The best WhatsApp alternatives for privacy in 2026 are Signal, Threema and Session, which offer end-to-end encryption and collect little user data. Telegram suits large groups and channels, LINE is popular in East Asia, and Zoho’s Arattai is a made-in-India option. Skype and Hike, listed in earlier versions of this article, have shut down.
Interest in alternatives grew in January 2021, when WhatsApp announced a privacy policy update covering data sharing with Facebook (now Meta) companies. Many users tried Signal and Telegram at the time. WhatsApp itself encrypts personal messages end to end, but some people prefer apps that collect less metadata or are run by non-profits. This list has been checked and updated for October 2026.
Quick comparison
| App | Default end-to-end encryption | Phone number needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signal | Yes, all chats | Yes, but can be hidden with a username | Free |
| Telegram | No, only Secret Chats | Yes | Free, optional Premium |
| Threema | Yes | No | One-time payment |
| Session | Yes | No | Free |
| LINE | Yes for text, by default | Usually | Free |
| Arattai | Not fully confirmed | Yes | Free |
1. Signal
Signal is run by the non-profit Signal Foundation, and its code is open source. Since 2023, all communication on the app is end-to-end encrypted, using the Signal Protocol, which WhatsApp also uses for message encryption.
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A phone number is still needed to register, but since 2024 you can set a username and hide your number from people you chat with. Disappearing messages, view-once media and group calls of up to 75 people are supported. Signal had about 70 million monthly users in early 2025, according to reports.
2. Telegram
Telegram reported more than one billion monthly users in March 2025, with India as its largest market. It is known for large groups of up to 200,000 members, public channels and big file transfers.
However, normal Telegram chats are stored on its servers and are not end-to-end encrypted. Only Secret Chats, which you must start manually on mobile, are. In September 2024, Telegram said it would share users’ IP addresses and phone numbers with authorities in response to valid legal requests, following the arrest of founder Pavel Durov in France in August 2024.
3. Threema
Threema is a Swiss app that costs a one-time fee. It does not need a phone number or email address; each user gets a random Threema ID. Messages are end-to-end encrypted using the NaCl cryptography library, and its apps have been open source since 2020.
Its servers are in Switzerland. In January 2026, investment firm Comitis Capital announced an agreement to acquire the company. A separate paid version, Threema Work, is used by businesses.
4. Session
Session also lets you sign up without a phone number or email. Each user is identified by a randomly generated ID, and messages are end-to-end encrypted. It is run by the Session Technology Foundation, a non-profit set up in Switzerland in 2024.
There are trade-offs. Experts have pointed out that Session’s current protocol lacks forward secrecy, and the team has announced a new version to add it. In April 2026 the foundation warned it might close without fresh funding, but said in June 2026 that it had enough resources to continue.
5. LINE
LINE, run by Japan’s LY Corporation, is the main messaging app in Japan and is also widely used in Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia. Its Letter Sealing feature has provided end-to-end encryption by default for text messages since 2016.
Encryption does not cover everything, such as some media, and the company confirmed a data leak in 2023. It is a reasonable choice if your contacts already use it, but not the most private option.
6. Arattai
Arattai, a Tamil word for casual chat, is built by Chennai-based Zoho Corporation. It was launched in early 2021 and saw a sudden surge in September 2025, when daily sign-ups jumped from about 3,000 to more than 3.5 lakh in three days, helped by public support from government figures for Indian-made apps.
It offers chats, voice and video calls and works on phones and desktops. Privacy experts have raised questions about how far its encryption extends, so check Zoho’s current privacy page before moving sensitive conversations. For more on Indian tech, see our technology section.
Apps removed from this list
- Skype: Microsoft retired Skype on 5 May 2025 and moved users to the free version of Microsoft Teams.
- Hike: Hike shut its messaging app in January 2021 and later moved to gaming.
- Spike: Removed because it is mainly an email app, not a direct WhatsApp replacement.
How to choose
Pick based on what matters most. For the strongest privacy with an easy switch, Signal is the safest choice. If you do not want to share a phone number, try Threema or Session. For large communities and channels, Telegram works, but remember regular chats are not end-to-end encrypted. Whatever you choose, turn on two-step verification and keep the app updated. Our infotainment section has more explainers on everyday tech.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the safest WhatsApp alternative?
Signal is widely recommended because it encrypts all chats and calls end to end by default and is run by a non-profit.
Is Telegram more private than WhatsApp?
Not by default. Telegram’s regular chats are not end-to-end encrypted, while WhatsApp encrypts personal messages end to end. Telegram’s Secret Chats are encrypted.
Is there an Indian alternative to WhatsApp?
Yes. Arattai, made by Zoho Corporation, is the best-known Indian option and saw a sharp rise in sign-ups in September 2025.
Can I use a messaging app without a phone number?
Yes. Threema and Session do not need a phone number or email address to sign up.
Sources: Signal (Wikipedia), Telegram (Wikipedia), Threema (Wikipedia), Arattai (Wikipedia).
