I see sometimes newspaper from general way or even IT-specialised journalists comparing few secure messenging apps, without bringing advanced or expert eyes on that. So Im wondering, about firstly a long list of tools about secured messenging and voice/video conferencing... It's initially made from france, where those types of comparison are generally limited up to ten big ones (as firstly listed here), doesnt help to makes others independents, more recents or just alternative software being known for worldwide internet users. Also, to explain better, to non-IT specialised journalists, to see it with a better glance.
If you have some remarks, suggestions, ideas, or any others good or less good feedbacks.. thanks to it!
original posts (in fr):
(links removed)
the most populars/known/simples :
[*]whatsapp :
2009, usa. Bought by meta (facebook, insta..), among the firsts messenging apps on smartphone. Enjoys zero-rates in some latino or africa countries -means free cell data usage (illegal in europe)-, and makes it the most used app in the world. About 1Bd users.
https://www.whatsapp.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whatsapp
encryption: protocole signal ["WhatsApp messages are encrypted with the Signal Protocol.[217] WhatsApp calls are encrypted with SRTP, and all client-server communications are "layered within a separate encrypted channel"" ]
https://www.whatsapp.com/security/Wh...Whitepaper.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20160405...Whitepaper.pdf
[*]signal (usa, 2014, Signal protocol) , 40M users
https://signal.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_(application)
encryption : signal protocol
[*]telegram (dubai, 2013), made by russian gov opponents/protestors ; 500M users.
https://telegram.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegram_(application)
encryption : mix of several techniques, under name of "MTProto"
[Telegram uses a custom build symmetric encryption scheme called MTProto. The protocol was developed by Nikolai Durov and other developers at Telegram and is based on 256-bit symmetric AES encryption, 2048-bit RSA encryption and Diffie–Hellman key exchange.]
https://core.telegram.org/techfaq
https://web.archive.org/web/20170128...am.org/techfaq
[*]viber (israel, 2010) ; created by formers israel intelligence experts, bought by rakuten (900MdUSD), based in cyprus. 1Bd users in 2018
https://viber.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viber
encryption : similar to signal
https://web.archive.org/web/20160711...urity-overview
from big manufacturers :
[*]iMessage, (Apple, 2011), usa, made by and for mac/ios users... only for apple products users
http://support.apple.com/explore/messages
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imessage
[*]RCS, (google, 2022, from jibe acquisition, 2015), millions of users du to the rcs default enabled by lot of android-based brands, in the default messaging's android app, starting 2022 (or before)
https://jibe.google.com/
https://support.google.com/messages/answer/7189714
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_C...ation_Services
NB: google and apple are in thermonuclear war on their respective mobile/cell market, until to avoid compatibility between their own messenging system (imessage vs rcs). with a certain late (about ten years), google tried to compete with apple's imessage in a way by the acquisition of jibe in a first time, then to cooperate with major cell services providers, but they almost all denied in a first time. Then they started to store themself the data of rcs, before having more agreements with differents cell services providers.
NB2: i could had feu BBerry messenger, RIP to it..
the less known/differents/independents/minor apps :
[*]skype, microsoft : most used service in the 2000s, still working.. for individuals (use teams for pro/business)
low security, in a way it's not end-to-end encrypted. Notice skype for business/pro is just a rebranded microsoft lync software. All communications are stored and processed in clear on msft servers
https://www.skype.com/fr/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype_security
a similar of yahoo video services:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...internet-yahoo
[*]teams, microsoft, usa, 2017 : mainly used for business talks and education communication. about 280M users monthly ; mainly used for videoconferencing.
https://www.microsoft.com/fr-fr/micr...teamscom&rtc=1
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/27/micr...l-clients.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Teams
[*]Rocketchat, 2016, USA, a bit like teams/slack
https://rocket.chat
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q24050001
[*]slack, usa, 2013, a bit like teams/slack
https://slack.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slack_(software)
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slack_(plateforme)
[*]discord, usa, 2015, ~150Millions active users in 2020
very popular regarding young (means 2000born-users) users, mainly videogamers.
https://discord.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discord
[*]threeema (switzerland, 2012, 1€ to open the account -maybe a subscription) ; 10M users.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threema
https://threema.ch/
encryption: Naci (ECC based)
the encryption process used by Threema is based on the open-source library NaCl library. Threema uses asymmetric ECC-based encryption, with 256-bit strength.
https://web.archive.org/web/20181125...ch/validation/
[*]citadel/tchap : thalès/ercom, french, with voice/video on subscription; citadel for individuals and businesses, tchap for fr public service workers. Based on Elements
https://www.thalesgroup.com/fr/citadel-team
https://www.ercom.fr/solutions/citad...m-presentation
no wiki..
[*]olvid, 2018, france : made by two crypto pHD/scientists, voice/video on subscription.
https://www.olvid.io/fr
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olvid
[*]skred : france, from skyrock, merged with twinme
https://skred.mobi/fr/
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skred
[*]wire : switzerland, 2014
https://wire.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_(software)
encryption : proteus (
https://www.x41-dsec.de/reports/Kude...1-20170208.pdf)
[*]element : israel, 2016, very popular to opensource communities, uses the matrix protocol, interoperable with jabber/xmpp, to communicate. Matrix foundation is in uk. Can operate with matrix/jabber/xmpp users
https://element.io
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Element_(software)
matrix protocol :
https://matrix.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_(protocol)
(advantages, disadvantages :ask me PM to translate feedbacks)
[*]conversations (germany, 2014, used with xmpp/jabber, free, interoperable with jabber/xmpp/matrix/elements, optimised for android ; apps snikket/siskin for ios) ; requires account creation, from the app or jabber server, free. made by Daniel Gultsch. [my favourite with quicksy]
https://conversations.im/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversations_(software)
encryption: OpenPGP, or OMEMO (by défaut)
https://conversations.im/#security
https://conversations.im/omemo/
[*]quicksy : same as last conversations (same developper) but uses the cell phone number instead of login/pass. by Daniel Gultsch
https://quicksy.im/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conver...tware)#Quicksy
[*]cheogram : used for xmpp calls, from canadian project (soprani). Could be used with xmpp/jabber calls worlwide with sipbroker gateways
https://cheogram.com/
[*] delta chat : opensource, could send text messages to an email recipient.
https://delta.chat/fr/help
encryption : autocrypt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocrypt
[*]Jami
2016, only app being totally federated/uncentralised (means no server) encrypted and opensource. Uses SIP.
Instant secure messaging, and voice/videoconference.
https://jami.net/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jami_(software)
[*]linphone (SIP, good for voice/video)
first app for free internet voice/video in the 2000's running on win/nux/mac
https://linphone.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linphone
encryption zrtip, srtp
[*]ippi (sip, does same as linphone, but add worldwide phone calls on subscription)
encryption zrtip, srtp
https://ippi.com
[*]Tribu (2022)
only for groups, for friends/family, for better daily organisation
https://tribu.free-explorers.com/
[*]IRC, ICQ : still used after twenty/thirty years of availability ; lot of adepts of such technology, that protocol is mainly used by geeks/nerds ; works well for "shared conversation channels". Just try it!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Relay_Chat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICQ
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Relay_Chat
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICQ
Specialised in country/area/region:
[*] Weixin/Wechat/QQ: between 1-3Bd users ; hugely used in china.
called weixin there: "here they dont even think that you dont have it. Nobody in china doesnt have it".
you see the little old man drawing portraits within the street near tourists ; at the payment time, he shows you a little pancarte with his qr code printed on it, to let you pay him through wechat, cause everyone doesnt have cash in its pockets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wechat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tencent_QQ
used for.. almost everything in china.
/!\ dont be confused : wechat, the indispensable app in china ; and weechat, the irc client software
[*]Line, japon, 2011: very used in asia, and not only : japan, korea, china (with censorship), thaïland, also chili, spain..hundred of thousand users
https://line.me/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_(software)
secret/underground/clandestine/invisibles (no others words
)
[*]session : encryption using the blockchain, without server, for strong anonymous purposes : less tracking if voice/video are disabled, by default
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_(software)
encryption : based on blockchain, with uncentralised nodes (like tor)
https://www.gadgets360.com/cryptocur...-nodes-2568208
[*]ricochet, 2014, uses different tor nodes to do instant messaging.
https://www.ricochetrefresh.net/#about
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricochet_(software)
[*]tox : encrypted messenging, without server, with different client apps, on ios/android/fdroid, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tox_(protocol)
https://tox.chat/
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com....cations.trifa/ (nice one for tox, with qrcode with long touch on the ID)
encryption : NaCl (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NaCl_(software))
(advantages, disadvantages :ask me PM to translate feedbacks)
[*]Briar : Herited from Ensichat. Very confidential or underground app : either through tor if using internet, or only wifi without internet, or bluetooth, even through sdcards.. Recommended by edward snowden, and uses the bramble protocol. More paranoïac than tox: voice/videocalls not permited.
https://f-droid.org/fr/packages/org.....briar.android
https://briarproject.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briar_(software)
chiffrement : compliqué, voir:
https://briarproject.org/how-it-works/
https://code.briarproject.org/briar/briar/-/wikis/home
[*] SimpleX : 2020, claims that: Other apps have user IDs: Signal, Matrix, Session, Briar, Jami, Cwtch, etc.
SimpleX does not, not even random numbers.
https://simplex.chat/
https://app.simplex.chat/
(no wiki page yet)
NB: for that least category, some of them are deliberately without, or by default disabled, of voice/videoconference, to help better privacy respect of even clandestinely communication. Session shows a warning message in that case (you can enable it manually) at the difference of briar, whom looks like to totally disable it.
NB2: some observers or comments generally reports that signal, telegram, whapp &co uses either jabber/xmpp or sip protocol ; it's probably true, but on ten years of development it might be probably incompatible with the original opensource one. In other hand, at a specific time, around 2010, when eg google talk was released, it was compatible with others messenging app through xmpp protocol. Google even tried to recruit all over the world engineers skilled with that type of software/communication developpement, including that (fr) one :
https://grenoble.ninja/comment-tuer-...e-le-fediverse
various apps may use similar or propers protocols, rarely (or never) compatible with others apps.
less known, most voice/videoconference than messenging:
[*]jitsi, opensource, simple
[*]facetime for apple users
[*]skype, teams, lync(skypeforbusiness/enterprise) (see skype part previously)
[*]galene, little videoconference opensouce software, used in some universities and schools in paris/france
https://galene.org/
[*] bigbluebutton, canada, 2007, mainly for school/universities, also adopted in different government teams (france)
https://bigbluebutton.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BigBlueButton
also, sip(voice/video) services or software providers (generally both):
[*]linphone et ippi, both from france, first one detailled before, second one allows calls all over the world on subscription. Could both be reached from sipbrokers.
NB: for alternative mobile systems, means no iOS, no android/lineageos-likes, eg postmarketos, mobian, sailfish (xperia/jolla), manjaro, pinephone or purism/pureos...
there are existing jabber/xmpp clients, also SIP apps, working (almost) well, with success to discuss with ios/android-likes contacts though jabber/xmpp.
where even whatsapp most popular is absent, signal and telegram have specific client-messaging apps:
https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/A...senger_clients
there was a traditionnal phone gateway to SIP explained, but I dont know if it worth the translation, where it's used only by hundred or thousand persons/users all over the world, even if that type of communication, beloved to avoid big apps/companies, or just because everybody doesnt have a smartphone
D), is still appreciated, eg in Australia, in Canada..(eg with voip.ms provider, app available on fdroid). Where a common phone can be in communication (for free through gateways) with a sip user all over the world -regarding latency.
sip/gw : there is a sipbroker little network/website, whom permits to reach a sip user from all around the world, using a simple landline, or a common cellphone (a pots/pstn, aka common phone network), normally for free. See sip gateways (or ask here or in PM) for more information. You can reach SIP users, and some xmpp/jabber users too. Long post/explaination about that hasnt been translated yet.
others comparators:
EN:
https://www.messenger-matrix.de/mess...matrix-en.html
FR:
https://wiki.jabberfr.org/Jabber_en_...s_instantanées
FR:
https://www.freie-messenger.de/datei...ssenger_FR.PDF
EN:
https://www.freie-messenger.de/datei...ssenger_EN.PDF
DE:
https://www.freie-messenger.de/datei.../Messenger.PDF
EN:
https://www.freie-messenger.de/en/
DE:
https://www.freie-messenger.de/
EN:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compar...saging_clients
EN:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messaging_apps
EN:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compar...ging_platforms
others interesting things :
https://dontkillmyapp.com/ <= for those who have problems of backgroud refresh app or lack of notifications
let's achieve that damn list work in one draw:
http://amaldev.blog/wp-content/uploa...d-edited-1.jpg
and what's your favourite?
differents specificities, observations, advices or others warnings or recommendations you'd like to add or share?
(some comments already translated and integrated in eng...)
[translated]the remaining question... "why?", it's complicated regarding a population totally resigned about privacy concerns and closed-source apps ("but they already know everything about us etc etc" as a common answer). Only ones trying to move somewhere else [than popular apps] are the users ones with their ggle/msft/meta account disabled or definitively banned without any type of possible rescourse
will be edited/updateed on long term..
