# Alternatives to WhatsApp Meta's E2E encrypted messenger tied to phone numbers. WhatsApp ranks #5 of 11 in Personal messaging, with an Alt Score of 78. It is proprietary, free and available on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and Web. 11 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source. Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/whatsapp/ Category: Personal messaging ## Where WhatsApp stands out - **Phone number required** — 4 of 11 apps with a verified answer have this ## Overview - **Who it's for**: Anyone who wants to message, call, or share updates with friends, family, groups, or businesses using just a phone number, plus small and large businesses communicating with customers. - **What you get**: Free text messaging, voice and video calls, and group chats over the internet, with end-to-end encryption so only participants can read or hear messages. Additional features include Status updates, broadcast-style Channels, file and media sharing, and a separate WhatsApp Business offering for customer communication. A Meta AI assistant is also built into the app. - **How it works**: You sign up with a phone number and the app syncs your contacts who also have WhatsApp; from there you send messages or start calls directly, and can link the same account across phone, desktop, and web for cross-device access. ## Profile - **License**: Proprietary (verified 2026-07-11) - **Pricing model**: Free (verified 2026-07-11) - **Starts at**: ? - **Platforms**: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web - **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-11) ## Ranked alternatives | # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms | |---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------| | 1 | [Delta Chat](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/delta-chat.md) | 81 | GPL-3.0 | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | | 2 | [Jami](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/jami.md) | 81 | GPL-3.0 | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | | 3 | [SimpleX Chat](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/simplex-chat.md) | 78 | AGPL-3.0 | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | | 4 | [Telegram](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/telegram.md) | 78 | GPL-3.0 | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | | 5 | [Signal](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/signal.md) | 74 | AGPL-3.0 | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | | 6 | [Threema](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/threema.md) | 74 | AGPL-3.0 | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | | 7 | [Viber](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/viber.md) | 74 | Proprietary | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | | 8 | [Session](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/session.md) | 66 | GPL-3.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS | | 9 | [Wire](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/wire.md) | 66 | GPL-3.0 | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | | 10 | [Beeper](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/beeper.md) | 51 | Proprietary | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/ ## Feature comparison Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified). | Personal messaging checklist | WhatsApp | Delta Chat | Jami | SimpleX Chat | Telegram | Signal | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pricing model | Free | Free | Free | ? | Freemium | Free | | Starts at | ? | ? | ? | ? | $4.99/month | ? | | License | Proprietary | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 | | Platforms | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux | | E2E encryption by default | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | | E2E optional | No | Partial | No | No | Yes | No | | Voice calls | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Video calls | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Phone number required | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | | Username-only signup | No | Partial | Yes | Partial | No | Partial | | Federation / decentralized | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | | Message editing & deletion | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Disappearing messages | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Reactions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Multi-device without phone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Partial | | Backup & export of history | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | ## Sources Sources for WhatsApp. Each alternative is sourced on its own page. - **Pricing model**: Free — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “WhatsApp is free and offers simple, secure, reliable messaging and calling, available on phones all over the world.” - **Platforms**: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “Mobile: iOS and Android; Desktop: Mac, Windows; Web: WhatsApp Web” - **License**: Proprietary — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, and non-transferable license to use our Services” - **Status**: active — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “The football emoji has been upgraded with the Trionda ball. Send it as a message or drop it as a reaction and see what happens.” - **E2E encryption by default**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “The Signal Protocol, designed by Open Whisper Systems, is the basis for WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption.” - **E2E optional**: No — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “All chats use the same Signal protocol outlined in this whitepaper, regardless of their end-to-end encryption status.” - **Voice calls**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “WhatsApp video and voice calls are free*, have no time limits, and are end-to-end encrypted.” - **Video calls**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “WhatsApp video and voice calls are free*, have no time limits, and are end-to-end encrypted.” - **Phone number required**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “Primary device - A device that is used to register a WhatsApp account with a phone number.” - **Username-only signup**: No — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “A phone number is still required for your WhatsApp account.” - **Message editing & deletion**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “You can now edit your messages on WhatsApp for up to 15 minutes after they've been sent.” - **Disappearing messages**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “you can set messages to disappear 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days after the time they are sent” - **Reactions**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “You can react to messages in individual and group chats with emojis.” - **Multi-device without phone**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “Up to four linked devices can be linked without the need to keep your primary phone connected to WhatsApp.” - **Backup & export of history**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “tap Auto Backup and choosing your backup frequency, which will back up your chats and media to your iCloud account” --- Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/