Messenger & Conferences

Messenger with encryption

2021-03-25

XMPP/Jabber

2021-03-28

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.

Snikket (4.6@11) Ǥ 28 1 Github; XMPP client forked from Conversations
Quicksy (4.4@99) Ǥ 28 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Vorstellung 11/2018; fork of Conversations using your phone number as ID
Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) (4.3@1,994; ~EUR 2.50) Ǥ 29 1 / Conversations Legacy (4.1@152) 15 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2018-10-13 / Share Location Plugin (4.5@82) 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
blabber.im (4.2@205) Ǥ 29 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; fork of Conversations
Xabber (4.1@12,231) Ǥ 11 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github
aTalk (Jabber / XMPP) (3.8@78) 22 1 Github
Conv6ations (0@0) 27 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ fork of Conversations

Matrix/riot/Element

2021-03-25

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 (4.1@24) Ǥ 14 1 Github; riot client; see here for privacy issues with the Matrix/riot network
Element - Secure Messenger (3.9@2,415) Ǥ 27 1 Github
Syphon (3.9@10) 5 Github; Matrix
Riot.im - Communicate, your way (3.8@1,291) Ǥ 33 2 / RiotX - Next Generation Matrix Client (0@0) Ǥ 16 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Kurzvorstellung 12/2016 / Github
Librem Chat (3.8@58) Ǥ 30 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ fork of Riot.im
Ditto Chat (0@0) Ǥ 9 1 GitLab
SchildiChat (0@0) Ǥ 27 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github

Miscellaneous encrypted messenger

2021-03-27

ShazzleChat - No Servers, No Web, Always Secure. (5@1,916) Ǥ 14 4 Intro 5/2020
Wickr Me – Private Messenger (4.6@84,253) Ǥ 20 4 Wikipedia EN; end-to-end encryption with mission-impossible-flair (self-destructing messages)
Threema. Secure and private Messenger (4.6@66,037; ~EUR 4.00) Ǥ 26 2 / Threema Work. Secure Enterprise Messaging (3.3@1,125) Ǥ 29 1 / Threema QR Scanner Plugin (4.5@7,873) 1 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2018-03-06 Github; Video Review 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 8/2018 | 11/2018-1/2021; Wikipedia DE|EN; Audit 11/2015 | 3/2019; (Datenschutz-) Testbericht 2/2020 ; FAQ; messenger with end-to-end encryption
Watomatic - Auto Reply for WhatsApp & Facebook (4.6@63) 0 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Vorstellung 2/2021 | 3/2021; Intro 2/2021; leaving WhatsApp? Tell where you've gone to with this auto-responder!
Telegram (4.5@7,485,298) Ǥ 43 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Testbericht 7/2016 | 3/2020; Meldung 4/2014; Vorstellung 5/2014 | 8/2018-1/2021; Security Analysis 5/2017; Video Erklärung 7/2019; Wikipedia DE|EN; encryption and self-destruct timer
Signal Private Messenger (4.5@1,479,013) Ǥ 53 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Vorstellung 11/2015 | 11/2015 | 11/2015 | 8/2018-1/2021 | 11/2015; Video-Vorstellung 1/2020; ausführlicher Test 12/2020; "Crypto-SMS" und verschlüsselte Telefonie (ehemals TextSecure + RedPhone)
Delta Chat (4.5@2) 25 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ / Delta Chat (4.1@446) 25 1 Github; ausführlicher Testbericht 7/2020 / Vorstellung 6/2019
surespot encrypted messenger (4.4@3,815) Ǥ 11 3 LastUpdate: 2019-04-30 Github; Vorstellung 2/2014; Wikipedia DE|EN; send encrypted messages. unlock voice messages per in-app payment. AES end-to-end encryption.
moin (4.4@5) 6 GitLab; based on IPFS
VIPole Private Messenger (4.3@11,105) Ǥ 19 2 also available for Windows, Linux and Mac OS, paid subscription needed for end-to-end encryption
Rocket.Chat (4.3@7,683) Ǥ 23 4 Github; chat with screen and file sharing, and more
whispeer Messenger (4.3@31) Ǥ 18 2 LastUpdate: 2018-08-01 Github; DerStart 8/2015; FU-Berlin 5/2017
Session - Private Messenger (4.1@1,265) Ǥ 25 1 Github
Jami (4.1@1,131) Ǥ 19 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Wikipedia EN; FAQ; background 9/2015 (EN) | 9/2015 (DE); Vorstellung 5/2020; desktop clients for Linux, Mac, Windows
Briar (4.1@1,069) 15 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ / Briar Beta (Unreleased) (4.5@2) 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; ausführliche Besprechung 11/2020 / Kurzvorstellung 2/2018; Source & Issues
Nekogram X for Telegram (4.1@731) Ǥ 40 3 Github
TigerConnect - Clinical Solutions (4@5,178) Ǥ 30 4
Secure MMX Encrypted Messenger (3.9@28) Ǥ 14 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-11-20
Kontalk Messenger (3.8@617) Ǥ 33 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Vorstellung 8/2018
Hoop Messenger (3.7@4,866) Ǥ 34 4 Intro 4/2020
ginlo Private Messenger (3.6@385) Ǥ 25 2 / SIMSme – Your secure messenger (4@15,932) Ǥ 17 1 Vorstellung 9/2018-7/2020
TRIfA (3.6@87) 13 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Tox client
Wire • Secure Messenger (3.5@33,767) 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@944) Ǥ 30 1 Github
Chiffry Secure Messenger (3.2@864) Ǥ 26 1
Hoccer – the secure Messenger (2.6@8,086) Ǥ 14 2 LastUpdate: 2018-09-04 Vorstellung 8/2018
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)

Video and Audio Conferences

2021-04-11

Skype - free IM & video calls (4.3@11,340,371) Ǥ 44 3 / Skype Lite - Free Video Call & Chat (4.3@35,298) Ǥ 40 6 Vorstellung 3/2018
Mumla - Mumble VoIP (4.3@123) 12 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ GitLab; audio calls/conferences; client for Mumble (Wikipedia DE | EN)
Jami (4.1@1,131) Ǥ 19 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Wikipedia EN; FAQ; background 9/2015 (EN) | 9/2015 (DE); Vorstellung 5/2020; desktop clients for Linux, Mac, Windows
Riot.im - Communicate, your way (3.8@1,291) Ǥ 33 2 / RiotX - Next Generation Matrix Client (0@0) Ǥ 16 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Kurzvorstellung 12/2016 / Github
Jitsi Meet (3.6@2,593) Ǥ 18 3 Github; Anleitung 3/2020; Video Kurzanleitung 3/2020; Vorstellung 4/2020
Wire • Secure Messenger (3.5@33,767) 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@944) Ǥ 30 1 Github

Further Readings:

Mike’s Empfehlungs-Ecke: Messenger
Mike’s Messenger-Matrix
Messenger-Matrix der Piratenpartei
Hinweise zu Anbietern von Videokonferenzdiensten (PDF des Berliner BfDI)
Messenger: Unterschied zwischen Push und Polling (2/2021)
Messenger-Apps im Sicherheits-Check (1/2021)
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 - 12/2020)
Wire, Hoccer, Kontalk (9/2017)