • No channels or bot platform like Telegram's
  • Still needs a phone number to register

2.WhatsApp

Official site

Best for: The easiest switch if your contacts already use it

WhatsApp encrypts personal messages, calls, photos and videos end to end by default, so it is more private than Telegram's regular chats out of the box. It also has groups and channels. The trade-offs are ownership and ads: WhatsApp is part of Meta, and it now shows ads in Status, though Meta says personal messages, calls and groups aren't used to decide which ads you see.

Strengths

  • End-to-end encryption by default for personal chats and calls
  • Groups and channels
  • Many of your contacts probably use it already

Trade-offs

  • Part of Meta
  • Ads in Status, in the Updates tab
  • Needs a phone number

3.Threema

Official site

Best for: Private messaging without a phone number

Threema suits Telegram users who don't want to hand over a phone number. You sign up with a random Threema ID and no phone number or email, and messages, calls and files are end-to-end encrypted. The apps are open source, the company and its servers are Swiss, and Threema Private is a one-time purchase with no subscription. It is a private messenger for people you know, not a place for big public channels.

Strengths

  • No phone number or email required
  • End-to-end encryption with open-source apps
  • One-time purchase

Trade-offs

  • Paid, which slows down getting friends to join
  • Your purchase doesn't carry over between Android and iPhone

4.Element

Official site

Best for: Encrypted groups on an open network you can host

Element, built on the Matrix open standard, is the choice if you liked using Telegram across phone and computer but want encryption by default. Rooms and Spaces handle groups of different sizes, conversations are end-to-end encrypted by default, and anyone can run a Matrix server, so a community can host its own. It also does voice and video calls. Expect more setup than Telegram.

Strengths

  • End-to-end encryption by default
  • Spaces for organizing many rooms
  • Self-hostable, with no single company in control

Trade-offs

  • More setup, including keeping a recovery key safe
  • Fewer casual users than Telegram, so friends may need persuading

5.Discord

Official site

Best for: Big community groups that want channels and voice

If your Telegram use is mostly one big community group, Discord may suit it better than another messenger. A Discord server splits conversation into text channels, adds voice channels you can drop into, and gives moderators roles and permissions. Voice and video are end-to-end encrypted, but text messages are not, which Discord says lets its safety systems work. It is a community tool, not a private messenger.

Strengths

  • Channels, voice rooms and moderator roles
  • Voice and video end-to-end encrypted
  • Apps on desktop, phones and consoles

Trade-offs

  • Text messages are not end-to-end encrypted
  • Teen-by-default settings mean some adults may be asked to confirm their age

6.Asyncbit

Best for: Group chat and calls inside a social network

Asyncbit is for people who want group chat and calls inside a social network rather than a standalone messenger. Group chats hold 3 to 50 people, calls take up to 8, and a feed, Q&A and interest clubs sit around them. It is not a privacy upgrade: messages are encrypted at rest, not end to end, and there are no broadcast channels or large public groups.

Strengths

  • Chat and calls plus a feed, Q&A and clubs
  • Email or Google sign-up; no phone number
  • Calls relay through TURN on restrictive networks
  • Free, with no ads

Trade-offs

  • Not end-to-end encrypted
  • Group chats top out at 50; no broadcast channels
  • No iOS app, and 1:1 chats need a mutual follow

How the options compare with Telegram

Telegram and its alternatives compared on group encryption, group features and sign-up
Telegram (for reference)
Group chats end-to-end encrypted:No; secret chats are one-to-one only
Groups and broadcasting:Groups up to 200,000; channels
Sign-up needs:Phone number
Signal
Group chats end-to-end encrypted:Yes, by default
Groups and broadcasting:Groups; no channels
Sign-up needs:Phone number, can be hidden
WhatsApp
Group chats end-to-end encrypted:Yes, by default
Groups and broadcasting:Groups and channels
Sign-up needs:Phone number
Threema
Group chats end-to-end encrypted:Yes
Groups and broadcasting:Groups
Sign-up needs:Nothing: random ID
Element
Group chats end-to-end encrypted:Yes, by default
Groups and broadcasting:Rooms and Spaces
Sign-up needs:A Matrix account
Discord
Group chats end-to-end encrypted:Text no; voice and video yes
Groups and broadcasting:Servers with channels
Sign-up needs:A Discord account
Asyncbit
Group chats end-to-end encrypted:No; encrypted at rest
Groups and broadcasting:Group chats of 3–50
Sign-up needs:Email or Google
  • You want privacy with the least effort: Signal.
  • Your contacts won't move: WhatsApp is still end-to-end encrypted by default.
  • You don't want to give any phone number: Threema.
  • Your community wants to host its own server: Element.
  • You run a big group that needs voice and channels: Discord.
  • You want chats inside a social feed with clubs: Asyncbit, knowing it isn't end-to-end encrypted. The guide to end-to-end encryption versus encryption at rest explains what that means in practice.

Moving a Telegram group or channel

  1. 1

    Decide whether you need a messenger or a community

    A friends' group moves well to Signal or WhatsApp. A large public group with topics and regulars is usually happier on a community tool.

  2. 2

    Pin the new link and a date

    Pin the invite link in the old group and give a date when you'll stop posting there. Repeat it a few times; people skim.

  3. 3

    Save what you need

    Keep copies of pinned rules, files and anything members refer back to. Chat history doesn't carry across to a different app.

  4. 4

    Set norms in the new space early

    A fresh start is the best moment for clear rules. Our guides to keeping a group chat useful and moderating an online community cover what to set up first.

Frequently asked questions

Is Telegram end-to-end encrypted?
Only secret chats, which are one-to-one and stay on the device where they started. Regular chats and all group chats use client-server encryption and are stored in Telegram's cloud. Voice and video calls are end-to-end encrypted.
What is the most private alternative to Telegram?
For most people, Signal. Every chat, including groups, is end-to-end encrypted by default, and it is run by a non-profit. Threema is the pick if you don't want to give a phone number at all.
Is there a Telegram alternative with channels?
WhatsApp has channels for one-way broadcasts to followers. Discord servers can also use read-only channels for announcements, alongside chat and voice.
Does Asyncbit need a phone number?
No. You sign up with an email address and password or with Google. That doesn't make it more private than Telegram, though: Asyncbit messages are encrypted at rest, not end to end.

Sources

Details about other platforms were checked against their official documentation on . Products change; if something here is out of date, tell us at support@asyncbit.in.

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