free (libre) messengers

- Reading time: 5 minutes -

"I have nothing to hide and no secrets from WhatsApp/Facebook/Google".

That is a fallacy, because:

"It's not about secrets, but about freedom, constitutional
security and self-determined decisions about one's own data."

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Overview

Quick Start

For hurried people who are looking for a free alternative to WhatsApp for Android and immediately want to use a free messenger system without delay:

Target	Technology	Short Info	Installation e. g. from
			(All links refer to EXTERNAL sources!)
Simple chatting with phone number (similar to WhatsApp)	with same-type chat servers	Requires a chat address/user ID (with phone number) on the chat-server “quicksy.im” (chat to other clients is possible)	Quicksy (F-Droid, PlayStore)
Simple chatting without phone number	with same-type chat servers	Requires a chat address/user ID (without personal data) on a chat-server (Several clients are available)	Conversations (F-Droid, PlayStore) blabber.im (F-Droid, PlayStore Yaxim (F-Droid, PlayStore - without E2EE)
broadest reachability	all e-mail servers	chatting based on e-mail addresses (yes, it works!) Limitation: without modern messenger features like online status	Delta Chat (F-Droid, PlayStore)
Sensitive special areas	without chat server (direct)	For journalists / activists with high security needs Restriction: Only texts	Briar (F-Droid, PlayStore)

More details about the differences can be found below via the Reading recommendations.
Why the Quick Start item is the way it is? For the “WhatsApp use case”, I consider the international standard XMPP more suitable overall than Matrix, which has the edge as a team messenger.
Cross-reference: System comparison XMPP/Matrix

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Reading Recommendations

The information compiled on these pages is very extensive. For a quick start, there are therefore target group-based reading recommendations. New visitors are also advised to read the “Why” section.

Target Group	Recommended Entry Pages
New to the topic or here by chance?	Basic What are Free Messengers? Why Free Messengers?
For holders of professional secrecy (including teachers).	Info for holders of professional secrecy Education providers Underestimated secret numbers
For private persons (including pupils)	Decision support Usage instructions for standardized chat (XMPP) Monitoring friends using WhatsApp App sources for Android
For companies, organizations, public administration, associations	Administration and authorities and organizations with security tasks Legal certainty Basis for decision Public groups Own chat server
Interested in the topic data protection and privacy?	Why Underestimated secret numbers Privacy and metadata Monitoring friends using WhatsApp Android permissions System comparison
In search of messenger information?	System comparison Messenger systems: Chat standard (XMPP) Matrix E-mail Briar external messenger overviews/comparisons
Active cooperation	Press relations / “Open WhatsApp Text templates Contact

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News / Latest Changes

Please:

If anyone finds outdated content or broken links, I would be very grateful for a short information.

31.03.2023

Important information: The german federal cartel office (“Bundeskartellamt”) has published the final report.

10.02.2023

Translations
- New: Term “API”
- New: Term “Flutter”
- New: Term “Netzwork structures”

02.02.2023

The structure and division in the page navigation has been completely revised. Messenger systems are now grouped by serverbased, server-supported and serverless!
Quick overview messenger systems
- Added: SimpleX, QQ and VooV
- NEW: Chinese translation (shorthand)
NEW: Info sheet (PDF) “Chat/Messenger in sensitive areas“ (and beyond)
Added: Section BundesMessenger
Added: SimpleX at “Server-based systems “
Section “LAN-Messenger”:
- NEW: English translation
- Added: qaul
Added: financing problems at matrix?
Added: Thoughts on Funding & Licensing at Matrix
Server list Empfehlenswerte Server supplemented by info/column “webchat”
NEW: explanation term “push notification“

Donations

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The last years:

2022: monthly: 5,- one-time donations: 24,- / 20,- / 20,-
2021: monthly: 5,- / Für Konterlobbyismus 5,- / Mannott 4,- one-time donations: 20,- / Vogelsang 5,- / 20,-
2020: monthly: 5,- / Für Konterlobbyismus 5,- one-time donations: 20,- / 20,- / 5,-
2019: monthly: 5,- one-time donations: Michael D. 20,- / 7,50

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This site lives on engagement and support - Thank you!

	Freie Messenger supports the open letter (exteral) of „publiccode“ (extern) and is listd as „Nationale NGO“ (non goverment organisation).
	Freie Messenger is a registered participant of Allianz für Cybersicherheit (external) This is an initiative of the German Federal Office for Information Security (external).