Ethical Alternatives & Resources
Tools, services and organisations that do less harm than the default choice, in 43 categories. We’re re-checking every entry against our checklist, one category at a time.
Messaging
Messaging apps for friends, family and groups, including some that work without a phone number or even the internet. For private messaging apps, we look for end-to-end encryption by default, open code and a business model that doesn’t depend on your data.
Our top pick is Signal, from a non-profit foundation, with everything end-to-end encrypted by default; the trade-off is that you still need a phone number to sign up. If you’d rather not give one, Delta Chat is encrypted by default, runs on email relays and is funded by public grants, with no venture capital.
Our guide to Facebook alternatives compares them job by job.
How we choose: each app is checked against the 6 principles in our manifesto: who owns it and how it makes money, what it collects, how it treats people, honesty, openness and staying power. We last checked them on 13 October 2026.
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SimpleX Chat
Messenger with no phone number, username or user ID at all; audited and open source
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Olvid
French encrypted messenger with no phone number or email, certified by France's ANSSI
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Threema
Swiss end-to-end encrypted messenger with open-source apps, a one-off USD 6 to buy
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Matrix
Open standard for encrypted, federated chat, stewarded by a UK nonprofit
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Conversations
Encrypted-by-default XMPP chat app for Android, free on F-Droid, ToS;DR grade A
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Tox
Volunteer peer-to-peer messenger with no servers or phone number; contacts see your IP
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Briar
Encrypted messenger that works without internet over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, in maintenance mode
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Delta Chat
Encrypted messenger built on email relays, no phone number needed, grant-funded
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Element
Matrix chat with encrypted private rooms, from a VC-backed UK firm that sells to governments
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Jami
Peer-to-peer calls and chat with no phone number or central server, a GNU project
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Signal
Nonprofit messenger with everything end-to-end encrypted by default; needs a phone number