Today, Telegram is no longer the leader in the messenger market. More and more users are choosing to use alternative applications that offer improved security and privacy, as well as enhanced functionality.

Fortunately, there are quite a lot of apps like Telegram on the market today. Therefore, users can choose from a list of available options.

Let’s look at what’s wrong with Telegram, and what the best Telegram alternatives are available today.

What is Telegram?

Telegram is a popular application for messaging and making voice or video calls. Telegram has become popular due to its ease of use, fast messaging speed, and the ability to create channels and groups for large audiences. 

The application’s main advantages used to be reliable protection, no ads, and the ability to flexibly configure privacy. However, the application has recently been criticized due to the loss of its original concept of privacy, the presence of ads and bots spreading spam, and increased problems with content moderation.

Therefore, users around the world began to look for apps like Telegram.

What is Important for Users When Choosing Apps Like Telegram?

For some reason, many people think that it is important for users to have numerous criteria when choosing a reliable messaging apps. However, this is not entirely true. According to surveys, about 78% of messenger users rely on three main criteria when choosing an app:

• Security.
• Functions.
• Availability.

Next, let’s consider each of the criteria in more detail.

Security

Security is one of the most important criteria when choosing a messaging chat. First, personal and sensitive user data passes through these platforms. How securely the application protects correspondence depends on whether private conversations will be accessible to third parties and how secure financial transactions or the exchange of confidential information are.

Functions

The messenger’s wide functionality allows users to solve various tasks effectively without having to switch to other applications. Tools for file sharing, voice and video calls, integration with external services, and the ability to create channels and groups with advanced settings make the messenger not just a means of communication but also a full-fledged platform for work, business, and entertainment.

Availability

In addition, users pay attention to the availability of the apps alternative to Telegram on different platforms. Running on iOS, Android, or PC, they can instantly switch between phones, tablets, and computers without losing the context of the messages. It is convenient both for personal communication and for work, where it is important to stay in touch anywhere and at any time. The versatility of the platforms expands the possibilities of use and makes the application more flexible and accessible.

Top 10 Telegram Alternatives in 2025

On the Internet, you can find many affordable and diverse messengers for any purpose of use. However, here are the top 10 Telegram alternatives that may be of interest to users looking for different security features and approaches:

1. Signal is an app with a focus on privacy and security. It uses end-to-end encryption and does not store metadata.
2. WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messengers with message encryption support and extensive communication and business functions.
3. Nicegram is an unofficial client for Telegram that offers an improved interface and additional features not available in the standard version of the messenger.
4. Discord is a great solution for gamers and communities, offering voice and video calls and integration with gaming platforms.
5. Threema is privacy-oriented does not require a phone number to register, and supports end-to-end encryption.
6. Wire — highly rated for security and capabilities for business teams, supports video calls, and file sharing.
7. Slack is a popular alternative business app with powerful tools for collaboration and integration with other services.
8. Skype is an old but reliable messenger with functions of video calls, messaging, and files.
9. Mattermost focuses on teams and businesses by providing private chats, channels, and integration with a variety of tools.
10. Element (formerly Riot) is an open-source messenger chat that supports secure conversations and collaboration within a decentralized network.

Next, let’s compare the Telegram alternative chats in more detail to understand which one is best to use based on a user request.

True Comparison of the Most Popular Telegram Alternatives

During the comparison, great popular messengers will be compared based on four main aspects: security, functionality, interface, and price:

Messengers	Security Level	Features	Interface	Price
Signal	End-to-end encryption for all messages, calls, and files. It does not store metadata and minimizes the collection of user data.	Text messages, voice and video calls, file sharing, and group chats. Signal allows sending self-destructing messages and provides features for secure content sharing.	It is simple and convenient, with a minimalistic design.	Free-of-charge.
WhatsApp	End-to-end encryption for messages, calls, and media files, ensuring the confidentiality of communication.	Text messages, voice and video calls, file sharing, creating group chats and channels. Status functions and integration with business accounts are also available.	It is simple and intuitive, with a minimalistic design.	Free-of-charge.
Nicegram	This application guarantees the advanced level of protection as the official Telegram.	Chat rooms, channels, and bots, as well as additional features such as improved notification settings.	The interface can be customized using various themes and customization options.	Free-of-charge.
Discord	The encryption of messages and calls. However, is not end-to-end, which may raise questions about privacy.	Text and voice chats, video calls, file sharing, and integration with games and other services.	The interface is adapted to the needs of communities and gamers.	Discord is free-of-charge but it offers a paid Discord Nitro subscription.
Threema	High level of security, and uses end-to-end encryption for all messages, calls, and files.	Text messages, voice, and video calls, file sharing, and group creation.	The interface is simple and intuitive, with a focus on convenience and security.	Threema is a paid application that costs a one-time fee.
Wire	End-to-end encryption for all messages, calls, and files. The application also does not store user data on its servers and provides a high level of privacy.	Text messages, voice and video calls, file sharing, group chats, and the ability to integrate with corporate services.	The interface is modern, with a focus on convenience and minimalism.	Wire is free for personal use, but offers paid subscriptions for business.
Slack	Two-factor authentication and other security features to protect corporate data.	Text chats, voice, and video calls, file sharing, integration with multiple external services.	The interface is convenient for teamwork, with a clear channel structure and the ability to customize for each user.	A free version with basic features, as well as paid subscriptions with additional features.
Skype	Encryption for messages and calls. However, it is not always end-to-end for all types of content.	Text messages, voice and video calls, file sharing, and creating group chats.	The interface may look a bit outdated compared to newer messengers.	Free-of-charge.
Mattermost	A high level of security using message and data encryption, as well as support for two-factor authentication.	Text messages, voice and video calls, file sharing, and integration with various external services.	The interface is intuitive and team-oriented.	A free version with basic features, as well as paid subscriptions with additional features.
Element	End-to-end encryption for all messages and calls, which ensures a high level of privacy.	Text messages, voice and video calls, file sharing, creating group chats and channels.	The interface is quite flexible and customizable.	A free version with basic features, as well as paid subscriptions with additional features.

Each of the proposed options has both pros and cons. However, Nicegram stands out due to its increased data security and extensive functionality.

Apps Like Telegram For The Purpose Of Use

When choosing alternative to Telegram tools, you need to decide for what purposes you will use the messenger:

• Personal use.
• Business use.
• For confidentiality.
• For gamers and communities.

Personal Use

1. Signal is a convenient messenger with a focus on private communication.
2. WhatsApp is a popular and convenient messenger with support for text messages, voice, and video calls, as well as file sharing.
3. Nicegram is a universal messenger with the ability to exchange messages, and create channels and groups with different information, as well as the absence of censorship on published and viewed content.
4. Threema is a privacy-oriented messenger that does not require a phone number to register and does not collect metadata.

Business Use

1. Slack is ideal for teamwork. It supports channels for different projects, integration with many third-party services, as well as task and file management. Great for corporate communication.
2. Nicegram — includes chat, channels, groups, the ability to transfer multimedia files, and much more.
3. Wire — group chats, video calls, and file sharing, while providing a high level of privacy.
4. Mattermost is a messenger with the ability to deploy on its own servers, which is especially important for companies that care about data security.

For Confidentiality

1. Signal — end-to-end encryption for all messages and calls, does not collect metadata, and does not require personal data for registration.
2. Threema is a chat focused on anonymity and privacy.
3. Nicegram has good privacy settings, including two-factor authentication, self-destructing messages, and the ability to hide personal data.
4. Wire — provides a high level of privacy, supports end-to-end encryption, and allows you to store data on your own servers.

For Gamers and Communities

1. Discord — supports voice and video calls, and text chats, and also has the ability to create servers with various channels for communication and organizing games and streaming options.
2. Nicegram — although it does not specialize in gamers, its capabilities for creating groups, channels, and bots, as well as support for multimedia files.
3. Slack offers integrations and chats can also be useful for gaming communities, especially when it comes to team games and organizing events.

Conclusion: How to Choose the Best Telegram Alternative App

In conclusion, here are some working tips that will help you choose the most suitable apps like Telegram:

• Determine the priority. Choose which of the points is most important to you: security, functionality, or price.
• Check the functionality. Before choosing, check the functionality of the application and make sure that it offers all the necessary functions.
• Check the availability. Make sure that the messenger supports all the devices you use (iOS, Android, PC).
• Choose privacy. Choose messengers that do not collect data or offer flexible privacy settings.
• Test the interface. Look at the application’s interface and decide how convenient it is to use it.

It is important to consider how the alternative messenger handles your tasks: security, functionality, availability, and interface. Therefore, the most practical messenger app on the list is Nicegram.

But the choice is up to you!