Top Alternatives to Facebook Messenger

Skype is a versatile communication platform offering free voice and video calls to other Skype users, as well as affordable calls to landlines and mobile phones worldwide. It provides instant messaging, file sharing, and screen sharing features, making it a comprehensive tool for personal and professional connectivity across various devices.

Google Hangouts was a versatile communication platform offering instant messaging, voice and video calls, and SMS capabilities directly from web browsers and mobile devices. Integrated deeply with Gmail and other Google services, it provided a convenient way to connect and collaborate across various platforms.

Telegram is a fast and secure cloud-based instant messaging platform offering robust privacy features, large group support, file sharing, and cross-platform synchronization, making it a versatile communication tool.

WhatsApp Messenger is a widely used free messaging and calling app, available globally. It enables communication through text, voice messages, and video calls, facilitating connections between individuals and groups across various devices and platforms.

Adium is a free and open-source instant messaging client for macOS, designed to connect to multiple chat networks simultaneously. Supporting protocols like Jabber (XMPP), Google Talk, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), ICQ, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo! Messenger, Adium provides a unified interface for all your conversations.

Tox is a free, open-source, and secure peer-to-peer instant messaging and video calling protocol designed for strong privacy and censorship resistance. It provides end-to-end encrypted communications without reliance on central servers.

Trillian is a versatile, multi-protocol instant messaging client that unifies various communication platforms like IRC, XMPP, and more into a single, user-friendly interface. It's designed for both personal and team collaboration, offering features like encrypted chats, group collaboration tools, and extensive customization options.

Viber is a comprehensive messaging and VoIP application enabling free and secure calls and messages to users worldwide. It offers robust features for both individual and group communication across various devices.

Signal is a secure, open-source messaging application that uses end-to-end encryption to protect user communications. It offers text messaging, voice and video calls, group chats, and file sharing, all with a strong focus on privacy and security. Available on multiple platforms, Signal is a leading choice for individuals prioritizing confidential conversations.

Jitsi is a free and open-source suite of secure, flexible communication tools. It offers multi-platform support for voice (VoIP), video conferencing, and instant messaging, emphasizing privacy and ease of use with no account required to start a meeting.

Digsby was a multi-protocol instant messaging client that unified connections to various chat networks and social media platforms. It allowed users to manage their conversations and updates from services like Aim, Msn, Yahoo, Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace all within a single, integrated application.

Miranda IM is a lightweight, open-source, multi-protocol instant messaging client designed specifically for Microsoft Windows. Known for its extensibility and resource efficiency, it allows users to connect to various chat networks simultaneously through a flexible plugin-based architecture.

Imo is a free instant messaging and video calling application designed for global reach, prioritizing reliability, particularly in regions with unstable network conditions. It offers features like voice and video calls, chat, group messaging, and various multimedia sharing options.

Empathy is a versatile multi-protocol messaging client designed for text, voice, and video communication across numerous IM networks. It offers features like file transfers, location sharing, and integration with various services, providing a unified communication experience.

IM+ is a versatile instant messaging application designed to unify communication across multiple platforms. It supports a wide array of popular services, including Google Talk, Twitter DMs, Yahoo!, AIM/iChat, ICQ, Jabber, and even Slack. IM+ simplifies staying connected with friends, family, and colleagues, offering a centralized hub for all your chat needs.

LINE is a versatile communication platform offering free voice and video calls, messaging, and a wide array of interactive features to connect with friends and family globally. It goes beyond basic chat with unique stickers, timeline posts, and integration with various services, providing a comprehensive social and communication experience in one app.

Psi is a robust, open-source instant messaging client built on the XMPP protocol. It's known for its focus on speed, efficiency, and adherence to XMPP standards, offering a clean interface and strong privacy features for secure and reliable communication.

Wire is a secure, cross-platform messaging and collaboration client offering end-to-end encryption by default for all communication types including messaging, voice and video calls, and file sharing across desktop and mobile devices.

Kopete is a versatile, free and open-source instant messaging client designed initially for the KDE Plasma desktop. It distinguishes itself by supporting a multitude of protocols, allowing users to connect to various chat networks from a single application.

Franz is a free, open-source application that consolidates multiple messaging and chat services into a single, convenient interface. It allows users to manage conversations across platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, and more without switching between different apps.

ICQ is a veteran instant messaging platform offering a wide range of communication features, including text chat, voice and video calls, screen sharing, and group chats. It aims to provide a reliable and feature-rich messaging experience with a focus on privacy and security.

FaceTime is Apple's integrated video and audio calling service, providing a seamless communication experience across Apple devices. It allows users to connect with friends and family through high-quality video and audio calls, including group conversations.

Fring was a pioneering mobile application that unified communication across popular platforms like Skype, MSN Messenger, ICQ, and Google Talk directly from your iPhone, offering voice calls, video calls, and messaging.

WeChat is a comprehensive mobile app offering instant messaging, social networking, payment services, and access to a wide range of mini-programs. It facilitates communication through text, voice, and video, supports group interactions, and integrates various lifestyle services.

Miranda NG is a highly extensible, multi-protocol instant messaging client for Windows. A successor to the popular Miranda IM, it offers a modular architecture supporting numerous chat networks, allowing users to consolidate their conversations into a single interface. It's designed for resource efficiency and deep customization.

Instantbird is a powerful, cross-platform instant messaging client built on Mozilla's XULRunner, leveraging the robust libpurple library from Pidgin. It supports a wide array of instant messaging protocols, offering a unified chat experience.

iMessage is a secure instant messaging service developed by Apple, seamlessly integrated across its ecosystem of devices. It allows users to send text messages, photos, videos, audio messages, and more, with end-to-end encryption for enhanced privacy.

Xabber is a free and open-source XMPP (Jabber) client for Android. It provides secure and reliable instant messaging with support for various XMPP features, including encryption, group chat, and decentralized communication. Leveraging the open XMPP protocol, Xabber offers a privacy-friendly alternative to centralized messaging platforms.

Tango is a comprehensive communication platform that offers free messaging, high-quality video and voice calls, and features for discovering and connecting with new people. It integrates social elements like photo sharing and groups, alongside essential security and privacy features.

qutIM is a free and open-source, multi-protocol instant messenger designed for connecting to various networks including ICQ, Jabber, Mail.Ru, IRC, and VKontakte. It offers a unified interface for managing multiple accounts and conversations.

KakaoTalk is a popular mobile messaging service offering free text, voice, and video calls. Primarily used in South Korea, it provides a comprehensive communication platform with features like group chats, stickers, and a strong emphasis on user privacy and security.

Conversations is a privacy-focused, open-source XMPP/Jabber client for Android. It offers robust end-to-end encryption using OMEMO and OTR, supports modern XMPP extensions, and provides a secure, decentralized messaging experience without relying on proprietary servers. It's an ideal choice for users prioritizing security and open standards.

BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) was a pioneering instant messaging and videotelephony application, originally exclusive to BlackBerry devices, which expanded to support iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile. It facilitated secure text messaging, voice calls, and video calls.

Rambox is a FOSS and portable messaging and emailing application that consolidates numerous web services into a single, convenient interface. It supports a wide array of communication and collaboration platforms, including popular chat, email, and social media services, offering a unified experience with features like unified inbox and notifications.

Fleep is a business communication platform designed for teams of all sizes, facilitating collaboration within and across organizations through a combination of chat, task management, and file sharing.

Kadu is a free, open-source, multi-platform instant messaging client supporting Gadu-Gadu, XMPP, and related services like Google Talk, providing users with a versatile and extensible communication tool.

Tencent QQ (QQ) is a versatile instant messaging and social platform widely used in China and expandingglobally. It offers a wide range of communication tools including text chat, voice and video calls, group chats, and file sharing.

Finch is a versatile, command-line based instant messaging client that leverages the Pidgin network libraries. It supports multiple protocols like AIM, Jabber, MSN, Yahoo!, IRC, and more, providing a text-only interface for users who prefer the efficiency and minimalism of the console environment.

Jitsi Meet is a free, open-source video conferencing platform enabling secure and scalable group calls directly in your browser. It prioritizes privacy and offers features like screen sharing, chat, and collaborative editing without requiring account creation or software downloads.

GroupMe is a free group messaging app that makes it easy to stay connected with friends, family, and colleagues. With its intuitive interface and cross-platform compatibility, GroupMe simplifies communication for any size group.

Coccinella is a free and open-source, cross-platform XMPP/Jabber client. It offers secure instant messaging, group chat, voice chat, and a unique interactive whiteboard feature. Designed with privacy and security in mind, Coccinella provides encrypted communications and supports various communication protocols for a flexible messaging experience on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Zulip is a powerful open-source group chat application designed for team collaboration. It uniquely structures conversations around topics, enabling users to easily catch up on important discussions and manage information overload. Zulip facilitates secure communication with integrated file sharing and various integrations.

Disa is a unified messaging hub that consolidates conversations from various services like SMS, Facebook, and WhatsApp into a single interface, simplifying communication management.

Dialog Messenger is a robust, feature-rich enterprise messaging solution designed for businesses prioritizing security, privacy, and control. Available for both private server deployment and cloud hosting, it facilitates secure text, voice, and video communication across multiple devices, enabling seamless collaboration and real-time interaction within organizations.

Dasher Messenger is a feature-rich instant messaging application designed for connecting with friends and groups. It goes beyond basic text messaging, offering capabilities to share various forms of media, integrate external content, and even facilitate peer-to-peer transactions.

YakYak is an unofficial desktop client for Google Hangouts, providing a dedicated application experience outside of a web browser with features focused on convenience and improved usability.