The best alternative of WhatsApp isn’t just one app – it’s 8 different solutions that crush WhatsApp’s 2 billion users with better privacy, features, and zero Meta involvement.
WhatsApp collects 26 types of personal data according to Apple’s App Store. These alternatives collect between 0-3 data points. Here’s your upgrade path.
1. Signal:
Users: 100+ million globally
Data Collection: 2 data points (registration date, last login)
Encryption: Signal Protocol (same as WhatsApp, but actually private)
Signal runs on donations, not ads. The Signal Foundation raised $105 million to stay independent. Elon Musk’s “Use Signal” tweet caused downloads to spike 4,200% in January 2021.
Key Features:
- Self-destructing messages (1 second to 1 week)
- Screen security blocks screenshots
- No phone number sharing in groups
- Disappearing voice notes
- $0 cost forever
Downside: 40MB file limit vs WhatsApp’s 100MB
2. Telegram:
Users: 900+ million monthly active users
Data Collection: Phone number, contacts (stored encrypted)
Group Limit: 200,000 members vs WhatsApp’s 1,024
Telegram processes 15 billion messages daily. Pavel Durov invested $300+ million of his own money to keep it running without ads.
Advanced Features:
- 2GB file sharing (20x WhatsApp’s limit)
- Voice chats with unlimited participants
- 512GB cloud storage per account
- Usernames (no phone number sharing)
- Scheduled messages
- Multiple accounts on one device
Privacy Note: Only “Secret Chats” use end-to-end encryption. Regular chats are server-side encrypted.
3. Discord:
Users: 150 million daily active users
Revenue: $445 million in 2022
Server Limit: 500 servers per account
Discord handles 4 billion message hours monthly. Originally for gamers, now 70% of servers are non-gaming communities.
Business Features:
- Persistent voice channels (stay connected 24/7)
- Screen sharing up to 4K/60fps
- Stage channels for presentations
- Role-based permissions
- Thread conversations
- Go Live streaming to 50 viewers
Pricing: Free tier covers most needs, Nitro at $9.99/month for premium features
4. Threema:
Users: 10+ million registered users
Headquarters: Switzerland (strict privacy laws)
Phone Number Required: No
Threema generates random IDs instead of using phone numbers. It’s the only messaging app that passed Switzerland’s government security audit.
Unique Features:
- Anonymous usage (no personal data required)
- Contact verification via QR codes
- GDPR compliant
- On-device address book encryption
- Groups up to 256 members
- One-time purchase model
Cost: $4.99 Android, $3.99 iOS (no subscriptions)
5. Session:
Users: 500K+ downloads on Google Play
Network: Decentralized onion routing
Data Collection: Zero (impossible by design)
Session uses the Signal Protocol over an onion routing network. Messages bounce through 3+ servers, hiding who you’re talking to.
Technical Specs:
- No phone number or email required
- Onion routing (like Tor browser)
- Self-hosted servers
- Open-source code
- No metadata collection
- Perfect forward secrecy
6. Element:
Users: 50+ million registered users
Network: Matrix protocol (decentralized)
Self-Hosting: Available
Element runs on the Matrix network – think email but for messaging. You can chat with people on different Element servers.
Enterprise Features:
- Unlimited message history
- Custom integrations
- Admin controls
- Bridge to Slack/Discord/WhatsApp
- Video calls up to 15 participants
- End-to-end encryption by default
Pricing: Free for personal use, $5/user/month for teams
7. Viber:
Users: 1.16 billion registered users
Owned By: Rakuten (Japanese e-commerce giant)
Unique Feature: Viber Out (cheap international calls)
Viber encrypts everything by default and offers multiple device support (WhatsApp doesn’t).
Standout Features:
- Viber Out calls to non-users
- Hidden chats with PIN protection
- Self-destructing media
- Public accounts for businesses
- Games built into the app
- Cross-platform sync
8. Wire:
Users: 3+ million registered users
Headquarters: Germany (GDPR compliant)
Founded By: Skype co-founder Janus Friis
Wire is the only messaging app with legal compliance certifications for regulated industries.
Professional Features:
- Guest rooms (chat without accounts)
- External collaboration
- Audio/video conferences up to 25 people
- File sharing with expiration dates
- Always-on encryption
- Compliance with FINRA, FedRAMP, HIPAA
Pricing: Free personal, $6/user/month for teams
The Numbers That Matter: Privacy Comparison
| App | Data Collection Points | Phone Number Required | Open Source | Ads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Yes | No | Coming 2025 | |
| Signal | 2 | Yes | Yes | Never |
| Telegram | 8 | Yes | Client only | No |
| Discord | 15 | No | No | Yes (skippable) |
| Threema | 1 | No | No | Never |
| Session | 0 | No | Yes | Never |
| Element | 3 | No | Yes | No |
| Viber | 12 | Yes | No | Yes |
| Wire | 5 | No | No | No |
The best alternative of WhatsApp depends on your priorities: Signal for maximum privacy, Telegram for features, Discord for communities, or Threema for anonymous messaging. Each option beats WhatsApp’s 26 data collection points while offering superior functionality.
Read more: iPhone Developers Introduces Free and Secured Offline Messaging App for Users
