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.
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.
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.
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.
Where WhatsApp stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave WhatsApp
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the Personal messaging checklist (16 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| Personal messaging checklist | Delta Chat | Jami | SimpleX Chat | Telegram | Signal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| E2E encryption by default | ||||||
| E2E optional | ||||||
| Voice calls | ||||||
| Video calls | ||||||
| Phone number required | ||||||
| Username-only signup | ||||||
| Federation / decentralized | ||||||
| Message editing & deletion | ||||||
| Disappearing messages | ||||||
| Reactions | ||||||
| Multi-device without phone | ||||||
| Backup & export of history |
Every fact and feature listed for WhatsApp is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-11
WhatsApp is free and offers simple, secure, reliable messaging and calling, available on phones all over the world.
https://www.whatsapp.com/about -
Platforms iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web verified 2026-07-11
Mobile: iOS and Android; Desktop: Mac, Windows; Web: WhatsApp Web
https://www.whatsapp.com/features -
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, and non-transferable license to use our Services
https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/terms-of-service -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
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.
https://blog.whatsapp.com/celebrating-football-with-new-features-on-whatsapp -
E2E encryption by default Yes verified 2026-07-11
The Signal Protocol, designed by Open Whisper Systems, is the basis for WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption.
https://www.whatsapp.com/security/WhatsApp-Security-Whitepaper.pdf -
E2E optional No verified 2026-07-11
All chats use the same Signal protocol outlined in this whitepaper, regardless of their end-to-end encryption status.
https://www.whatsapp.com/security/WhatsApp-Security-Whitepaper.pdf -
Voice calls Yes verified 2026-07-11
WhatsApp video and voice calls are free*, have no time limits, and are end-to-end encrypted.
https://www.whatsapp.com/features -
Video calls Yes verified 2026-07-11
WhatsApp video and voice calls are free*, have no time limits, and are end-to-end encrypted.
https://www.whatsapp.com/features -
Phone number required Yes verified 2026-07-11
Primary device - A device that is used to register a WhatsApp account with a phone number.
https://www.whatsapp.com/security/WhatsApp-Security-Whitepaper.pdf -
Username-only signup No verified 2026-07-11
A phone number is still required for your WhatsApp account.
https://faq.whatsapp.com/658755553162769/?cms_platform=web&lang=en -
Message editing & deletion Yes verified 2026-07-11
You can now edit your messages on WhatsApp for up to 15 minutes after they've been sent.
https://blog.whatsapp.com/now-you-can-edit-your-whatsapp-messages -
Disappearing messages Yes verified 2026-07-11
you can set messages to disappear 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days after the time they are sent
https://faq.whatsapp.com/673193694148537 -
Reactions Yes verified 2026-07-11
You can react to messages in individual and group chats with emojis.
https://faq.whatsapp.com/424198503229937/?locale=ja_JP&cms_platform=iphone -
Multi-device without phone Yes verified 2026-07-11
Up to four linked devices can be linked without the need to keep your primary phone connected to WhatsApp.
https://faq.whatsapp.com/378279804439436/?cms_platform=android -
Backup & export of history Yes verified 2026-07-11
tap Auto Backup and choosing your backup frequency, which will back up your chats and media to your iCloud account
https://faq.whatsapp.com/180225246548988/?locale=en_US
FAQ
Yes. Delta Chat, Jami and Telegram have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Delta Chat, Jami and SimpleX Chat — every license claim links its source.