Alternatives to Telegram Desktop
The official Telegram client for the desktop, with open source code and chats that are not end-to-end encrypted. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Telegram Desktop
The official Telegram client for the desktop, with open source code and chats that are not end-to-end encrypted.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Telegram Desktop.
Signal
An end-to-end encrypted messenger for calls and chats on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux, run by a nonprofit.
Signal encrypts every message and call end to end and is run by a nonprofit, but lacks Telegram's channels, bots and very large groups.
Element
The reference Matrix client: end-to-end encrypted chat on a network you can host yourself.
Element brings end-to-end encryption and self-hosting on federated Matrix with bridges to other networks, though it is heavier and requires choosing a homeserver.
Threema
Swiss encrypted messenger that works without a phone number or email.
Threema is end-to-end encrypted and needs no phone number, but is paid per platform and has a smaller user base than Telegram.
Wire
End-to-end encrypted messaging, calls and file sharing for organisations.
Wire encrypts messages and calls end to end and can be self-hosted, with a focus on organisations and a limited free personal tier.
Session
An encrypted messenger with no phone number and no account, routed through an onion network.
Session is end-to-end encrypted with onion routing and needs no phone number, but offers no contact discovery and slower delivery.
SimpleX Chat
A messenger with no user identifiers at all, not even a random one, so there is no account to correlate.
SimpleX Chat encrypts all conversations and uses no user identifiers, but contacts are added by link or QR code rather than phone number.
Stoat
An open-source group chat app with servers, channels, voice chat and role-based moderation for communities.
Stoat offers servers, channels and voice chat for communities with open source code and no ads, but has a smaller user base.
WeChat
Tencent's messaging app with chats, voice and video calls, Moments and mobile payments.
WeChat is a closed-source Tencent app with chat, calls, social feed and payments, mainly useful for contacts and businesses in China.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Telegram Desktop as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
LINE
A popular messaging app with free text messages, voice and video calls, and stickers.
Telegram has open-source clients across desktop, mobile and web with large groups and bots, but ordinary chats are not end-to-end encrypted.
Messenger
Meta's messaging and video calling service for chatting with Facebook friends and family.
Telegram offers open-source clients on desktop, mobile and web with cloud sync and large groups, though ordinary chats are not end-to-end encrypted.
Snapchat
A messaging app built around photo and video Snaps, chat, Stories and camera Lenses.
Telegram Desktop offers open source clients with cloud chats synced across devices, large groups and channels, but ordinary chats are not end-to-end encrypted and a phone number is required.
Telegram X
An official alternative Telegram client for Android built on TDLib, with a faster, gesture-driven interface.
Telegram Desktop is the main official client, covering desktop, mobile and web instead of Android only, with cloud chats synced everywhere but no secret chats on desktop.
Unigram
A native Telegram client for Windows, distributed through the Microsoft Store and GitHub.
Telegram Desktop is the official GPL-3.0 client with builds for Windows, macOS and Linux, trading Unigram's Windows-native interface for a cross-platform one.
Viber
A messaging and calling app with group chats, stickers and public communities, synced across devices.
Telegram offers very large groups, channels and bots with cloud sync across devices, but ordinary chats are not end-to-end encrypted and a phone number is required.
WhatsApp
An end-to-end encrypted messaging and calling app for phones, desktop computers and the web.
Telegram offers open source clients, cloud sync, large groups and bots, but ordinary chats are not end-to-end encrypted and the server is closed source.
Zalo
A Vietnamese messaging and calling app for phones and desktop computers, used by tens of millions.
Telegram Desktop brings open source clients and cloud sync across devices, but ordinary chats are not end-to-end encrypted and a phone number is required.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Delta Chat
A messenger that sends over email, so anyone with an address can be reached without installing it.
Caprine
Unofficial desktop app for Facebook Messenger.
Ferdium
Combines your messaging and web services into one window with workspaces, as a community fork of Franz with the restrictions removed.
Molly
A security-hardened fork of Signal for Android with an encrypted local database and Tor support.
Beeper
A unified chat app that brings WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Discord and other networks into one inbox.
Discord
A voice, video and text chat app for communities and friends, organised into servers and channels.
