Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients

See also: Social:Messaging apps

Short description: none

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The landscape for instant messaging involves cross-platform instant messaging clients that can handle one or multiple protocols.[1] Clients that use the same protocol can typically federate and talk to one another. The following table compares general and technical information for cross-platform instant messaging clients in active development, each of which have their own article that provide further information.

## Contents

* 1 General
* 2 Operating system support
* 3 Connectivity
* 4 Privacy
* 4.1 Screenshot security
* 5 Message handling
* 6 Media
* 7 Backup and restore messages
* 8 Miscellaneous
* 9 See also
* 10 Notes
* 11 References

## General

Client  | Developer  | Initial release  | Platform  | Latest release  | License (client)  | License (server)  | Monthly active users

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Version  | Date
BBM Enterprise | Blackberry | June 2014; 12 years ago (2014-06)[2] | iOS, Android |  |  | Proprietary freeware | Proprietary |
Beeper  |

* Nova Technology, Inc.
* Beeper, Inc.
* Automattic

| May 10, 2021; 5 years ago (2021-05-10) |

* Android
* ChromeOS
* iOS
* Linux
* macOS
* Windows

|  |  | Apache-2.0  | Apache-2.0  |
Briar |  | May 9, 2018; 8 years ago (2018-05-09)[2] | Android  |  |  | GPL-3.0-or-later | Not applicable
(peer-to-peer over Bluetooth, WiFi, or Tor network)  |
Conversations | Daniel Gultsch  | March 24, 2014; 12 years ago (2014-03-24) | Android  |  |  | GPL-3.0-only | XMPP protocol  |
Discord | Discord Inc.  | March 6, 2015; 11 years ago (2015-03-06)[3] | Android  |  |  | Proprietary freeware | Proprietary | 150 million (2021)[4]
iOS  |  |
Linux  |  |
macOS  |  |
Windows  |  |
Element | New Vector Limited  | July 2016; 10 years ago (2016-07) | Android  |  |  | AGPL-3.0  | Matrix protocol  | 43 million (2021)[5]
iOS  |  |
Linux  |  |
macOS  |  |
Windows  |  |
Web  |  |
Fluxer | Fluxer Platform AB  | January 2026; 7 months ago (2026-01) |

* Linux
* Windows
* macOS
* Web

|  |  | AGPLv3  | AGPLv3  |
Fractal |  | March 16, 2018; 8 years ago (2018-03-16) | Linux desktops and mobile OSs  |  |  | GPLv3  | Matrix protocol  |
Gadu-Gadu | Łukasz Foltyn, GG Network S.A.  | August 15, 2000; 26 years ago (2000-08-15) |  |  |  | Proprietary freeware | Proprietary |
Gajim | Yann Le Boulanger  | May 21, 2004; 22 years ago (2004-05-21) | BSD  |  |  | GPL-3.0-only | XMPP protocol  |
Linux
macOS
Windows
Gitter | New Vector Ltd  | February 13, 2023; 3 years ago (2023-02-13)[6] | Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux  |  |  | MIT License  | Apache-2.0 (Synapse)  |
Google Chat (formerly Google Hangouts)  | Google | May 15, 2013; 13 years ago (2013-05-15) (as Google Hangouts)

March 9, 2017; 9 years ago (2017-03-09) (as Google Chat)

| Android  |  |  | Proprietary freeware | Proprietary | 1 billion (2021) 500 million active (2020)
iOS  |  |
Web  |  |
Google Messages (RCS)  | 2018; 8 years ago (2018) | Android  |  |  | Proprietary freeware | Proprietary | 1 billion (2021) 500 million active (2020)
Web  |  |
Wear OS  |  |
ICQ | Mail.Ru | November 1996; 29 years ago (1996-11) |  |  |  | Proprietary adware freemium | Proprietary | Defunct
Jami | Savoir-faire Linux | December 23, 2004; 21 years ago (2004-12-23) | Android  |  |  | GPL-3.0-or-later | Not applicable
(peer-to-peer)  |
iOS  |  |
Linux  |  |
macOS  |  |
Windows  |  |
Jitsi | Emil Ivov  | 2003; 23 years ago (2003) | Desktop  |  |  | Apache-2.0  | Apache-2.0  | 20 million (2020)[7]
KakaoTalk | Kakao Corp.  | March 18, 2010; 16 years ago (2010-03-18) |  |  |  | Proprietary freeware | Proprietary | 47 million (2021)[8]
Keet  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Kik Messenger | Medialab  | October 2010; 15 years ago (2010-10) | Android  |  |  | Proprietary adware freemium | Proprietary | 15 million (2017)[9]
iOS  |  |
Line | LY Corporation  | March 2012; 14 years ago (2012-03) | Android  |  |  | Proprietary freemium | Proprietary | 169 million (2020)[10]
iOS  |  |
Chrome  |  |
macOS  |  |
Windows  |  |
Linphone | Belledonne Communications  | 2001; 25 years ago (2001) | Android  |  |  | GPL-3.0-or-later or proprietary  | SIP protocol, could connect to any SIP provider/server, including Linphone's service  | only for SIP linphone service : over 700,000 in 2024[11]
iOS  |  |
Linux  |  |
macOS  |  |
Windows  |  |
BSD  |  |  |
Mattermost | Mattermost Inc  | 2015; 11 years ago (2015) | Android  |  |  | Apache-2.0 | MIT license binary, AGPLv3 for source code, Apache-2.0 for admin tools and config files  |
iOS  |  |
Linux  |  |
macOS  |  |
Windows  |  |
Messenger | Meta Platforms | August 9, 2011; 15 years ago (2011-08-09) | Android  |  |  | Proprietary freeware | Proprietary | 988 million (2022)[12]
iOS  |  |
macOS  |  |
Windows  |  |
Movim | Timothée Jaussoin  | March 3, 2011; 15 years ago (2011-03-03) | Any, Progressive web application |  |  | AGPL-3.0-or-later | XMPP protocol  |
Mumble[13] |  | September 22, 2005; 20 years ago (2005-09-22) | Linux, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, iOS  | 1.4.287  | 2022-09-14  | 3-clause BSD  | Open source  |
Olvid  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Palringo | Palringo Ltd  | 2006; 20 years ago (2006) | Android  |  |  | Proprietary freemium | Proprietary |
iOS  |  |
Paltalk | AVM Software, Inc  | June 1998; 28 years ago (1998-06) |  |  |  | Proprietary freeware | Proprietary | 5.5 million (2013)[14]
Pidgin | Mark Spencer  | November 1998; 27 years ago (1998-11) | BSD  |  |  | GPL-2.0-or-later | Umpteen, both open protocols and interfaces with proprietary messengers  |
Linux
macOS
Windows
Psi | Psi and Psi+ developers  | 2001; 25 years ago (2001) | Linux  |  |  | GPL-2.0-or-later | XMPP protocol  |
macOS
Windows
QQ | Tencent Holdings  | February 10, 1999; 27 years ago (1999-02-10) | Android  |  |  | Proprietary adware | Proprietary | 597 million (2023)[15]
iOS, iPadOS, watchOS  |  |
Windows  |  |
macOS  |  |
Linux  |  |
RetroShare | Cyril Soler, Gioacchino Mazzurco  | 2006; 20 years ago (2006) |  |  |  | GPL | Not applicable
(peer-to-peer)  |
Ricochet | Invisible.im  | June 2014; 12 years ago (2014-06) | FreeBSD  | [needs update] (fork took over development, now at 3.0.15)  |  | BSD-3-Clause | Not applicable
(peer-to-peer over the Tor network)  |
Linux
macOS
Windows
Session | Session Technology Foundation (STF)  | February 2020; 6 years ago (2020-02) | Android iOS Microsoft Windows macOS Linux | Funding needed to keep active[16] |  | BSD-3-Clause
MIT
GPL-3.0 | BSD-3-Clause
MIT
GPL-3.0 |
Signal  | Signal Foundation | July 2014; 12 years ago (2014-07) | Android  |  |  | GPL-3.0-only | AGPL-3.0-only | 40 million (2021)[17]
iOS  |  |  | GPL-3.0-only
Desktop  |  |  | AGPL-3.0-only
Skype | Skype Technologies, a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation  | 2003; 23 years ago (2003) |  |  |  | Proprietary adware freemium | Proprietary | Defunct
Slack | Slack Technologies | August 2013; 13 years ago (2013-08) |  |  |  | Proprietary freemium | Proprietary | 12 million (2019)[18]
Snapchat | Snap Inc. | November 2011; 14 years ago (2011-11) | Android  |  |  | Proprietary freeware | Proprietary | 557 million (2022)[12]
iOS  |  |
Surespot | Surespot LLC  | 2013; 13 years ago (2013) | Android  |  |  | GPL-3.0-or-later \+ freemium  |  | Defunct
iOS  |  |
TeamNote | TeamNote Limited  | 2012; 14 years ago (2012) |  |  |  | Subscription | Proprietary |
Telegram | Telegram Messenger LLP  | 2013; 13 years ago (2013) | Android  | Template:Telegram cached versions | Template:Telegram cached versions | GPL-2.0-or-later | Proprietary | 700 million (2022)[19]900 million (2024)[20]
iOS, iPadOS  | Template:Telegram cached versions | Template:Telegram cached versions | GPL-2.0-or-later
Desktop  | Template:Telegram cached versions | Template:Telegram cached versions | GPL-3.0-or-later
macOS  | Template:Telegram cached versions | Template:Telegram cached versions | GPL-2.0-or-later
Threema | Threema GmbH  | December 2012; 13 years ago (2012-12) | Android  |  |  | AGPL-3.0-only | Proprietary | 10 million (2021)[21]
iOS  |  |
Web  |  |  | AGPL-3.0-or-later
Trillian | Cerulean Studios  | July 1, 2000; 26 years ago (2000-07-01) | Android  |  |  | Proprietary adware freemium | Proprietary |
iOS  |  |
Linux  |  |
macOS  |  |
Windows  |  |
Web  |  |
Viber | Rakuten Viber  | December 2, 2010; 15 years ago (2010-12-02) | Android  |  |  | Proprietary freemium | Proprietary | 260 million (2019)[22]
iOS  |  |
Linux  |  |
macOS  |  |
Windows  |  |
Voxt.ai  | Actual Chat, Inc.  | March 2, 2023; 3 years ago (2023-03-02) | Android  |  | 13 February 2026  | AGPL-3.0-only | AGPL-3.0-only |
iOS  |  | 13 February 2026
Web  |  | 13 February 2026
Windows  |  | 13 February 2026
WeChat | Tencent Holdings Limited | January 21, 2011; 15 years ago (2011-01-21) |  |  |  | Proprietary freeware | Proprietary | 1.263 billion (2022)[12]
WhatsApp | Meta Platforms | January 2009; 17 years ago (2009-01) | Android  |  |  | Proprietary freeware | Proprietary | 2 billion (2020),[23] confirmed in 2024[24]
iOS  |  |
macOS  |  |
Windows  |  |
Wire | Wire Swiss GmbH  | December 3, 2014; 11 years ago (2014-12-03) | Android  | 4.15.4  | 2025-10-16  | GPL-3.0-or-later | AGPL-3.0-or-later | 20 million[25]
iOS  | 4.12.2  | 2026-01-21
Linux  | 3.40.3882  | 2025-12-10
macOS  | 3.40.5442  | 2025-12-10
Windows  | 3.40.5233  | 2025-12-10
Web  | Webapp-2026-01  | 2026-01-27
Client  | Developer  | Initial release  | Platform  | Latest release  | License (client)  | License (server)  | Monthly active users
Version  | Date

## Operating system support

Operating system support for messaging clients  Client  | Windows | macOS | Linux | Web | Android | iOS | iPadOS

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Beeper  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Briar | No  | No  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | No
Discord | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Element | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Fluxer | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  | No
Fractal | No  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Gadu-Gadu | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Gajim | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Gitter | Yes  | No  | Yes  | No  | No  | No
Google Chat | No  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Google Messages (RCS)  | No[lower-alpha 1] | No[lower-alpha 1] | Needs third-party client[lower-alpha 1][26] | Yes  | Included  | No  | No
ICQ | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Jami | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Jitsi | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
KakaoTalk | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Kik Messenger | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Line | Yes  | Yes  | As browser extension[27] | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Linphone | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Mattermost | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Messages (Apple) | No  | Included  | No  | No  | No  | Included  | Yes
Messenger | Yes  | Yes  | Needs third-party client[lower-alpha 1][28] | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Mumble | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  |  | Yes  | Yes
Movim | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Palringo | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Paltalk | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Pidgin | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  | No
Psi | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  | No
RetroShare | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | No
Ricochet | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  | No
Session | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Signal  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Skype | Included  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Slack | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Snapchat | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Surespot | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes
TeamNote | No[lower-alpha 1] | No[lower-alpha 1] | No[lower-alpha 1] | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Telegram | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Tencent QQ | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Threema | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Trillian | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Viber | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
WeChat | Yes  | Yes  | Needs third-party client[lower-alpha 1][29] | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
WhatsApp | Yes  | Yes  | Needs third-party client[lower-alpha 1][31][32][33] | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Wire | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Client  | Windows | macOS | Linux | Web | Android | iOS | iPadOS

## Connectivity

Client  | Registration requirement  | Independent of mobile phone  | End-to-end encryption | Script error: No such module "Vertical header". | Open source servers  | Federated servers

|
|
|
|
|
|

Briar | No  |  | Yes  | Yes  | N/A(P2P)  | N/A(P2P)
Discord | Email and Phone number  | Yes  | No  | No  | No  | No
Element | No  | Yes  | Yes[34] | No  | Yes  | Yes
Fractal | No  |  |  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Gadu-Gadu | Email and Phone number  |  |  | No  | No  |
Gajim | No  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes
Gitter | ?  | ?  | ?  | ?  | ?  | ?
Google Chat | Email; Google account  | Yes  |  |  |  |
Google Messages (RCS)  | Phone number  | Similar to SMS requirements, RCS messaging requires a valid SIM card to be inserted in the device.
RCS chat features may continue to work for up to 14 days, when a SIM card is removed from the device.[35] | Yes, only for RCS chats  |  | N/A
[clarification needed] | Yes
ICQ | Phone number  | Phone required for initial registration.
Desktop client can function independently afterwards.[36] |  | No  |  |
Jami | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | N/A(P2P)  | N/A(P2P)
Jitsi | No  | Yes  |  | No  | Yes  | Yes
KakaoTalk |  | No  |  | No  | No  | No
Kik Messenger | Email  | No  |  | No  | No  | No
Line | Phone number  | No  |  | No  | No  | No
Linphone | No  | Yes  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Mattermost |  |  |  | No  | Yes  | No
Messages (Apple) | Email; Apple ID account  | Yes  |  | No  | N/A
[clarification needed] | N/A
[clarification needed]
Messenger | Email or Phone number; Facebook account  | Yes  |  | No  | No  | No
Movim | No  |  |  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Mumble | no  | Yes  |  |  | Yes  | Yes
Palringo | No  |  |  | No  | No  |
Paltalk | Email  |  |  | No  | No  |
Pidgin | No  | Yes  | With extension only  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Psi |  |  |  | No  |  |
RetroShare |  |  |  | Yes  | N/A(P2P)  | N/A(P2P)
Ricochet |  |  | Yes  | Yes  | N/A(P2P)  | N/A(P2P)
Session | No  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Signal  | Phone number; iOS or Android device.[37][38] VoIP number[39] | Phone required for initial registration.
iPadOS or Desktop client can function independently afterwards.[40] | Yes  | No  | Yes[41] | No
Skype | Email; Microsoft account  | Yes  |  | No  | No  | No
Slack | Email  | Yes  |  | No  | No  | No
Snapchat | Email or Phone number  | No  |  | No  | No  | No
Surespot | No  |  |  | No  | No
TeamNote |  |  |  |  |  |
Telegram | Phone number; iOS or Android device[42] | Phone required for initial registration & login.
Desktop client can function independently afterwards.[43] | For some features: secret chats,[44] voice and video calls,[45] and voice chats in groups[45] | No  | No  | No
Tencent QQ |  | No[46][47] | No  | No  | No  | No
Threema | No  | A valid phone number or email address is not required for registration & login.
However, the mobile app serves as the primary device, due to the end-to-end encryption architecture.[48] | Yes  | No  | No  | No
Trillian | No  | Yes  |  | No  | No  | Yes
Viber | Phone number  | No  | Yes[49] | No  | No  | No
WeChat | Phone number or QQ number  | No  | No  | No  | No  | No
WhatsApp | Phone number  | No  | Yes  | No  | No  | No
Wire | Email or Phone number  | Yes  | Yes[50] | No  | Yes[51] | Yes
Client  | Registration requirement  | Independent of mobile phone  | End-to-end encryption | Script error: No such module "Vertical header". | Open source servers  | Federated servers

## Privacy

Some messaging services that are not designed for privacy require a unique phone number for sign-up, as a form of identity verification and to prevent users from creating multiple accounts.

Some messaging services that do not solely focus on a mobile-first experience, or enforce SMS authentication, may allow email addresses to be used for sign-up instead.

Some messaging services offer greater flexibility and privacy, by allowing users to create more than one account to compartmentalize personal & work purposes, or not requiring personally identifiable information for sign-up.

To find out if the software has end-to-end encryption, see "media" table below.

Client  | Share username  | Hide number  | Account expiration  | Reset password  | Password lockout  | Search for contacts  | Voice changer  | Plugins

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Briar |  |  |  |  |  | by public key or in-person pairing  |  |
Discord |  |  |  |  |  |

* Username & Discord Tag
* Phonebook contacts scanning if enabled

|  | No
Element |  |  |  |  |  |

* Username
* Matrix ID

|  | Yes
Fractal |  |  |  |  |  |

* Username
* Matrix ID

|  |
Gadu-Gadu |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No
Gajim |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Yes
Gitter |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Google Chat |  |  |  |  |  |

* Email address

|  |
Google Messages (RCS)  |  |  |  |  |  |

* Phone number

|  |
ICQ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Yes
Jami | Yes  |  | No (not stored on servers)  | No (not stored on servers)  | No (not stored on servers)[52] | by random identifier or email-like address  | No  | Yes
Jitsi |  |  |  |  |  | by shared 4-random-words URL  |  | Yes
KakaoTalk |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Kik Messenger |  |  |  |  |  |

* Username
* Phonebook contacts scanning if enabled

|  |
Line |  |  |  |  |  |

* Username
* Phone number
* Phonebook contacts scanning if enabled (sending friend requests are required)

|  | Yes
Linphone |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mattermost |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Yes
Messages (Apple) |  |  |  |  |  |

* Email address
* Phone number

|  | No
Messenger |  |  |  |  |  |

* Facebook profile
* Username URL
* Phone number
* Phonebook contacts scanning if enabled

|  | Yes
Movim |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No
Mumble |  |  |  |  |  |

* username

|  |
Palringo |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No
Paltalk |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No
Pidgin |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Yes
Psi |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Yes
RetroShare |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ricochet |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Signal  | Yes  | Default. Number is only visible if it is saved to a friend's contact  |  | No[53] | 30 seconds after 5 fails  |

* Phone number
(Contact list syncs automatically with phonebook contacts)

|  | No
Skype |  |  |  |  |  |

* Username
* Email address
* Phone number

|  | Yes
Slack |  |  |  |  |  |

* Name (requires joining a Slack workspace)
* Email address invitation (requires Slack Connect)

|  | Yes
Snapchat |  |  |  |  |  |

* Username
* Phonebook contacts scanning if enabled

|  | Yes
Surespot |  |  |  |  |  |  | No  | No
TeamNote |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Telegram |  |  | 6 months  |  | 5 seconds after 3 fails  |

* Username
* Phone number
(Contact list syncs automatically with phonebook contacts)

|  | No
Tencent QQ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No
Threema |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No
Trillian |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Yes
Viber |  |  |  |  |  |

* Phone number
(Contact list syncs automatically with phonebook contacts)

|  | Yes
WeChat |  |  |  |  |  |

* Username
* Phone number
* Phonebook contacts scanning if enabled
(sending friend requests are required)

|  |
WhatsApp | No  |  |  |  |  |

* Phone number
(Contact list syncs automatically with phonebook contacts)

|  | No
Wire |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No
Client  | Share username  | Hide number  | Account expiration  | Reset password  | Password lockout  | Search for contacts  | Voice changer  | Plugins

* 1: Apple iOS doesn't allow screenshot protection.

### Screenshot security

Client  | Hide number in chats  | Lock screen timeout  | Lock screen when closed  | Lock screen button  | Screenshot detection  | Screenshot/recording disabled (Android only)[54]

|
|
|
|
|
|

Briar |  | Yes  |  |  |  | Yes
Discord |  | No  |  |  |  |
Element |  | No  |  |  |  |
Fractal |  |  |  |  |  |
Gadu-Gadu |  |  |  |  |  |
Gajim | No  | No  | No  | No  | No  | No
Gitter |  |  |  |  |  |
Google Chat |  |  |  |  |  |
Google Messages (RCS)  |  |  |  |  |  |
ICQ |  |  |  |  |  |
Jami | No (not stored on servers)  | No  |  |  | No  | Yes[55]
Jitsi |  | No  |  |  |  |
KakaoTalk |  |  |  |  |  |
Kik Messenger |  |  |  |  |  |
Line |  | Yes  |  |  |  |
Linphone |  |  |  |  |  |
Mattermost |  | No  |  |  |  |
Messages (Apple) |  | No  |  |  |  |
Messenger |  | No  |  |  |  |
Movim |  | ?  |  |  |  |
Mumble |  |  |  |  |  |
Palringo |  |  |  |  |  |
Paltalk |  |  |  |  |  |
Pidgin |  |  |  |  |  |
Psi |  |  |  |  |  |
RetroShare |  |  |  |  |  |
Ricochet |  |  |  |  |  |
Signal  |  | Yes  | No  | Yes  |  | Yes[56]
Skype |  |  |  |  |  |
Slack |  |  |  |  |  |
Snapchat |  | Yes  |  |  |  |
Surespot |  |  |  |  |  |
TeamNote |  |  |  |  |  |
Telegram | Yes  | Yes  | No  |  | Yes (on Secret Chats)[57] | Yes (on Secret Chats)[58]
Tencent QQ |  |  |  |  |  |
Threema |  | Yes  |  |  |  |
Trillian |  |  |  |  |  |
Viber |  | Yes  |  |  |  |
WeChat |  |  |  |  |  |
WhatsApp | No  | Fingerprint sensor  |  |  |  |
Wire |  | No  |  |  |  |
Client  | Hide number in chats  | Lock screen timeout  | Lock screen when closed  | Lock screen button  | Screenshot detection  | Screenshot/recording disabled (Android only)[54]

## Message handling

Client  | Threads  | Sent messages  | Read messages  | Self-destructing messages

|
|
|
|

Threads  | Collapse[59] | Ignore  | Editing  | Deleting  | Delete for contacts  | Delete notification  | Receipts  | Hide receipts  | Exists  | Deletion trigger
Briar | Yes[60] | No  | No  |  |  |  |  | Yes  |  | No  |
Discord | Yes  | Yes[61] | Yes[62] | Yes  | Yes  |  |  | No  |  | No  |
Element | Yes[63] | Yes  | No  | Partial  | Yes  |  |  | Yes  |  | No  |
Fractal |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gadu-Gadu |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gajim |  |  |  | Yes  |  |  |  | Yes  |  | No  |
Gitter |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Google Chat | Yes[64] | Yes  | Yes  | Originally for Google Workspace accounts only; rolled out to consumer accounts in July 2023[65] | Originally for Google Workspace accounts only; rolled out to consumer accounts in July 2023  |  |  | Yes  |  | No  |
Google Messages (RCS)  | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes  |  |  | Yes  |  | No  |
ICQ | No  | No  | No  |  | Yes  |  |  |  |  |  |
Jami | No  | No  | No  | No  | Desktop only  | No  | Not applicable  | Yes[66] | Android only[66] | Yes  |
Jitsi | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No  |
KakaoTalk | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Kik Messenger | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line | No  | No  | No  | No  | Partial  |  |  | Yes  |  | No  |
Linphone | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mattermost | Yes  | Optional 7+[67] | No  | Yes  | Yes  |  |  | No  |  | No  |
Messages (Apple) | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No  |
Messenger | Yes[68] | No  | No  | No  | Yes  |  |  | Yes  |  | Yes  |
Movim | Yes[69] | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes  |  |  |  |  | No  |
Mumble | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Palringo | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Paltalk | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pidgin | No  | No  | No  | Yes  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Psi | No  | No  | No  | Yes  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
RetroShare | Yes  | Yes[70] | No  | No  | No  |  |  | Yes  |  | No  |
Ricochet | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Signal  | No  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Within 24 hours[71] | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Read[72]
Skype | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Slack | Yes  | Yes[73] | Yes[74] | Yes  | Yes  |  |  | Yes  |  |  |
Snapchat | No  | No  | No  | No  | Yes  |  |  | Yes  |  | Yes  |
Surespot | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No  |
TeamNote | No  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes  |  |  | No  |  |  |
Telegram | No[75] | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Read
Tencent QQ | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Threema | No[76] | No  | No  | No  | Yes  |  |  | Yes  |  | No  |
Trillian | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  | Yes  |  |  |
Viber | No  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes  |  |  | Yes  |  | Yes  |
WeChat | No  | No  | No  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
WhatsApp | No  | No  | No  | No  | Partial  |  |  | Yes  | Yes  | No  |
Wire | No  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes  |  |  | Yes  |  | Yes[77] |
Client  | Threads  | Sent messages  | Read messages  | Self-destructing messages
Threads  | Collapse  | Ignore  | Editing  | Deleting  | Delete for contacts  | Delete notification  | Receipts  | Hide receipts  | Exists  | Deletion trigger

## Media

Client  | File transfer  | Voice messages  | Voice chat  | Video chat  | E2EE | Encrypted local storage

|
|
|
|
|
|

Individual  | Groups
Briar | Yes  | No  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Discord | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  |
Element |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fractal |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gadu-Gadu | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  |  | No  | No  |
Gajim | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No[78] | Yes  | Yes  |
Gitter |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Google Chat | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  |
Google Messages (RCS)  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  |
ICQ | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  |
Jami | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Jitsi | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  |  |
KakaoTalk | Yes  |  |  |  | Yes  | Yes  |
Kik Messenger | Yes  |  |  |  | No  | No  |
Line | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Partial  | Yes[79] |
Linphone |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mattermost | Yes  | Plug-in  | Plug-in  | Plug-in  | No  | No  |
Messages (Apple) | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  |
Messenger | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  |
Movim | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | For private group  |
Mumble | Yes  |  | Yes  | No  | No  | No  |
Palringo | No  | No  | Yes  | No  | No  | No  |
Paltalk | Yes  |  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  |
Pidgin | No  | No  | Partial  | Yes  | Yes  |  |
Psi | Yes  | Yes  | Partial  | Partial  | Yes  | Yes  |
RetroShare | Yes  |  |  |  | Yes  | Yes  |
Ricochet |  |  |  |  | Yes  |  |
Signal  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Partial[80]
Skype | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  |
Slack | Yes  |  |  |  | No  | No  |
Snapchat | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  |
Surespot | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | No groupchat  |
TeamNote |  | Yes  |  | No  |  |  |
Telegram | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Secret Chats  | No  | No[81]
Tencent QQ | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  |
Threema | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Trillian | Yes  | Partial  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  |
Viber | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  |
WeChat | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  |
WhatsApp | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No
Wire | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No
Client  | File transfer  | Voice messages  | Voice chat  | Video chat  | E2EE | Encrypted local storage
Individual  | Groups

## Backup and restore messages

Official status to guarantee support for backing up and restoring messages.

Client  | Windows | macOS | Linux | Web | Android | iOS

|
|
|
|
|
|

Beeper  |  |  |  |  |  |
Briar |  |  |  |  |  |
Discord |  |  |  |  |  |
Element |  |  |  |  |  |
Fractal |  |  |  |  |  |
Gadu-Gadu |  |  |  |  |  |
Gajim |  |  |  |  |  |
Gitter |  |  |  |  |  |
Google Chat |  |  |  |  |  |
Google Messages (RCS)  |  |  |  |  |  |
ICQ |  |  |  |  |  |
Jami |  |  |  |  |  |
Jitsi |  |  |  |  |  |
KakaoTalk |  |  |  |  |  |
Kik Messenger |  |  |  |  |  |
Line |  |  |  |  |  |
Linphone |  |  |  |  |  |
Mattermost |  |  |  |  |  |
Messages (Apple) |  |  |  |  |  |
Messenger |  |  |  |  |  |
Mumble |  |  |  |  |  |
Movim |  |  |  |  |  |
Palringo |  |  |  |  |  |
Paltalk |  |  |  |  |  |
Pidgin |  |  |  |  |  |
Psi |  |  |  |  |  |
RetroShare |  |  |  |  |  |
Ricochet |  |  |  |  |  |
Session |  |  |  |  |  |
Signal  | No[82] | No[82] | No[82] | No[82] | Yes[82] | Yes[82]
Skype |  |  |  |  |  |
Slack |  |  |  |  |  |
Snapchat |  |  |  |  |  |
Surespot |  |  |  |  |  |
TeamNote |  |  |  |  |  |
Telegram |  |  |  |  |  |
Tencent QQ |  |  |  |  |  |
Threema |  |  |  |  |  |
Trillian |  |  |  |  |  |
Viber |  |  |  |  |  |
WeChat |  |  |  |  |  |
WhatsApp | No[83] | No[83] | No[83] | No[83] | Yes[83] | Yes[83]
Wire | Yes[84] | Yes[84] | Yes[84] | Yes[84] | Yes[84] | Yes[84]
Client  | Windows | macOS | Linux | Web | Android | iOS

## Miscellaneous

Messaging services can operate around different models, based on security and accessibility considerations.[85]

A mobile-focused, phone number-based model operates on the concept of primary and secondary devices. Examples of such messaging services include: WhatsApp, Viber, Line, WeChat, Signal, etc. The primary device is a mobile phone and is required to login and send/receive messages. Only one mobile phone is allowed to be the primary device, as attempting to login to the messaging app on another mobile phone would trigger the previous phone to be logged out. The secondary device is a computer running a desktop operating system, which serves as a companion for the primary device. Desktop messaging clients on secondary devices do not function independently, as they are reliant on the mobile phone maintaining an active network connection for login authentication and syncing messages.

A multi-device, device-agnostic model is designed for accessibility on multiple devices, regardless of desktop or mobile. Examples of such messaging services include: Skype, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts (subsequently Google Chat), Telegram, ICQ, Element, Slack, Discord, etc. Users have more options as usernames or email addresses can be used as user identifiers, besides phone numbers. Unlike the phone-based model, user accounts on a multi-device model are not tied to a single device, and logins are allowed on multiple devices. Messaging services with a multi-device model are able to eliminate feature disparity and provide identical functionality on both mobile and desktop clients. Desktop clients can function independently, without relying on the mobile phone to login and sync messages.

Client  | Typing notifications  | Multi-device support  | Emoji reactions  | Stickers | GIF search  | Custom emoji | Themes / skins

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Briar |  |  |  | No  |  | Yes  | No
Discord | Yes  | Yes[86][87] | Yes  | Yes (custom stickers require paid)  | Yes  | Paid[88] | Paid[89]
Element |  | Yes[90][87] | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Fractal |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gadu-Gadu |  |  |  |  |  | No  |
Gajim | Yes  |  |  |  |  | Yes  | Yes
Gitter |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Google Chat |  | Yes (an optional setting allows messages to be accessible on Gmail as well)[91][92] |  | Yes  | Yes  |  | No
Google Messages (RCS)  |  | On secondary web browsers only (phone required to sync messages)[93] | Only a limited set of reactions available  | Yes  | Yes  |  | Partial
ICQ |  | Yes[94] |  | Yes  |  | Yes  | Yes
Jami | Yes[66] | Yes  | Partial[95] | No  |  |  |
Jitsi |  |  |  |  |  | Yes  |
KakaoTalk |  | On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[96][97] |  |  |  | No  |
Kik Messenger |  | No[98] |  |  |  | Yes  | Yes
Line |  | On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[99] |  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes
Linphone |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mattermost |  |  |  | No  |  | Yes  | Yes
Messages (Apple) |  | Yes (Apple devices)[100] |  |  |  | No  | No
Messenger |  | Yes (messages are also accessible on the main Facebook website)[101] | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes
Movim |  |  |  | Yes  |  | No  | No
Mumble |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Palringo |  |  |  |  |  | No  | Yes
Paltalk |  |  |  |  |  | No  | Yes
Pidgin |  |  |  | No  | No  | Yes  | Yes
Psi |  |  |  |  |  | Yes  | Yes
RetroShare |  |  |  | Yes  |  | No  |
Ricochet |  |  |  |  |  | No  |
Signal  | Yes  | On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages; 5 linked devices)[102] | Yes  | Yes  | Only on Android and iOS  | No  | Yes
Skype |  | Yes[103][87] |  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No
Slack | Yes  | Yes[85][87] |  |  |  | Yes  | Yes
Snapchat |  | No[104] |  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No
Surespot |  |  |  |  |  | No  | Yes
TeamNote |  |  |  |  |  | No  |
Telegram | Yes  | Yes[105][87][106] | Full set of reactions only available on Telegram Premium  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Tencent QQ |  | On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[107] |  |  |  | No  | Yes
Threema |  | On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages).
Phone must maintain an active network connection at all times to use the desktop client.[108] |  | Yes  |  | No  | Yes
Trillian |  |  |  |  |  | Yes  | Yes
Viber |  | On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[109] | Only a limited set of reactions available  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes
WeChat |  | On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[110] |  |  |  | No  |
WhatsApp | Yes  | On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages; 4 linked devices)
Phone must not be offline for ≥ 14 days; message history limited to 3 months.
Unsupported on iPad, iPod Touch.

[111] | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No
Wire | Yes  | Yes[112] | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes
Client  | Typing notifications  | Multi-device support  | Emoji reactions  | Stickers | GIF search  | Custom emoji | Themes / skins

## See also

* Comparison of instant messaging protocols
* Comparison of IRC clients
* Comparison of VoIP software
* List of SIP software
* Comparison of LAN messengers
* List of video telecommunication services and product brands
* Comparison of user features of messaging platforms

## Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 In addition to other official and third-party solutions, a native desktop application can be generated for the instant messaging app website using Nativefier.[30]

## References

1. ↑ "The top 6 best Instant Message client apps on any platform". 30 August 2011. https://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/08/30/the-top-6-best-instant-message-client-apps-on-any-platform/.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Secure P2P Messenger Releases First Version, Receives New Funding". Briar. 9 May 2018. https://briarproject.org/news/2018-1.0-released-new-funding.html.
3. ↑ Marks, Tom (May 14, 2016). "One year after its launch, Discord is the best VoIP service available". Future plc. http://www.pcgamer.com/one-year-after-its-launch-discord-is-the-best-voip-service-available/.
4. ↑ "Number of monthly active users (MAU) of Discord worldwide as of September 2021". https://www.statista.com/statistics/1286750/discord-mau-global/.
5. ↑ "2021: It's been a busy year for Element!" (Press release). Element Blog. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
6. ↑ "CHANGELOG.md · develop · gitter / webapp · GitLab" (in en). 15 February 2023. https://gitlab.com/gitterHQ/webapp/-/blob/develop/CHANGELOG.md.
7. ↑ "'It was quite a ride' – Jitsi's Emil Ivov on scaling up the video conferencing platform during a pandemic". 4 September 2020. https://portswigger.net/daily-swig/it-was-quite-a-ride-jitsis-emil-ivov-on-scaling-up-the-video-conferencing-platform-during-a-pandemic.
8. ↑ "Number of monthly active users of KakaoTalk in South Korea from 2nd quarter of 2015 to 4th quarter of 2021". https://www.statista.com/statistics/746249/south-korea-kakaotalk-monthly-active-users/.
9. ↑ Ponciano, Jonathan. "Billion-Dollar Kik Taps $125 Million Token Offering To Energize User Base". https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanponciano/2017/08/29/billion-dollar-kik-taps-125-million-token-offering-to-energize-user-base/.
10. ↑ "Line Revenue and Usage Statistics (2022)". 19 January 2022. https://www.businessofapps.com/data/line-statistics/.
11. ↑ "Linphone Free SIP Service". https://subscribe.linphone.org/login.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Most popular global mobile messenger apps as of January 2022, based on number of monthly active users". https://www.statista.com/statistics/258749/most-popular-global-mobile-messenger-apps/.
13. ↑ "Screenshots.debian.net". https://screenshots.debian.net/package/mumble.
14. ↑ "PalTalk: It Was "Flattering" To Be Included In The PRISM Slidedeck". TechCrunch. 17 June 2013. https://techcrunch.com/2013/06/17/prism-paltalk/.
15. ↑ "腾讯公布二零二三年第一季业绩" (in Chinese). Tencent. 17 May 2023. https://static.www.tencent.com/uploads/2023/05/17/2a29b622f5f47130fd062e2299b4635b.pdf.
16. ↑ Privacy Messenger Session Is Staring Down a 90-Day Countdown to Obscurity
17. ↑ "Signal Revenue & Usage Statistics (2021)" (in en-US). 2021-01-20. https://www.businessofapps.com/data/signal-statistics/.
18. ↑ "Slack Revenue and Usage Statistics (2022)". 11 January 2022. https://www.businessofapps.com/data/slack-statistics/.
19. ↑ "700 Million Users and Telegram Premium". Telegram. 19 June 2022. https://telegram.org/blog/700-million-and-premium.
20. ↑ Faulconbridge, Guy; Kelly, Lidia (2024). "Telegram to hit one billion users within a year, founder says". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/technology/telegram-platform-hit-1-bln-users-within-year-founder-says-2024-04-17/.
21. ↑ "Threema's Success Story: From the Company's Founding to Today". Threema. January 2021. https://threema.ch/press-files/1_press_info/press_threema_story_en.pdf.
22. ↑ "More than a chatting platform: What makes Viber a powerful business messaging tool?". 26 January 2021. https://pushwize.com/2021/01/26/more-than-a-chatting-platform-what-makes-viber-a-powerful-business-messaging-tool/.
23. ↑ "WhatsApp". https://blog.whatsapp.com/two-billion-users-connecting-the-world-privately.
24. ↑ "Reuters". https://www.reuters.com/technology/whatsapp-explores-ads-chat-app-ft-2023-09-15/.
25. ↑ "Wire reaches 20 million monthly active users".
26. ↑ "How to Use Google Messages on Linux". 20 February 2022. https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-use-google-messages-on-linux/.
27. ↑ "LINE". https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/line/ophjlpahpchlmihnnnihgmmeilfjmjjc.
28. ↑ "How to Install Facebook Messenger 'Caprine' in Ubuntu 18.04". 7 March 2019. https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/2019/03/install-facebook-messenger-caprine-ubuntu-18-04/.
29. ↑ "How to Install WeChat Desktop Client in Ubuntu Linux". 22 June 2020. https://itsfoss.com/install-wechat-desktop-client-in-ubuntu/.
30. ↑ "Nativefier". https://github.com/nativefier/nativefier.
31. ↑ "How to Install and Use WhatsApp Desktop Client in Linux". 15 June 2020. https://itsfoss.com/whatsapp-linux-desktop/.
32. ↑ "WhatSie - WhatsApp for Linux". https://snapcraft.io/whatsie.
33. ↑ "WhatsApp". https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/WhatsApp.
34. ↑ "End-to-end encryption (E2EE) | Collaboration and messaging". https://element.io/features/end-to-end-encryption.
35. ↑ "Turn on chat features in Messages - Messages Help". https://support.google.com/messages/answer/7189714?hl=en.
36. ↑ "ICQ Is Back, and There Are 11 Things You Should Know About It by Dimitry O. Photo". 22 August 2017. https://medium.com/@Dimitryophoto/icq-is-back-and-there-are-11-things-you-should-know-about-it-b993dddfc234.
37. ↑ Ciobica, Vladimir (26 May 2021). "Signal Desktop". https://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Chat/Instant-Messaging/Signal-Desktop.shtml.
38. ↑ Youngren, Jan (19 January 2021). "Signal messaging app review 2021". https://vpnpro.com/messaging-apps/signal-review/.
39. ↑ Collective, Tech Learning (29 October 2019). "This little-known trick lets you use Signal without giving out your phone number". https://techlearningcollective.com/2019/10/29/this-little-known-trick-lets-you-use-signal-without-giving-out-your-phone-number.html.
40. ↑ "Linked Devices". Signal Support. https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007320551-Linked-Devices.
41. ↑ "Signal · GitHub". 26 February 2020. https://github.com/signalapp.
42. ↑ Witman, Emma (22 January 2021). "How to make a Telegram account and start using the popular group chatting app". https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-a-telegram-account.
43. ↑ "Login and SMS - Telegram FAQ". https://www.telegram.org/faq?setln=en#login-and-sms.
44. ↑ "Q: How are secret chats different? - Telegram FAQ". https://telegram.org/faq#q-how-are-secret-chats-different.
45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Q: What is Telegram? What do I do here? - Telegram FAQ". https://telegram.org/faq#q-what-is-telegram-what-do-i-do-here.
46. ↑ "How to sign up for a QQ account in 2021? (For PUBG, Game for Peace or Honor of Kings)". 29 February 2020. https://chinahow.guide/qq-registration-sign-up/.
47. ↑ "Latest Guide: How to Register a QQ International Account For PUBG, Avena of Valors and Quick Login to other Chinese Apps". 28 April 2019. https://www.chinaclife.com/how-to-register-qq-international-account-2019-for-pubg-and-quick-login/.
48. ↑ "Comparison of Popular Messenger Services – Threema". https://threema.ch/en/messenger-comparison.
49. ↑ "Viber Encryption Overview". https://www.viber.com/app/uploads/Viber-Encryption-Overview.pdf.
50. ↑ "Wire Product Features". https://wire.com/en/product/features/.
51. ↑ "Wire server code now 100% open source – the journey continues". Wire Swiss GmbH. 19 September 2017. https://medium.com/@wireapp/wire-server-code-now-100-open-source-the-journey-continues-88e24164309c.
52. ↑ "Jami" (in en). 9 August 2019. https://jami.net/the-jami-quirks/.
53. ↑ "Signal PIN". Signal Support. https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007059792-Signal-PIN.
54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 "Why don't you disable screen capture? – Wickr Inc.". https://support.wickr.com/hc/en-us/articles/115007884288-Why-don-t-you-disable-screen-capture-.
55. ↑ "7bb77aa65771c36f709e14d593dc8e0d88e16ddd - jami-client-android - Gitiles". https://review.jami.net/plugins/gitiles/jami-client-android/+/7bb77aa65771c36f709e14d593dc8e0d88e16ddd.
56. ↑ "Screen Security". Signal Support. https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360043469312-Screen-Security.
57. ↑ "Telegram FAQ". https://telegram.org/faq?setln=be#q-can-i-be-certain-that-my-conversation-partner-doesn-39t-take-a.
58. ↑ Says, جلوگیری از اسکرین شات در تلگرام چگونه است؟-تکست روزانه (24 February 2022). "How To Prevent People From Screenshotting Your Telegram Chat". https://gadgets-africa.com/2022/02/24/how-to-prevent-screenshotting-on-telegram/.
59. ↑ The Importance of Message Threads in Team Messaging Apps
60. ↑ Briar User Manual
61. ↑ Discord Threads FAQ
62. ↑ Discord I Want To Leave A Thread
63. ↑ Introducing Threads in Beta!
64. ↑ Learn how to manage a space with in-line threading
65. ↑ "New Google Chat features: smart compose, message editing and more". 30 June 2023. https://blog.google/products/workspace/google-chat-features-update-june-2023/.
66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 66.2 "FAQ — Jami documentation". https://docs.jami.net/user/faq.html#does-jami-support-read-receipts-can-i-turn-them-on-or-off.
67. ↑ Organize conversations using Collapsed Reply Threads
68. ↑ Facebook Messenger gets threaded replies
69. ↑ Movim: a decentralized open-source XMPP-based messaging and social platform
70. ↑ Retroshare » Docs » User Guide » Interface
71. ↑ "Delete messages, alerts, or chats". Signal Support. https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007320491-Delete-messages-alerts-or-chats.
72. ↑ "Set and manage disappearing messages". Signal Support. https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007320771-Set-and-manage-disappearing-messages.
73. ↑ Use threads to organize discussions
74. ↑ How to Unfollow Thread in Slack?
75. ↑ Bugs and Suggestions » Threads
76. ↑ Comparison of Communication Tools for Companies
77. ↑ "Safe and tidy with Timed Messages". Wire Swiss. 25 October 2016. https://medium.com/wire-news/safe-and-tidy-with-timed-messages️-4f26ff17b11b.
78. ↑ "Gajimfaq · Wiki · gajim / Gajim". 16 April 2023. https://dev.gajim.org/gajim/gajim/-/wikis/help/gajimfaq.
79. ↑ "The next step for even safer messaging: Letter Sealing". Line Corporation. 12 August 2016. https://engineering.linecorp.com/en/blog/the-next-step-for-even-safer-messaging-letter-sealing/.
80. ↑ "Signal and Encryption at rest". SignalCommunity. 12 February 2018. https://community.signalusers.org/t/signal-and-encryption-at-rest/1953.
81. ↑ "Telegram App Store Secret-Chat Messages in Plain-Text Database". 23 February 2015. https://blog.zimperium.com/telegram-hack/.
82. ↑ 82.0 82.1 82.2 82.3 82.4 82.5 "Backup and Restore Messages". Signal Support. https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007059752-Backup-and-Restore-Messages.
83. ↑ 83.0 83.1 83.2 83.3 83.4 83.5 "Back Up or Restore Your Chats". Whatsapp Support. https://faq.whatsapp.com/1144861179456352.
84. ↑ 84.0 84.1 84.2 84.3 84.4 84.5 "Gesprächsverlauf sichern und wiederherstellen" (in de). Wire Support. https://support.wire.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000386537.
85. ↑ 85.0 85.1 "Product design decisions for secure messengers - by Wire - Medium". 31 May 2017. https://wireapp.medium.com/product-design-decisions-for-secure-messengers-e8a5e7d1a373.
86. ↑ "Discord on Twitter: "Yup, you can be logged into as many devices at the same time..." / Twitter". https://twitter.com/discord/status/1079674168935878657?lang=en.
87. ↑ 87.0 87.1 87.2 87.3 87.4 "Top 5 Messenger Apps Supporting Multi-Device Support Feature - Mirror Review". 10 August 2020. https://www.mirrorreview.com/top-5-messenger-apps-support-feature/.
88. ↑ "Boost Your Account and Support Us with Discord Nitro". https://discord.com/blog/boost-your-account-and-support-us-with-discord-nitro.
89. ↑ "Now in Nitro: Bring Your Vibe to Discord with New Themes". https://discord.com/blog/bring-your-vibe-to-discord-with-new-themes-in-nitro.
90. ↑ "The Element messenger (and the Matrix standard) - Linux Kamarada". 20 May 2021. https://linuxkamarada.com/en/2021/05/20/the-element-messenger-and-the-matrix-standard/.
91. ↑ "Use classic Hangouts on all your devices - Google Workspace Admin Help". https://support.google.com/a/answer/6187630?hl=en.
92. ↑ "Use Google Chat in Gmail - Computer - Google Chat Help". https://support.google.com/chat/answer/9341104?hl=en.
93. ↑ "Check your messages on your computer or Android tablet - Messages Help". https://support.google.com/messages/answer/7611075?hl=en.
94. ↑ "» A whole new ICQ awaits you on iOS". 13 January 2021. https://bestygame.com/en/a-whole-new-icq-awaits-you-on-ios/.
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96. ↑ "Help - Kaokao". http://www.kakao.com/talk/en/faq.
97. ↑ "General - Kaokao". https://cs.kakao.com/helps?articleId=1073183153&service=8&category=5&device=2&locale=en.
98. ↑ "Kik FAQs – Kik". https://kikhelpcenter.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4402351602971-Kik-FAQs.
99. ↑ "Help center - LINE". https://help.line.me/line/android/pc?lang=en&contentId=20000132.
100. ↑ "Access your messages on all your Apple devices - Apple Support". https://support.apple.com/guide/messages/access-messages-apple-devices-icht5b5d1e63/mac.
101. ↑ "A Guide on How to Use Facebook Secret Conversations". 24 October 2019. https://mashtips.com/facebook-secret-conversations/.
102. ↑ "Troubleshooting multiple devices". Signal Support. https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007320451.
103. ↑ "Can I sync my Skype instant messages across devices? - Skype Support". https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA12368/can-i-sync-my-skype-instant-messages-across-devices.
104. ↑ "Snapchat Support on Twitter: "The Snapchat app does not currently allow multiple users to log into one shared account. Similarly, the Snapchat app cannot run on multiple devices at once, so each time you log in to a device, it will log you out of the other device." / Twitter". https://twitter.com/snapchatsupport/status/971212591312834560?lang=en.
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108. ↑ "Support – Threema - Desktop/Web". https://threema.ch/en/support.
109. ↑ "Set Up Viber on Your Tablet or iPad - Viber Support Knowledge Base". https://help.viber.com/en/article/set-up-viber-on-your-tablet-or-ipad.
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* v
* t
* e

Instant messaging

Protocols
(comparison)|

| Open|

* IMPP
* IRC
* Matrix
* MTProto
* RetroShare
* Signal Protocol
* SIP
* MSRP
* SIMPLE
* Tox
* XMPP
* Jingle
* WFP
* Zephyr
* DDP

|

Closed|

* MSNP
* OSCAR
* TOC
* Skype

Services|

* Band
* BBM
* Discord
* Facebook Messenger
* FireChat
* GroupMe
* Hike Messenger
* HipChat
* ICQ
* iGap
* iMessage
* IRC Networks
* Jongla
* KakaoTalk
* Kik
* Libon
* Line
* Marco Polo
* Palringo
* Signal
* Skype
* Slack
* Snapchat
* SNOW
* Tango
* Telegram
* QQ
* Textfree/Pinger
* The Palace
* Threema
* Tox
* Trillian
* Upptalk
* Viber
* Virtual Places Chat
* WeChat
* WhatsApp
* Wickr
* Windows Messenger service
* Yahoo Together
* Zulip

Clients
(comparison)|

| Single protocol|

* Allo
* Baidu Hi
* BBM
* CSipSimple
* Facebook Messenger
* FaceTime
* Fetion
* Gadu-Gadu
* GroupMe
* IBM Sametime
* ICQ
* IMVU
* Jami
* Jongla
* Linphone
* Palringo
* RetroShare
* Ricochet
* Riot.im
* Signal
* Skype
* Telegram
* Tencent QQ
* Tox
* WeChat
* WhatsApp
* Wickr
* Wire

|

Multi-protocol|

* Adium
* Ayttm
* BitlBee
* Centericq
* eBuddy
* Empathy
* Fire
* Instantbird
* Jitsi
* Kopete
* Messages/iChat
* Miranda IM
* Nimbuzz
* Pidgin
* QIP 2010
* Skype for Business
* Trillian
* Telepathy
* Upptalk

XMPP (Jabber)|

* Bombus
* ChatSecure
* Conversations
* Gajim
* Psi
* Tkabber
* Spark

MSNP|

* aMSN
* Skype

Defunct|

* List of defunct instant messaging platforms

See also|

* Backchannel
* Chat log
* Chatbot
* Contact list
* Emoticon
* File sharing
* Instant message service center
* LAN messenger
* Messaging apps
* Presence information
* Shoutbox
* SMS language
* Status message
* Videotelephony
* Voice over IP
* Webcam
* U-Report
* Web chat
* Circuit
* FirstClass
* Flock
* Fuze Box
* Glip
* Hall.com
* Yammer

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