Top Alternatives to Matrix.org

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.

Pidgin is a free and open-source multi-protocol instant messaging client designed to connect users across various chat networks with a single application. It's highly extensible through plugins and supports a wide range of protocols including XMPP, ICQ, and IRC.

Tor (The Onion Router) is a free and open-source software that enables anonymous communication. It directs internet traffic through a free, worldwide volunteer overlay network, consisting of thousands of relays, to conceal a user's location and usage from anyone conducting network surveillance or traffic analysis.

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.

Discord is a versatile free communication platform designed initially for gamers but now widely used for communities of all types. It offers voice and text chat, video calls, and robust server customization for groups of any size, providing a centralized hub for real-time interaction and community building.

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.

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.

Glip, by RingCentral, is a comprehensive team collaboration platform combining real-time messaging, video calls, task management, and file sharing into a single, searchable hub. Designed to streamline communication and workflow, it aims to replace disjointed tools with a unified digital workspace.

I2P (The Invisible Internet Project) is a secure, anonymous overlay network layer designed for privacy-preserving communication and application hosting. It enables users to browse anonymously, host websites (.i2p 'eepsites'), chat, and transfer files without revealing their identity or location.

Freenet is a robust, decentralized peer-to-peer platform designed to provide uncensored communication and information sharing. It leverages a distributed data store and a suite of free software applications to enable users to publish and access content anonymously, bypassing censorship and surveillance.

Mattermost is an open-source, self-hosted platform for secure team collaboration, offering a Slack-alternative with emphasis on data control, privacy, and customizability. It provides a range of communication and project management tools for distributed and technical teams.

Rocket.Chat is a comprehensive free and open-source team communication platform, offering real-time chat, audio/video conferencing, screen sharing, and file sharing. Designed for flexibility, it can be self-hosted on-premises for maximum control and customization, making it ideal for organizations prioritizing data privacy and security.

Gajim is a free and open-source instant messaging client for the XMPP protocol. Built using the GTK+ toolkit, it offers a wide array of features for secure and flexible communication, including encrypted chat, group conversations, multi-protocol support via gateways, and extensive customization options.

GNUnet is a free and open-source framework for building secure, distributed, and privacy-preserving peer-to-peer applications. It goes beyond simple file sharing, offering a foundation for various decentralized services designed to resist surveillance and censorship.

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.

ZeroNet is a decentralized, peer-to-peer network designed for building uncensored websites and applications. It leverages Bitcoin cryptography and BitTorrent technology to create a distributed platform where sites are hosted by visitors.

Let's Chat is a self-hosted, open-source messaging application built for small to medium-sized teams. It provides persistent chat rooms, private messaging, and collaboration tools, prioritizing ease of deployment and control over your data.

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.

TribeScale is an all-in-one platform designed to streamline team coordination, encompassing communication, goal management, task delegation, and progress tracking to enhance productivity and alignment within organizations.

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.

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.

Wickr is a secure and private instant messaging platform designed for individuals and teams who prioritize confidentiality. It offers end-to-end encryption, self-destructing messages, and a focus on anonymity to ensure that conversations and shared data remain protected.

ejabberd is a robust, scalable, and modular XMPP application server designed for real-time communication, supporting a wide range of features including chat, group messaging, federation, and security protocols. Written primarily in Erlang, it's known for its high performance and reliability.

Gitter is a free and open-source instant messaging and chat service designed specifically for developers and users of GitHub projects. It provides real-time communication within the context of software development teams and communities.

Openfire is a powerful, open-source instant messaging and group chat server built on the XMPP protocol. It enables real-time communication, collaboration, and presence management for individuals and organizations, offering robust features and a modular architecture for customization.