Alternatives to Cwtch

Metadata-resistant messaging over Tor with no central servers. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Cwtch.

  • Briar

    Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Tor.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxAndroid

    Briar also avoids central servers and uses Tor, and adds Bluetooth and Wi-Fi messaging without internet, but runs only on Linux and Android and is in maintenance mode.

  • SimpleX Chat

    A messenger with no user identifiers at all, not even a random one, so there is no account to correlate.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSCommand line

    SimpleX Chat removes user identifiers entirely and adds iOS and a terminal client, using relay servers you can choose or self-host instead of Tor.

  • Session

    An encrypted messenger with no phone number and no account, routed through an onion network.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    Session needs no phone number, uses onion routing, and adds iOS, storing messages on distributed service nodes tied to the Oxen cryptocurrency project.

  • Jami

    A fully peer-to-peer communication platform with no servers relaying your data and no personal information needed to sign up.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Jami is peer to peer with no account details, adds calls and video conferencing, but lacks an Android build in this catalog and does not route through Tor.

  • Ricochet Refresh

    An anonymous peer-to-peer instant messenger that connects contacts directly over Tor onion services.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Ricochet Refresh also uses Tor onion services with no central server and hides IP addresses, but it is desktop only with no Android app.

  • Quiet

    A peer-to-peer team chat app that syncs messages between members' devices over Tor, with no server.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid

    Quiet is a Tor-based peer-to-peer team chat for desktop and Android, but it is unaudited beta software and lacks DMs.

  • Berty

    An open-source peer-to-peer messenger that works without central servers and can operate offline.

    FreeOpen sourceAndroidiOS

    Berty is an open-source serverless messenger for Android and iOS designed to work offline, though its developers say it is not ready for high-risk use.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Cwtch as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Chitchatter

    A peer-to-peer chat app in the browser that is serverless, decentralized and ephemeral.

    FreeProprietaryWeb

    Cwtch is an open-source messenger over Tor with no central servers and no account, designed to resist metadata collection, though delivery can be slow.

  • qTox

    A desktop client for the encrypted peer-to-peer Tox protocol with chat, calls and file transfer.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Cwtch is a metadata-resistant Tor messenger with an Android app, but delivery is slower and both parties must be online.

  • RetroShare

    A decentralized, encrypted friend-to-friend network for chat, mail, forums, channels and file sharing.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid

    Cwtch is a metadata-resistant Tor messenger with no central servers, focused on chat with a smaller feature set than RetroShare.

  • Sideband

    Messaging client for Reticulum networks over radio or IP.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxAndroid

    Cwtch sends metadata-resistant messages over Tor with no central servers, requiring internet access and both parties online instead of radio links.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.