Messenger & Conferences

Messenger with encryption

2020-09-16

XMPP/Jabber

2020-09-16

The following apps support the XMPP protocol, originally known as Jabber. This is one of the oldest protocols in the instant-messaging world, but still very fresh and constantly being improved.

Quicksy (4.5@80) Ǥ 28 1 Github; Vorstellung 11/2018; fork of Conversations using your phone number as ID
Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) (4.4@1,876; ~EUR 2.25) Ǥ 28 1 / Conversations Legacy (4.1@152) 15 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2018-10-13 / Share Location Plugin (4.5@73) Ǥ 7 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2017-12-28 / Voice Recorder Plugin (4.2@58) 3 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-11-13 Github; XMPP/Jabber; PGP/OTR/OMEMO; Wikipedia DE | EN; Vorstellung & Schnelleinstieg 5/2016; Anleitung für Anfänger 7/2018; ausführliche Vorstellung 9/2020
Pix-Art Messenger (XMPP / Jabber Client) (4.2@199) Ǥ 31 1 Github; fork of Conversations
Xabber (4.1@12,123) Ǥ 11 4 Github
aTalk (Jabber / XMPP) (3.8@73) 22 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github
Conv6ations (0@0) 27 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ fork of Conversations

Matrix/riot/Element

2020-09-15

These are clients for the Matrix protocol. Don't mind the triple naming – it seems they like to rename the project a lot

mini Vector (4.3@23) Ǥ 14 1 Github; riot client; see here for privacy issues with the Matrix/riot network
Element Secure Messenger (Riot im) (3.9@1,456) Ǥ 25 1 Github
Riot.im (3.8@1,291) Ǥ 31 2 / [Old] RiotX (0@0) Ǥ 17 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Kurzvorstellung 12/2016 / Github
Ditto Chat (0@0) Ǥ 9 1 GitLab
SchildiChat (0@0) 24 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github
Syphon (0@0) 5 Github; Matrix

Miscellaneous encrypted messenger

2020-09-15

Wickr Me – Private Messenger (4.9@89,399) Ǥ 20 3 Wikipedia EN; end-to-end encryption with mission-impossible-flair (self-destructing messages)
ShazzleChat - No Servers, No Web, Always Secure. (4.9@868) Ǥ 12 3 Intro 5/2020
Threema. Secure and private Messenger (4.6@62,621; ~EUR 4.00) Ǥ 26 2 / Threema Work. Secure Enterprise Messaging (3.7@935) Ǥ 20 1 / Threema QR Scanner Plugin (4.5@7,873) 1 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2018-03-06 Video Review 12/2013 (EN) | 4/2016 (DE) | 3/2019 (DE); Video Backup & Restore (3/2019); Video Threema Webchat Howto 2/2017 (DE); Threema Video Tutorials; Test 4/2016; Vorstellung 2/2014 | 2/2014 | 2/2014 | 8/2018 | 11/2018-8/2020; Wikipedia DE|EN; Audit 11/2015 | 3/2019; Tipps & Tricks 12/2015; Anrufe 9/2017; Backup Tipps 10/2017; (Datenschutz-) Testbericht 2/2020 ; FAQ; messenger with end-to-end encryption
Telegram (4.5@5,957,067) Ǥ 43 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Testbericht 7/2016 | 3/2020; Meldung 4/2014; Vorstellung 5/2014 | 8/2018-6/2019; Security Analysis 5/2017; Video Erklärung 7/2019; Wikipedia DE|EN; encryption and self-destruct timer
Signal Private Messenger (4.5@524,380) Ǥ 51 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Vorstellung 11/2015 | 11/2015 | 11/2015 | 8/2018-6/2020 | 11/2015; Video-Vorstellung 1/2020; "Crypto-SMS" und verschlüsselte Telefonie (ehemals TextSecure + RedPhone)
VIPole Private Messenger (4.4@10,839) Ǥ 19 2 also available for Windows, Linux and Mac OS, paid subscription needed for end-to-end encryption
surespot encrypted messenger (4.4@3,526) Ǥ 11 2 Github; Vorstellung 2/2014; Wikipedia DE|EN; send encrypted messages. unlock voice messages per in-app payment. AES end-to-end encryption.
whispeer Messenger (4.4@30) Ǥ 17 2 LastUpdate: 2018-08-01 Github; DerStart 8/2015; FU-Berlin 5/2017
Rocket.Chat (4.3@5,639) Ǥ 22 3 Github; chat with screen and file sharing, and more
TigerConnect - Clinical Solutions (4@5,126) Ǥ 29 4
Briar (4@742) 14 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ / Briar Beta (Unreleased) (0@0) 9 LastUpdate: 2018-04-25 Video Intro 7/2017; Video Review 7/2018 | 9/2020; Vorstellung 9/2018 | 10/2019 | 4/2020; Wikipedia DE | EN; FreieMessenger / Kurzvorstellung 2/2018; Source & Issues
Kontalk Messenger (4@596) Ǥ 33 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Vorstellung 8/2018
Hoop Messenger (3.9@4,659) Ǥ 34 4 Intro 4/2020
Secure MMX Encrypted Messenger (3.9@28) Ǥ 14 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-11-20
Jami (3.8@959) Ǥ 19 1 Wikipedia EN; FAQ; background 9/2015 (EN) | 9/2015 (DE); Vorstellung 5/2020; desktop clients for Linux, Mac, Windows
Wire • Secure Messenger (3.5@32,797) Ǥ 16 1 Testberichte 4/2017 | 3/2020; Privacy-Warnung 7/2018; Vorstellung 8/2018 - 4/2020; free/gratis, encrypted communication: voice, video and group chats; cross platform: Android, iOS, Mac, Windows. Or in the web browser.
Nextcloud Talk (3.5@758) Ǥ 24 1 Github
ginlo Private Messenger (3.5@275) Ǥ 24 2 / ginlo (SIMSme Private) (4@15,932) Ǥ 19 1 Vorstellung 9/2018-7/2020
Chiffry Secure Messenger (3.2@869) Ǥ 26 2
Hoccer – the secure Messenger (2.6@8,086) Ǥ 14 2 LastUpdate: 2018-09-04 Vorstellung 8/2018
Delta Chat (0@0) 27 / Delta Chat (4.3@197) 24 1 Github; ausführlicher Testbericht 7/2020 / Vorstellung 6/2019
Pattle (0@0) Ǥ 8 1 client for riot/Matrix
aTox (0@0) 4 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github
Dib2Qm (0@0) 8 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ GitLab; based on IMAP and QuickMSG (no centralized server)
Snikket (0@0) 26 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; XMPP client forked from Conversations

Video and Audio Conferences

2020-09-13

Mumla - Mumble VoIP (4.7@31) 12 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ GitLab; audio calls/conferences; client for Mumble (Wikipedia DE | EN)
Skype - free IM & video calls (4.3@11,221,412) Ǥ 43 7 / Skype Lite - Free Video Call & Chat (4.3@35,298) Ǥ 39 4 Vorstellung 3/2018
Riot.im (3.8@1,291) Ǥ 31 2 / [Old] RiotX (0@0) Ǥ 17 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Kurzvorstellung 12/2016 / Github
Jami (3.8@959) Ǥ 19 1 Wikipedia EN; FAQ; background 9/2015 (EN) | 9/2015 (DE); Vorstellung 5/2020; desktop clients for Linux, Mac, Windows
Wire • Secure Messenger (3.5@32,797) Ǥ 16 1 Testberichte 4/2017 | 3/2020; Privacy-Warnung 7/2018; Vorstellung 8/2018 - 4/2020; free/gratis, encrypted communication: voice, video and group chats; cross platform: Android, iOS, Mac, Windows. Or in the web browser.
Nextcloud Talk (3.5@758) Ǥ 24 1 Github
Jitsi Meet (3.4@31,925) Ǥ 15 4 Github; Anleitung 3/2020; Vorstellung 4/2020

Further Readings:

Homeoffice? Beliebte Dienste und Geheimtipps für Video-Chat (4/2020)
Vorstellung verschiedener Messenger: Warum Signal Messenger eine super Alternative zu WhatsApp ist (3/2020)
Die verrückte Welt der Messenger: Teil1 (1/2020) | Teil2 (2/2020)
Verschlüsselte Messenger: Threema, Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp (11-2015 - 6/2019)
Wire, Hoccer, Kontalk (9/2017)

2020-09-23