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WhatsApp alternatives, judged on privacy first

Six WhatsApp alternatives compared on encryption, phone-number rules and ownership: Signal, Threema, Element, Telegram, Viber and Asyncbit, with trade-offs.

By the Asyncbit teamReviewed 7 min read

If privacy is why you're leaving WhatsApp, Signal is the default answer: it is end-to-end encrypted by default, run by a non-profit and free. Threema goes further by not needing a phone number at all, for a one-time price. Element suits people who want encrypted chat on an open network they could host themselves.

Be clear about what you're giving up, though. WhatsApp already encrypts personal messages and calls end to end, so some popular alternatives are less private, not more. Telegram's regular chats are not end-to-end encrypted, and neither is Asyncbit. Asyncbit is on this list for a different reason, for people who want chat and calls alongside a social feed and communities, and it is not the privacy pick.

What people look for in a WhatsApp alternative

Meta ownership

WhatsApp is part of Meta. Personal messages are end-to-end encrypted, but some people would rather not use a Meta app at all, or want a service with a different business model.

Ads in the Updates tab

WhatsApp now shows ads in Status and promoted channels in its Updates tab, using signals such as your country, language and the channels you follow. Meta says personal messages, calls and groups are not used to decide which ads you see. For some that line is fine; for others it's the moment to switch.

Not handing out a phone number

WhatsApp accounts are tied to a phone number. People who don't want to share theirs, for selling things or joining community groups, look for apps that use usernames or random IDs.

Open source and independence

Some people want to be able to check the code, or want a non-profit or independent company behind their messenger rather than one of the largest tech firms.

More than chat

WhatsApp is built for talking to people you already know. Some people want their group chats to sit alongside a feed, discovery or interest communities.

The alternatives

1.Signal

Official site

Best for: Most people who want private messaging that just works

Signal is the easiest privacy upgrade from WhatsApp. Conversations are end-to-end encrypted by default using the open-source Signal Protocol, and Signal is run by an independent non-profit that says it can never be acquired by a big tech company. You still register with a phone number, but you can hide it and let people reach you through a changeable username. Apps cover Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Mac and Linux.

Strengths

  • End-to-end encrypted by default
  • Independent non-profit
  • Hide your number and share a username instead
  • Apps for every major platform

Trade-offs

  • Still needs a phone number to register
  • No channels or business accounts like WhatsApp's
  • Your contacts have to switch too

2.Threema

Official site

Best for: Messaging with no phone number or email at all

Threema is a Swiss messenger that lets you sign up without a phone number or email address; you get a random Threema ID instead. Messages, calls and files are end-to-end encrypted, the apps are open source with reproducible builds, and its servers are in Switzerland. Threema Private is a one-time purchase with no recurring fees and no paid extras.

Strengths

  • No phone number or email required
  • End-to-end encryption with open-source apps
  • One-time purchase, no subscription
  • Swiss company with servers in Switzerland

Trade-offs

  • Costs money, which makes it harder to get friends to join
  • Your purchase doesn't transfer if you switch between Android and iPhone

3.Element

Official site

Best for: Encrypted chat on an open network you can host yourself

Element is a messenger built on Matrix, an open, decentralized standard where anyone can run a server. Conversations are end-to-end encrypted by default, and it handles one-to-one and group voice and video calls. Because Matrix servers connect to each other, you can talk to people on other servers, much like email. It suits privacy-minded groups, families that want to host their own server, and organizations.

Strengths

  • End-to-end encryption by default
  • Open standard with self-hosting
  • No single company controls the network

Trade-offs

  • More setup than WhatsApp, including keeping a recovery key safe
  • Harder to persuade non-technical friends to join

4.Telegram

Official site

Best for: Big groups, channels and cloud sync, not maximum privacy

Telegram is feature-rich: groups of up to 200,000 members, broadcast channels with unlimited subscribers, bots, and chats that sync across all your devices. The trade-off is privacy. Regular chats use client-server encryption and are stored in Telegram's cloud; only one-to-one secret chats are end-to-end encrypted, and group chats never are. Voice and video calls, including group calls, are end-to-end encrypted.

Strengths

  • Very large groups and broadcast channels
  • Chats sync across phones and computers
  • Bots and a large feature set
  • End-to-end encrypted calls

Trade-offs

  • Regular and group chats are not end-to-end encrypted
  • Secret chats are one-to-one and stay on the device they started on
  • Needs a phone number to sign up

5.Viber

Official site

Best for: Free calls and chats where your contacts already use it

Viber, owned by Rakuten, covers the same basics as WhatsApp: free messages and calls that sync between mobile and desktop. Viber says personal one-to-one and group chats, and one-to-one calls, are end-to-end encrypted by default. It also has Communities for large topic-based groups. It is a practical switch if your contacts are already there, but on privacy it is a sideways move rather than an upgrade.

Strengths

  • End-to-end encryption for personal chats by default
  • Free calls, plus Communities for large groups
  • Syncs across mobile and desktop

Trade-offs

  • Not a privacy upgrade over WhatsApp
  • Needs a phone number to sign up

6.Asyncbit

Best for: Chat and calls alongside a social feed, not a privacy upgrade

Asyncbit is a social network with messaging built in, not a private messenger. It has 1:1 chats with people you mutually follow, group chats of 3 to 50, voice messages and group calls of up to 8. Messages are encrypted at rest on its servers but not end to end, so it is less private than WhatsApp. Pick it if you want a feed, clubs and Q&A around your chats.

Strengths

  • Chats, calls, feed and communities in one app
  • Sign up with email or Google; no phone number
  • Push notification previews stay generic
  • Free, with no ads

Trade-offs

  • Not end-to-end encrypted: a step down from WhatsApp on privacy
  • 1:1 chats need a mutual follow
  • No iOS app: web browser and Android only

Encryption and sign-up at a glance

WhatsApp and its alternatives compared on default encryption, sign-up and cost
WhatsApp (for reference)
End-to-end encrypted by default:Personal messages and calls
Sign-up needs:Phone number
Cost:Free
Signal
End-to-end encrypted by default:Yes
Sign-up needs:Phone number, which you can hide behind a username
Cost:Free
Threema
End-to-end encrypted by default:Yes
Sign-up needs:Nothing: you get a random ID
Cost:One-time purchase
Element
End-to-end encrypted by default:Yes
Sign-up needs:An account on a Matrix server
Cost:Free app; paid plans for organizations
Telegram
End-to-end encrypted by default:Calls and one-to-one secret chats only
Sign-up needs:Phone number
Cost:Free
Viber
End-to-end encrypted by default:Personal chats and one-to-one calls
Sign-up needs:Phone number
Cost:Free
Asyncbit
End-to-end encrypted by default:No; encrypted at rest on the server
Sign-up needs:Email or Google
Cost:Free

How to switch without losing everyone

  1. 1

    Start with your closest circle

    Move the two or three chats you use most, such as family or a close friend group. Once those live somewhere else, the app becomes a habit.

  2. 2

    Move one group at a time

    Post the new group's invite link in the old one and set a date after which you'll stop replying there. Our guide on keeping a group chat useful helps the new one start well.

  3. 3

    Save anything you need first

    Before you leave, save the photos, documents and messages you care about. Chat history usually doesn't move between different apps.

  4. 4

    Keep WhatsApp for stragglers, or don't

    Many people keep WhatsApp for the few contacts who won't move. That's fine; what matters is that your main conversations are where you want them.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most private alternative to WhatsApp?
For most people, Signal: it is end-to-end encrypted by default, open source and run by a non-profit. If you also want to avoid giving a phone number, Threema needs neither a phone number nor an email address.
Is Telegram more private than WhatsApp?
Not by default. WhatsApp encrypts personal messages end to end, while Telegram's regular and group chats use client-server encryption. Only Telegram's one-to-one secret chats are end-to-end encrypted.
Is there a WhatsApp alternative that doesn't need a phone number?
Threema needs no phone number or email. Element accounts live on a Matrix server rather than being tied to a number. Asyncbit uses email or Google sign-in, but it is not end-to-end encrypted.
Is Asyncbit end-to-end encrypted?
No. Messages are encrypted at rest on Asyncbit's servers, which protects stored data, but the service can decrypt them to deliver them. If end-to-end encryption is your priority, use Signal, Threema or Element.

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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