The best messaging apps, according to hackers

48 messaging apps recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.

All messaging apps

SignalRecommended as the most widely adopted end-to-end encrypted messenger, with open-source reproducible builds and phone-number privacy controls; critics distrust its centralized server and metadata exposure.486recommend
DiscordA free all-in-one community hub with strong voice chat, text, screensharing and moderation tools, though many distrust its ID/age verification, data practices and Nitro upsells.400recommend
WhatsAppWidely used, end-to-end encrypted messenger that beats SMS for groups, media and free international calls, though many distrust Meta's ownership, data collection and closed source.300recommend
TelegramLoved for its polished, fast apps, fun features and an easy bot API for automation, but most chats lack end-to-end encryption and many distrust its Russian ties.229recommend
iMessageA long-running, widely used messaging app with end-to-end encryption and richer chats than SMS, but it only works on Apple devices and syncs unreliably.100recommend
BitchatBluetooth mesh chat app that works without internet or cell service, useful in outages and emergencies. Main caveat: critics say its security is weak and it only reaches people nearby.56recommend
ElementFree encrypted Matrix chat app that works across platforms and video calls well; critics say it is slow and buggy.50recommend
BriarFree, open-source encrypted messenger that works without internet via Bluetooth or local Wi-Fi, valued for censorship resistance. Main caveat: Android only, with short range and slow delivery.50recommend
Delta ChatRecommended as a private, encrypted messenger that runs over ordinary email and needs no phone number. Critics agree the interface is rough and less polished.48recommend
SimpleX ChatRecommended for strong metadata privacy and no phone number or account; open source and audited. Common caveat: Android battery drain and harder usability.45recommend
Molly (Signal fork)Security-hardened Android Signal fork with working push notifications without Google services. Main caveat: unofficial and maintained by one person, so updates can lag.39recommend
Facebook MessengerRecommended for chatting with friends and family, voice calls, and multi-device use. Main caveat: the desktop app and messenger.com are going away, and people doubt its message privacy.36recommend
Conversations XMPP clientFree Android XMPP chat app people call reliable and easy enough for family and WhatsApp-style use. Critics mainly say it lacks modern features and polish.31recommend
PidginLets you chat across many networks from one app, with plugins for many protocols; critics say its XMPP and encryption support lag behind.30recommend
BeeperCombines many chat services such as WhatsApp, Signal and SMS into one app, reducing the need to switch apps. Caveat: sync and push notifications are inconsistent.29recommend
Tether (iMessage and SMS on Linux)Brings iMessage and SMS to Linux with more features than alternatives like BlueBubbles, and people find it works well. Critics say it sometimes fails to connect to phones.22recommend
Dino XMPP clientFree XMPP chat client people find a better experience than alternatives, with broad protocol support. Limited feature set is the main caveat, including no automatic attachment compression.21recommend
Element XFree Matrix chat app for iOS and Android that many find much improved, with a simpler interface and reliable encryption. Critics say it still lacks features from the older Element apps.18recommend
KeetPeer-to-peer messaging app with no servers or signups, working on mobile and desktop, though critics note it is not open source so encryption cannot be verified.16recommend
Teams for LinuxUnofficial Linux client for Microsoft Teams, seen as faster and less buggy than the official app. Critics say it is a wrapped web site that breaks in strange ways.16recommend
ThreemaRecommended as a privacy-focused, end-to-end encrypted messenger that works without a phone number and has open-source clients. Critics raise vendor lock-in.15recommend
FluffyChatFree Matrix chat app people recommend as a faster, less clunky alternative to Element, with stickers and multiple logins. Caveat: image sending breaks for long periods.15recommend
WeChatWidely used messaging and payments app that people say replaces cards and handles daily tasks well, with quick human support. Critics say it is closed and raises privacy and censorship concerns.14recommend
Session messengerDecentralized encrypted messenger that creates an account without a phone number, recommended as a Signal alternative. Critics say it lacks forward secrecy and has flawed cryptography.13recommend
Telegram DesktopRecommended as a fast, light, feature-rich native client that beats web wrappers; the main caveat is security criticism over a file-theft vulnerability that took months to fix.13recommend
Google MessagesDefault Android messaging app whose RCS chats work well once activated and whose end-to-end encryption Google cannot read. Caveat: closed platform, blocks root, and activation has long been flaky.12recommend
AdiumFree Mac chat app that combines many messaging networks in one window, with persistent logs and customizable interfaces that some prefer to modern messengers.10recommend
ArmadaOpen-source, encrypted Discord alternative built on Nostr. People find it similar enough to pick up, with improvements, and it runs across free public servers.10recommend
WhatsApp for WindowsFans find it faster and more responsive than the web version and handy for attachments; critics say the newer build is a memory-hungry web wrapper.10recommend
CinnyOpen-source Matrix chat app people praise for a clean, Discord-like interface. Caveat: one reviewer disliked the web-based client, and it plays less well with Element.9recommend
TrillianPeople recommend Trillian as a single app that combines messages from many chat networks, with one interface and shared shortcuts. One critic found it less portable than smaller tools.8recommend
LINE messaging appEntrenched messenger in Japan with encrypted chats and voice and video calls. Critics cite heavy ads, weak security reputation and clunky UX.8recommend
JamiFree, decentralized chat and calling app that avoids servers for 1:1 chats; critics call it beta quality with unreliable sync.8recommend
Silence encrypted SMS appEncrypted SMS app that some people recommend for private texting and automatic call rejection. Common caveat: encrypted messages can be lost after a phone change or reinstall.7recommend
ToxFree peer-to-peer messenger that people recommend as mature and trusted. Common caveat: hard to install and use.7recommend
Miranda NGFree, lightweight instant messaging client that one recommender praised for its skins and low memory use; the evidence is thin, and one critic reports it becomes unresponsive.7recommend
Ricochet RefreshPeople recommend Ricochet Refresh for private chat and file transfer over Tor, and call it the best privacy candidate they have seen.7recommend
Macaroni MessengerSingle-file chat app that stores messages on GitHub, with no server to run. Caveat: critics say it only works with GitHub, not standard git.7recommend
Komai Matrix chat appA fast, clean Matrix chat client that is highly configurable and desktop-first. Critics say the icon and overall look are generic, sloppy or cluttered.7recommend
nhekoA free, fast desktop app for Matrix chat, with sticker support, recommended as an alternative to the crowded flagship server.6recommend
FractalLinux chat client that people say works better than others and runs well with self-hosted servers; caveat: it has lacked spaces and threads.6recommend
RipcordA light, fast chat client that people rank above other alternatives, with no caveats raised in the quotes.6recommend
FlotillaFree, optionally self-hosted Nostr chat app whose cryptographic identities prevent identity capture. Critics find it too corporate.6recommend
OpenBubblesFree app that brings iMessage to Android and Windows by connecting directly to Apple's servers, without needing a Mac or your iPhone running alongside.5recommend
WhisperfishUnofficial Signal client for SailfishOS, written mostly in Rust, that people say works quite well. Its main caveat is that it can break when Signal changes its protocols.5recommend
Miranda IMPeople recommend Miranda IM as a small, portable multi-protocol chat client that is highly customizable with plugins, settings and themes.5recommend
ColumbaAndroid messenger for the Reticulum mesh network that makes it easier to use. Some note that it is partly AI-generated.5recommend
GrapheneOS Messages appFree messaging app for GrapheneOS, rewritten with Jetpack Compose and Material You to match the system UI. Most common caveat: RCS is still not supported.5recommend