Alternatives to Session
An encrypted messenger with no phone number and no account, routed through an onion network. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Session
An encrypted messenger with no phone number and no account, routed through an onion network.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Session.
SimpleX Chat
A messenger with no user identifiers at all, not even a random one, so there is no account to correlate.
SimpleX Chat drops even the random account ID Session uses, lets you choose or self-host relay servers, and requires exchanging a link or QR code.
Signal
An end-to-end encrypted messenger for calls and chats on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux, run by a nonprofit.
Signal has a much larger contact base and nonprofit backing, but it requires a phone number to register and its desktop app needs a phone first.
Threema
Swiss encrypted messenger that works without a phone number or email.
Threema also uses a random ID without phone number or email, but it is a Swiss company product requiring a one-time purchase per platform.
Cwtch
Metadata-resistant messaging over Tor with no central servers.
Cwtch routes messages over Tor with no central servers and no account, but delivery is slow, both parties must be online, and there is no iOS app.
Briar
Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Tor.
Briar messages peer to peer over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Tor without internet, but it runs only on Linux and Android and is in maintenance mode.
Jami
A fully peer-to-peer communication platform with no servers relaying your data and no personal information needed to sign up.
Jami is fully peer to peer with calls and video conferences included, needs no phone number, but is listed only for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Wire
End-to-end encrypted messaging, calls and file sharing for organisations.
Wire provides encrypted messaging and calls with a self-hostable server, but requires an account tied to an email address or phone number.
Delta Chat
A messenger that sends over email, so anyone with an address can be reached without installing it.
Delta Chat sends messages over email with Autocrypt encryption, reaching people without the app, but email metadata stays visible to mail servers.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Session as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Berty
An open-source peer-to-peer messenger that works without central servers and can operate offline.
Session routes messages through an onion network with distributed service nodes, needs no phone number, and runs on desktop as well as Android and iOS.
Keet
A peer-to-peer chat app for encrypted messages, audio and video calls, and file transfers.
Session is open source, needs no phone number, and routes messages through an onion network and service nodes instead of direct peer connections.
Keybase
An end-to-end encrypted messaging and file-sharing app for individuals, teams, families and groups.
Session is an open-source messenger with random IDs and onion routing, avoiding linked public identities, but losing your recovery phrase means losing the account.
Molly
A security-hardened fork of Signal for Android with an encrypted local database and Tor support.
Session drops the phone number requirement and uses onion routing, but cannot talk to Signal contacts.
Olvid
An end-to-end encrypted messenger that works without a phone number, email address or other personal data.
Session needs no phone number and routes messages through an onion network, with open-source clients, though losing the recovery phrase means losing the account.
qTox
A desktop client for the encrypted peer-to-peer Tox protocol with chat, calls and file transfer.
Session routes encrypted messages through an onion network with distributed storage and mobile apps, but it does not list calls.
Quiet
A peer-to-peer team chat app that syncs messages between members' devices over Tor, with no server.
Session routes messages through an onion network with distributed service nodes, adding an iOS client and one-to-one messaging.
Ricochet Refresh
An anonymous peer-to-peer instant messenger that connects contacts directly over Tor onion services.
Session uses onion routing and distributed service nodes so contacts need not be online together, with mobile clients available.
Status
A decentralised private messenger combined with a self-custodial crypto wallet and web3 browser.
Session drops the crypto wallet and web3 browser and offers onion-routed messaging with a random ID, though its network is tied to Oxen cryptocurrency infrastructure.
Telegram Desktop
The official Telegram client for the desktop, with open source code and chats that are not end-to-end encrypted.
Session is end-to-end encrypted with onion routing and needs no phone number, but offers no contact discovery and slower delivery.
Viber
A messaging and calling app with group chats, stickers and public communities, synced across devices.
Session drops the phone number in favour of a random ID, routes messages through an onion network and is open source, though delivery can be slower.
WhatsApp
An end-to-end encrypted messaging and calling app for phones, desktop computers and the web.
Session drops the phone number for a random ID and routes messages through an onion network, though delivery is slower and contacts must exchange IDs.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
