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Karere vs WhatsApp: catalog facts
Karere	WhatsApp
Free Free and open source under the GPL version 3 or later.	Free Free to use for personal messaging and calls.
Linux	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web
Several WhatsApp accounts in isolated sessions Native GTK4 window instead of a browser tab	End-to-end encrypted messages and calls Available on phones, desktop and the web
Unofficial client that depends on WhatsApp Web Requires a WhatsApp account	Proprietary and tied to a phone number account Relies on a central service run by the developer
Downloadable app	Downloadable app, Web application
Open source	Closed source
License: GPL-3.0-or-later	License not stated
Account needed	Account needed
Needs internet	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.