Client | Publisher | First public release | Type | Latest stable version | License | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adium | Adam Iser, Evan Schoenberg | September 2001; 18 years ago | Multi-protocol | 1.5.10.4 (April 27, 2017; 2 years ago)[±] | GPLv2 | ||||||||||||||||
aMSN | The aMSN team | May 2002; 17 years ago | Single-protocol | 0.98.4 | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) | AOL | May 1997; 22 years ago | Single-protocol | 8.0.8.1 (April 6, 2015; 4 years ago)[±] | Discontinued (was freeware) | ||||||||||||||||
Ayttm | Colin Leroy and Philip Tellis | April 2003; 16 years ago | Multi-protocol |
| GPL | ||||||||||||||||
BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) | BlackBerry Limited | 2006; 13 years ago | Single-protocol | 10.5.5.38 (BlackBerry 10) (31 October 2014; 4 years ago)[±] 8.5.1.8 (BlackBerry) (3 August 2014; 5 years ago)[±] Music file-sharing. 2.5.0.36 (Android) (10 November 2014; 4 years ago)[±] https://oilyellow807.weebly.com/blog/best-skype-video-recorder-for-mac. 2.5.0.26 (iOS) (31 October 2014; 4 years ago)[±] | Discontinued (was freeware) | ||||||||||||||||
BitlBee | Wilmer van der Gaast | August 9, 2002; 17 years ago | Multi-protocol IRC gateway | 3.6 (7 February 2019; 6 months ago[2])[±] | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Bombus | Eugene Stahov | January 5, 2005; 14 years ago | Single-protocol | v0.6 (2008; 11 years ago) | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Centericq | Konstantin Klyagin | 1999; 20 years ago | Multi-protocol | 4.21.0 (September 2, 2005; 14 years ago)[±] | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Conversations | Daniel Gultsch | January 24, 2014; 5 years ago | Single-protocol | 2.3.1 (October 5, 2018; 10 months ago) | GPLv3 | ||||||||||||||||
Coccinella | Mats Bengtsson | December 1, 1999; 19 years ago | Single-protocol | 0.96.16 (December 1, 2009; 9 years ago) | GPLv3 | ||||||||||||||||
Discord | Discord Inc. | March 6, 2015; 4 years ago | Single-protocol | 9.2.2019; (July 24, 2019; 42 days ago) | |||||||||||||||||
eBuddy | Paulo Taylor | March 9, 2003; 16 years ago | Multi-protocol | 2011; 8 years ago | |||||||||||||||||
emesene | Luis Mariano Guerra | May 24, 2006; 13 years ago | Multi-protocol | 2.12.5 | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Empathy | The GNOME Project | May 2007; 12 years ago | Multi-protocol | 3.12.12[3](May 13, 2016; 3 years ago)[±] | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Facebook Messenger | Facebook, Inc. | August 9, 2011; 8 years ago | Single-protocol | ||||||||||||||||||
FaceTime | Apple Inc. |
| Single-protocol |
| Part of macOS or iOS | ||||||||||||||||
Fire | Eric Peyton | April 1, 1999; 20 years ago | Multi-protocol | 1.5.6 (February 16, 2006)[±] | Discontinued (was Free) | ||||||||||||||||
Firetalk | Multitude Communications | 1997–2001 | voice/music chat program | GPL | |||||||||||||||||
Flock | Riva FZC | September 2014; 5 years ago | Single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Gadu-Gadu | Łukasz Foltyn / GG Network S.A. | August 15, 2000; 19 years ago | Single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Gajim | Yann Le Boulanger | May 21, 2004; 15 years ago | Single-protocol | 1.1.3 (April 24, 2019; 4 months ago[8])[±] | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Google Allo | Google, Inc. | September 21, 2016; 2 years ago | Single-protocol |
| Discontinued (was freeware) | ||||||||||||||||
Google Hangouts | Google, Inc. | May 15, 2013; 6 years ago | Single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Hookt | Hookt, Inc. | September 14, 2011; 7 years ago | Single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Hike | Bharti SoftBank | December 12, 2012; 6 years ago | Single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
IBM Lotus Sametime | IBM, Ubique | 1998; 21 years ago | Multi-protocol — proprietary T.120, SIP, XMPP | 9.0.0 (September 20, 2013; 5 years ago) | |||||||||||||||||
iChat | Apple Inc. | August 2002; 17 years ago | Multi-protocol | 6.0.1 (1002) (February 1, 2012; 7 years ago) | Discontinued (replaced with Messages) | ||||||||||||||||
ICQ | Mail.Ru | November 1996; 22 years ago | Single-protocol |
| Apache license | ||||||||||||||||
IMVU | Will Harvey | July 2001; 18 years ago | Multiple-protocol | 3.0 | |||||||||||||||||
Instantbird | Florian Quèze | 2007; 12 years ago | Multi-protocol | 1.5 (December 17, 2013; 5 years ago)[±] | Discontinued (was Free) | ||||||||||||||||
Jitsi | Emil Ivov | 2003; 16 years ago | Multi-protocol | 2.10 (build.5550) (February 5, 2017; 2 years ago)[±] | LGPL | ||||||||||||||||
Kadu | Kadu Team | August 2001; 18 years ago | Multi-protocol | 4.1 (December 2, 2016; 2 years ago) | GPLv2 | ||||||||||||||||
KakaoTalk | Kakao Corp. | March 18, 2010; 9 years ago | single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Kik Messenger | Kik Interactive | October 2010; 8 years ago | Single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Kopete | Kopete Team | March 3, 2002; 17 years ago | Multi-protocol | 1.7.2 (October 13, 2015; 3 years ago)[±][28] | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Libon | Orange S.A. | November 21, 2012; 6 years ago |
| ||||||||||||||||||
Line | LINE Corporation | 2011; 8 years ago | Single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
MCabber | Mikael Berthe | June 7, 2005; 14 years ago | Single-protocol | 1.1.0 (June 4, 2017; 2 years ago)[±] | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Meetro | Paul Bragiel & Samuel Stauffer | 2005; 14 years ago | Multi-protocol |
| Discontinued | ||||||||||||||||
Messages | Apple Inc. | July 25, 2012; 7 years ago | Multi-protocol | 8.1.3 (January 27, 2015; 4 years ago) | Part of macOS and iOS | ||||||||||||||||
Skype for Business | Microsoft | 2005; 14 years ago | Single-protocol | 2013 (October 2, 2012; 6 years ago) | |||||||||||||||||
Miranda IM | Miranda IM project | February 6, 2000; 19 years ago | Multi-protocol | 0.10.80[35](25 April 2018; 16 months ago)[±] | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Mysms | sms.at mobile internet services gmbh | 2011; 8 years ago | Single-protocol | ? | |||||||||||||||||
MySpaceIM | MySpace | May 9, 2006; 13 years ago | Single-protocol | 1.0.754.0 (February 7, 2008; 11 years ago) | |||||||||||||||||
naim | Daniel Reed | October 5, 1998; 20 years ago | Multi-protocol | 0.11.8.3.1 (July 9, 2007; 12 years ago) | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Nimbuzz | Evert Jaap Lugt | 2006; 13 years ago | Multi-protocol | Android: 7.1.0 (10 March 2019; 5 months ago)[±][36] iOS: 5.11.0 (1 February 2018; 19 months ago)[±][37] BlackBerry OS: 4.0 (10 December 2013; 5 years ago)[±][38] Windows Phone: 1.1.8.1 (16 April 2014; 5 years ago)[±][39] | Discontinued (was ProprietaryFreeware) | ||||||||||||||||
Palringo | Palringo Ltd | 2006; 13 years ago | Single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Paltalk | AVM Software, Inc | June 1998; 21 years ago | Multi-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Pidgin | Mark Spencer | November 1998; 20 years ago | Multi-protocol | 2.13.0 (March 8, 2018; 17 months ago[42])[±] | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Psi | Psi and Psi+ developers | 2001; 18 years ago | Single-protocol | 1.4 (November 2, 2018; 10 months ago)[±] | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Quiet Internet Pager (QIP) | Ilgam Zyulkorneev | 2004; 15 years ago | Multi-protocol | QIP 2012 version 4.0 (build 8866) (27 November 2012; 6 years ago)[±] | |||||||||||||||||
QuteCom | QuteCom | 2004; 15 years ago | Multi-protocol | 2.2.1 (22 June 2011; 8 years ago[43])[±] | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Ricochet | Invisible.im | June 2014; 5 years ago | Single-protocol | 1.1.4 (November 8, 2016; 2 years ago[44])[±] | BSD | ||||||||||||||||
Jami | Savoir-faire Linux Inc. | 2014; 5 years ago | Single-protocol |
| GPLv3 | ||||||||||||||||
RingID | Ring Inc. | 2015; 4 years ago | Multi-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Riot.im | New Vector Limited | July 2016; 3 years ago | Single-protocol |
| Apache License | ||||||||||||||||
Sicher | SHAPE GmbH | June 2014; 5 years ago | Single-protocol | 1.1 | {ProprietaryFreeware | ||||||||||||||||
Signal | Signal Messenger | July 2014; 5 years ago | Single-protocol |
| GPLv3 | ||||||||||||||||
Skype | Skype Technologies, a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation | 2003; 16 years ago | Single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Spark (XMPP client) | Ignite Realtime | September 2006; 13 years ago | Single-protocol | 2.7.7 (April 24, 2016; 3 years ago)[±] | Apache License | ||||||||||||||||
Surespot | Surespot LLC | 2013; 6 years ago | Single-protocol |
| GPLv3 | ||||||||||||||||
Telegram | Telegram Messenger LLP | 2013; 6 years ago | Single-protocol |
| GPLv2, GPLv3[72] | ||||||||||||||||
Tencent QQ | Tencent Holdings | February 1999; 20 years ago | Single-protocol | See current releases | |||||||||||||||||
TextSecure | Open Whisper Systems | May 2010; 9 years ago | Single-protocol | Discontinued (merged with RedPhone to become Signal) | |||||||||||||||||
Threema | Threema GmbH | December 2012; 6 years ago | Single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Tkabber | Alexey Shchepin | July 3, 2002; 17 years ago | Single-protocol | 1.1.2 (May 10, 2015; 4 years ago) | GPL | ||||||||||||||||
Tox | Tox Foundation | 2013; 6 years ago | Single-protocol | 0.2.10 (June 25, 2019; 2 months ago)[75] | GPLv3 | ||||||||||||||||
Trillian | Cerulean Studios | July 1, 2000; 19 years ago | Multi-protocol | Windows: 6.1 (build 17) (September 4, 2018; 12 months ago)[±] Mac OS X: 6.1 (build 1) (September 19, 2018; 11 months ago)[±] Linux: 6.1 (build 5) (February 27, 2018; 18 months ago)[±] Android: 6.1 (build 20) (November 26, 2018; 9 months ago)[±] iOS: 6.1 (build 3) (March 26, 2018; 17 months ago)[±] BlackBerry: 1.1.0.45 (October 25, 2011; 7 years ago)[±] Web-Based: 6.2 (build 5) (March 4, 2019; 6 months ago)[±] Server: 6.1 (build 20) (June 13, 2018; 14 months ago)[±] | |||||||||||||||||
Tuenti | Tuenti | 2006; 13 years ago | Multi-protocol | Proprietary | |||||||||||||||||
Upptalk | Upptalk | 2010; 9 years ago | Dual-protocol | iOS 2.4 (November 26, 2014; 4 years ago[76])[±] Android 2.0.2 (February 12, 2014; 5 years ago)[±] Windows Phone 7.x 1.0.1.7 (September 12, 2013; 5 years ago)[±] Windows Phone 8.x 1.0.0.4 (September 18, 2013; 5 years ago)[±] BlackBerry OS 1.0.1 (May 31, 2013; 6 years ago)[±] Kindle Fire 2.0 (December 19, 2013; 5 years ago[77])[±] | Discontinued (was ProprietaryFreeware) | ||||||||||||||||
Viber | Talmon Marco, Igor Magazinnik, Sani Maroli and Ofer Smocha | December 2, 2010; 8 years ago | Single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Tencent Holdings | January 2011; 8 years ago | Single-protocol |
| ||||||||||||||||||
Facebook, Inc. | August 2009; 10 years ago | Single-protocol |
| ||||||||||||||||||
Wickr | Wickr Inc. | June 2012; 7 years ago | Single-protocol |
| |||||||||||||||||
Windows Live Messenger | Microsoft | July 1999; 20 years ago | Dual-protocol | 2012 (v16.4.3508.205) (August 7, 2012; 7 years ago)[±] | Discontinued (was freeware) | ||||||||||||||||
Wire | Wire Swiss GmbH | December 3, 2014; 4 years ago | Single-protocol |
| GPLv3 | ||||||||||||||||
Xabber | Redsolution Inc. | 2011; 8 years ago | Single-protocol |
| GPLv3 | ||||||||||||||||
Xfire | Xfire Inc. | 2004; 15 years ago | Dual-protocol | 1.155 (March 20, 2013; 6 years ago)[±] | Discontinued (was freeware) | ||||||||||||||||
Yahoo! Messenger | Yahoo! | June 21, 1999; 20 years ago | Dual-protocol |
| Discontinued (was freeware) | ||||||||||||||||
Zephyr | Project Athena | 1987; 32 years ago | Single-protocol | 2.0 | MIT | ||||||||||||||||
Client | Publisher | First public release | Type | Latest stable version | License |
Client | Desktop | Mobile | Other | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Windows | macOS | Unix-like | Haiku | Amiga | Windows Phone | Android | BlackBerry OS | iOS | Symbian | MeeGo | Java ME | WebOS | Web | VGCs | |
Adium | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
BBM | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
AIM | Yes | Yes | Dropped | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
aMSN | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Ayttm | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
BitlBee | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Bombus | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Centericq | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
climm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Coccinella | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Conversations | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Discord | Yes | Yes | Partial[a] | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
eBuddy | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
emesene | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Empathy | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Facebook Messenger | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
FaceTime | No | Included | No | No | No | No | No | No | Included | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Flock | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Fire | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Gadu-Gadu | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Gajim | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Google Hangouts | Partial[b] | Partial[b] | Partial[b][a] | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Hookt | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Hike | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
IBM Lotus Sametime | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
ICQ | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No |
IMVU | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Instantbird | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Jitsi | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Unstable | Unstable | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
KakaoTalk | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Kadu | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Kik | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Kopete | Yes[c][98] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Line | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Messages | No | Included | No | No | No | No | No | No | Included | No | No | No | No | No | No |
MCabber | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Skype for Business | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Miranda IM | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
MySpaceIM | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
naim | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Nimbuzz | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Palringo | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Paltalk | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Pidgin | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Psi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
QIP | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
QuteCom | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Jami | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
RingID | Yes[99] | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Riot.im | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Signal | Yes[100] | Yes[100] | Partial[d][101] | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Dropped[101] | No |
Snapchat | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Surespot | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Skype | Yes | Yes | Partial[a] | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | |
SOMA | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Spark (XMPP client) | Yes | Yes[e] | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Telegram (standard messages) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No[102] | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Telegram (secret chats) | Yes | Yes/No[f] | Yes/No[g] | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Tencent QQ | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Threema | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Tkabber | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Tox | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Trillian | Yes | Yes | Partial[h][a] | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Tuenti | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Viber | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Yes | Yes[103] | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | |
8+[104] | Yes[104] | No | No | No | 8.1+[105] | Yes | Dropped[106] | Yes | Dropped[106] | No | No | No | Yes | No | |
Wickr | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Windows Live Messenger | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Xbox |
Wire | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Xabber | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Xfire | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Yahoo! Messenger | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Yuilop | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Zephyr | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Client | Windows | OS X | Unix-like | Haiku | Amiga | Windows Phone | Android | BlackBerry OS | iOS | Symbian | MeeGo | Java ME | WebOS | Web | VGCs |
Desktop | Mobile | Other |
Client | Y!M | AIM/ICQ[a][b][c] | XMPP[d] | IRC | IBM Lotus Sametime | Novell GroupWise Messenger | Gadu-Gadu | Skype[a] | MySpaceIM | SIP | Others | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adium | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial[e] | Yes | No | MobileMe, NateOn, Steam IM, Telegram, Tox, Zephyr |
AIM | No | Yes[f] | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Ayttm | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
BitlBee | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A[g] | Depends[h] | No | Depends[h] | |||||
Centericq | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
climm | No | Yes[i] | Partial | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Conversations | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
eBuddy | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
emesene | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Empathy | Depends[h] | Yes | Yes | Depends[h] | Yes | Depends[h] | ||||||
Fire | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Ichat | Yes | yes/no[114] | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Bonjour |
IMVU | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | IMVU |
Instantbird | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Netsoul |
Jitsi | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | ippi, iptel.org, google talk |
Kadu | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
KDE Telepathy | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Telegram |
Kopete | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial[e] | No | No | SILC, WinPopup |
Messages | Yes | Yes[f] | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | MobileMe |
Miranda IM | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes[j] | Yes | Yes | No | ? |
naim | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Lily |
Nimbuzz | Yes | No | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | Yes | Twitter, Facebook chat, Google Talk |
Palringo | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | ? | ? | No | ? |
Paltalk | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | ? | ? | No | ? |
Pidgin | Plug-in | Yes[k] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Plug-in | Plug-in | Plug-in | Plug-in[115] | Bonjour, Facebook plugin, SIMPLE, Zephyr |
QIP | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | MRA, XIMSS |
QuteCom | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Jami | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Ring |
Spark (XMPP client) | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes[j] | No |
Tencent QQ | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Tkabber | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Trillian | No[116] | Yes | Yes | Yes[l] | No | Yes[l] | Yes[j][l] | Yes[j][l] | No[117][l] | Yes | No | LinkedIn,[l] Foursquare,[l] ASTRA, VZ[l] |
Yahoo! Messenger | Partial[m] | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Upptalk | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Xabber | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Y!M | AIM/ICQ | XMPP | IRC | IBM Lotus Sametime | Novell GroupWise Messenger | Gadu-Gadu | Skype | MySpaceIM | SIP | Others |
Client | Transports[a] | File transfer (XEP-0096)[b] | Multi-user chat (XEP-0045) | Link-local (XEP-0174) | Jingle (XEP-0166) | OMEMO encryption (XEP-0384) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
File transfer[b] | Voice calls | Video calls | ||||||
Adium | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Partial |
BitlBee | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Bombus[118] | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
ChatSecure | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
climm | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
Coccinella[119] | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | ? |
Conversations | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Telepathy-based[c][120] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
Gajim[121] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Except Windows | Yes |
Jitsi | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Kadu | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | ? |
Kopete | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | ? |
Messages | No | Yes | Only join[d] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
MCabber[122] | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Miranda IM | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Monal | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | ? | Yes |
Nimbuzz | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
Pidgin[123] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial[124] | Except Windows[e] | Except Windows[e] | Yes |
Psi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Plug-in | Plug-in | Plug-in |
Spark (XMPP client) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Plug-in | Plug-in | No |
Tkabber[125] | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Trillian | No | Yes | Only Windows[f] | Only Windows[f] | No | No | No | ? |
Client | Toolkits or SDKs | File transfer | Editing sent messages | Proxy server | Graphical emoticons | Unicode (UTF-8) | Built-in games | Themes, skins | Plugin system | Third party add-ons | Scripting | Message logging | Voice messaging | Voice mail | Webcam | Offline | Cloud backup | Remote desktop assistance | Whiteboard | RTL texting |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adium | Cocoa | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | ? | ? | ||
AIM | W32/Cocoa | Yes | ? | Yes/No[a] | Yes | Yes | No | Yes/No[a] | Yes/No[a] | Yes/No[a] | No | Yes | Yes/No[a] | No | Yes/No[a] | Yes/No[a] | No | No | ||
aMSN | Tcl/Tk | Yes | ? | http, socks5, msn gateway | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | ||
Ayttm | GTK2 | No | ? | http, socks4/5 | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Partial | Partial | No | No | ||
BitlBee | N/A | Yes | ? | Yes | No | Yes | No | N/A | Yes | No | No | N/A | ? | ? | No | Yes | ? | ? | ||
Bombus | Java ME | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | ? | ||
Centericq | ncurses | Partial | ? | ? | No | ? | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | ? | ? | ||
climm | line based | Yes | ? | ? | N/A | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | No | ? | ||
Coccinella | Tcl/Tk | Yes | ? | http, socks4/5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ||
Discord | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | TTS | Yes | Partial | No | No | No | Plug-in[132] |
eBuddy | No | Partial | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | ? | ||
Empathy | GTK3 | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ||
Facebook Messenger | ? | Yes | No | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | ||
Fire | Cocoa | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||
Gadu-Gadu | Qt | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | No | ? | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | No | ? | ||
Gajim | GTK2 | Yes | ? | http | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | ||
Google Talk | W32 | Yes | No | ? | Partial | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Third party plugin | Yes | No | Yes | ||
IBM Lotus Sametime | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | available | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ||
ICQ | W32 | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | ||
IMVU | ? | No | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | No | Partial[b] | No | Yes | No | ? | No | Yes | ? | ? | ||
Jitsi | Java | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ||
Kadu | Qt | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Partial | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | ? | ||
Kopete | Qt/KDE | Yes | ? | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | With plugin | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | ||
Line | Line SDK | ? | No | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ||
Messages | Cocoa | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Partial[c] | ? | ||
MCabber | Curses | No | ? | ? | No | Yes | No | ? | ? | No | ? | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | ? | ||
Miranda IM | W32 | Yes | ? | Yes, socks4/5, http(s) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial[c] | No | Partial[c] | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
Palringo | ? | No | ? | ? | Yes | ? | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Partial (picture capture only) | ? | No | ? | ||
Paltalk | N/A | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | No | No | ? | |
Pidgin | GTK2 | Partial | No | Yes, http, socks4/5 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial (XMPP in Linux) | No | Yes (XMPP in Linux) | Yes | Partial | Yes | ||
Psi | Qt | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Partial (Linux & Unix) | No | Partial (Linux & Unix) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
QIP | W32, VCL | Yes | ? | Yes, http(s), socks4/4A/5 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | ? | ||
QuteCom | Qt | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ||
Jami | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ||
Riot.im | ? | Yes | Partial | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | No | No | ||
Skype | Qt/KDE, W32 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes/No[c][a] | Yes | ||
Surespot | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | ? | ? | ||
Tencent QQ | W32 | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ||
Telegram | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Only un-encrypted messages | Yes | Yes | |
Tkabber | Tcl/Tk | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | ||
Tox | Many[d] | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Up to clients[d] | Up to clients[d] | Up to clients[d] | Up to clients[d] | Up to clients[d] | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Partial[133] | No | Yes | ||
Trillian | W32, Cocoa | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ||
No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | Yes | |||
Wickr | No | Yes | ? | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | ? | ||
Windows Live Messenger | W32 | Yes | ? | Yes, http, socks4/5, | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
Wire | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No[134] | No | Yes | |
Xfire | W32 | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | No | Yes | Partial | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | ? | ||
Yahoo! Messenger | W32, Cocoa, GTK | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | ||
Yuilop | ? | Yes | ? | No | Yes | ? | No | No | No | No | ? | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Partial | ? | ||
Client | Toolkits or SDKs | File transfer | Editing sent messages | Proxy server | Graphical emoticons | Unicode (UTF-8) | Built-in games | Themes, skins | Plugin system | Third party add-ons | Scripting | Message logging | Voice messaging | Voice mail | Webcam support | Offline messaging | Cloud backup | Remote desktop assistance | Whiteboard | RTL texting |
Client | Handwriting mode | Dockable | Multiaccount | Spell check | User-defined graphic emoticons | Animations | OAuth |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adium | Yes, receive only | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial | ? |
AIM | No | Yes | No | No | ? | Partial | ? |
aMSN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
Ayttm | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ? |
BitlBee | No | N/A | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Centericq | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
climm | N/A | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Coccinella | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? |
Discord | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Empathy | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Facebook Messenger | No | Yes | No | No | ? | ? | ? |
Fire | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Gajim | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
Google Talk | Yes/No[a] | Yes | Yes/No[b] | No | No | Yes/No[b] | No |
iChat | No | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? |
ICQ | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes, tZer | ? |
IMVU | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Jitsi | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
Kadu | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes, emoticons | No |
Kopete | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, emoticons | No |
Miranda IM | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
MySpaceIM | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
naim | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Paltalk | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Pidgin | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, emoticons, user icons | ? |
Psi | No | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes/No[c] | ? |
QIP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, emoticons | ? |
QuteCom | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Jami | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Riot.im | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | ? |
Signal | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Snapchat | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Skype | No | No | No | No | ? | Yes, animated emoticons | ? |
Telegram (standard messages) | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? |
Telegram (secret chats) | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? |
Tencent QQ | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? |
Tkabber | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, animated emoticons | No |
Trillian | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes, animated emoticons | ? |
No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | |
Windows Live Messenger | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes, animated emoticons, winks | ? |
Wire | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, uses encrypted protocol |
Yahoo! Messenger | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? |
Client | Handwriting mode | Dockable | Multiaccount | Spell check | User-defined graphic emoticons | Animations | OAuth for client authorization |
Client | Encrypted by default | Development status | Open source client[a] | Servers | Contact verification[b] | Encryption ciphers | Forward secrecy[c] | Multiple encryption[d][e] | Encrypted groupchat[f] | Encrypted file transfer[f] | Public key and IP unrelated[g] | Proxy /Tor[h] | Transport[i] | Asynchronous encryp. communication[j] | Encrypted client data[k] | Screenshot protection[l] | Self-destructing messages[l] | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open source servers | Distributed[m] | Federated[m] | Data | Symmetric[d][n] | Asymmetric[o] | Asym. key size[p] | TCP | UDP | SCTP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Profile information[q] | Chat metadata[r] | Contact lists[s] | Cloud backup | McEliece | RSA | DSA | ECC | NTRU | El Gamal | Default | Max. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Briar | Yes | Active, public beta | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ECC-256 | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | Yes | No |
ChatSecure | allows unencrypted | Active | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes[135] | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[t] | Optional | ? | ? | ? | Optional | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | No | |||
Conversations | allows unencrypted | Active | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stored; not client-side encrypted[136] | Stored[136] | No | Yes | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Depends | Optional | Optional | Yes | Optional | Optional | ? | ? | ? | Optional | ? | ? | No | |
Cryptocat | Yes | Discontinued | Yes | ? | ? | No | No | Yes[137] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[137] | Yes[137] | No groupchat | Yes[137] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||
FireChat[138] | allows unencrypted[u] | Active | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Includes groupchat, but it is not encrypted | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | No | |||
iMessage[139] | allows unencrypted[v] | Active | No[139] | No | ? | No | ? | No[135] | ? | ? | Yes[140] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No[139] | ? | Depends[141] | Yes[142] | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | No | No | |||
Line[143][144] | Yes | Active | No | No | Yes[145] | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted[145] | Stored[145] | Optional | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[146] | ? | ? | ECC-256[146] | N/A | No | ? | Yes[144] | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | No | No | No | |
RetroShare | Yes | Active | Yes[w] | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | Yes[135] | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | No | No | ? | ? | Yes[135] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Optional | Optional | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | |||
Jami | Yes[147] | Active | Yes[w] | Yes | Yes | Stored[148] | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||
Ricochet | Yes | Discontinued[149] | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | No[150] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[150] | No[150] | No groupchat | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | No[150] | No | No |
Sicher | Yes | Active | No[w] | No | ? | No | ? | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | No | No | RSA-2048[151] | N/A | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | |||
Signal | Yes[x] | Active | Yes[w] | Yes | Yes[152] | No[153] | Stored; client-side encrypted[154] | Not stored[155] | Not stored[155][156] | No | Yes[135] | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | No | No | ECC-256[157] | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[158] | Yes[158] | No | Yes | Yes[y] | Yes | Yes |
Silent Phone | Yes | Active | Viewable source[159] | No | No | No | Stored[160] | Not stored[citation needed] | Not stored[citation needed] | ? | Yes[135] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[135] | Yes[161] | Yes[162] | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes[citation needed] | Yes | Yes |
Surespot | Yes | Active | Yes[w] | No | ? | No | Stored; client-side encrypted[163] | Stored[163] | Stored[163] | No | Yes[135] | Yes | ? | No | ? | Yes[164] | No | No | ECC-521[164] | N/A | Yes | No | No groupchat | No | No | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | ? | ? | No |
Threema | Yes | Active | Partially[z][165] | No | ? | No | Stored; client-side encrypted[166] | Not stored[166] | Not stored[166] | Optional; client-side encrypted[167] | Yes[135] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No[aa] | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | No |
Tox | Yes | Active | Yes[w] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | No | No | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Viber | allows unencrypted[ab][168] | Active | No | No | ? | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted[169] | Stored[169] | Stored[169] | No[170] | Yes[171] | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[171] | ? | ? | ECC-256[171] | N/A | Yes[171] | ? | Depends[171][172] | Yes[171] | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes[171] | ? | No | No |
Yes | Active | Partially[z][173] | No | Yes | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted[174] | Stored[174] | Stored[174] | Optional; only encrypted if using the iOS version[175] | Yes[173] | Yes[173] | ? | ? | ? | Yes[173] | ? | ? | ECC-256[173] | N/A | Yes[173] | Yes[173] | Yes[173] | Yes[173] | Yes[173] | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes[173] | No | No | No | |
Wickr Me | Yes | Active | Partially[z][176] | No | ? | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted[177] | Not stored[178] | Not stored[178] | ? | Yes[179] | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[179] | No | No | ECC-521[179] | N/A | Yes[179] | Yes[179] | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes[179] | Capture notification[180] | Yes |
Wickr Pro | Yes | Active | Partially[z][181] | No | ? | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted[177] | Not stored[178] | Not stored[178] | ? | Yes[179] | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[179] | No | No | ECC-521[179] | N/A | Yes[179] | Yes[179] | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes[179] | ? | Yes |
Wire | Yes | Active | Yes[182] | Yes[183] | ? | No[183] | Stored; not client-side encrypted[184] | Stored[184] | Stored[184] | Optional; only encrypted if using the iOS version[185] | Yes[186] | Yes[187] | ? | ? | ? | Yes[187] | ? | ? | ECC-256[187] | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[188] | ? | No | Yes[187] | Yes[187] | ? | Yes | Yes[citation needed] | No | Yes[189] |
TextSecure | Yes | Discontinued[ac] | Yes[w][190] | Yes[ad] | Yes | Yes, briefly[ad] | N/A | Not stored | Not stored | No | Yes[135] | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | No | No | ECC-256[157] | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes[191] | Yes | Yes | No |
WASTE | Yes | Discontinued | Yes[w] | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | No | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | ? | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||
Adium | No | Active | Yes[w] | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[t] | ? | ? | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No | No | No | |||
Google Allo (incognito mode)[192] | No | Discontinued | Partially[z] | No | Yes[193] | No | No | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ECC-256 | N/A | Yes | Yes | Optional | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | |||
Facebook Messenger (secret conversations)[194] | No | Active | Partially[z][195] | No | Yes[196] | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted | Stored | No | Yes[195] | Yes[195] | ? | ? | ? | Yes[195] | ? | ? | ECC-256[195] | N/A | Yes[195] | Yes | Includes groupchat, but it is not encrypted[197] | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes[195] | ? | Yes[195] | |
Gajim | No | Active | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[t] | Optional | Optional[ae] | Yes | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Optional | ? | ? | No | |||
Jitsi | No | Active | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes[135] | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[t] | ? | ? | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | No | No | |||
KakaoTalk (secret chats)[198] | No | Active | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||
Kopete[af] | No | Active | Yes[w] | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[t] | ? | Includes groupchat, but it is not encrypted | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | ? | |||
Miranda IM | No | Active | Yes[w] | ? | ? | ? | No | Yes[199] | Yes[200] | ? | Optional[ae][201] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ECC-192[201] | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[202] | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||
Pidgin | No | Active | Yes[w] | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes[135] | Yes[t][203] | ? | Optional[ae][204] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[t][203] | ? | ? | Yes[203] | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Optional[ag] | ? | ? | ? | |||
Riot.im | No | Active, public beta | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | Device verification | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ECC-256 | ? | Optional | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | ? | No | No |
Telegram (secret chats) | No | Active | Yes[w] | No | Yes | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted | Not stored[205] | Stored[205] | No | Yes[135] | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | No | No | No | RSA-2048[206] | N/A | Sort of[ah] | Yes | Includes groupchat, but it is not encrypted | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | ? | No | Optional | Yes, warning | Yes |
Xabber | No | Active | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stored | No | ? | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||
Client name | Encrypted by default | Development status | Open source client[a] | Servers | Contact verification[b] | Encryption ciphers | Forward secrecy[c] | Multiple encryption[d][e] | Encrypted groupchat[f] | Encrypted file transfer[f] | Public key and IP unrelated[g] | Proxy /Tor[h] | Transport[i] | Asynchronous encryp. communication[j] | Encrypted client data[k] | Screenshot protection[l] | Self-destructing messages[l] | ||||||||||||||||
Open source servers | Distributed[m] | Federated[m] | Data | Symmetric[d][n] | Asymmetric[o] | Asym. key size[p] | TCP | UDP | SCTP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Profile information[q] | Chat metadata[r] | Contact lists[s] | Cloud backup | McEliece | RSA | DSA | ECC | NTRU | El Gamal | Default | Max. |
Client | Encryption protocol |
---|---|
AIM[135] | ? |
BlackBerry Messenger[135] | ? |
eBuddy[135] | ? |
Gadu-Gadu | TLS[citation needed] |
Google Hangouts[135] | TLS[207] |
Kik Messenger[135] | ? |
Skype[135][208] | TLS[209] |
Snapchat[135] | ? |
Tencent QQ[135] | A custom protocol[135] |
Yahoo! Messenger[135] | ? |
Echat[210] | ? |
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(help)Apple’s iMessage .. employs strong encryption, but only when communicating between two Apple devices and only when there is a proper data connection. Otherwise, iMessage falls back on insecure SMS messaging. iMessage also lacks forward secrecy and inspectable source code.
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(help)Your communications will be encrypted without any exception with the most advanced current techniques (see our page dedicated to security). Ring stores your secrets (private key for encryption and identity) only on the machine that runs it.Cite web requires
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(help)One possible weakness is that OpenDHT collects and saves metadata. This makes it possible for eavesdroppers to observe the traffic on some DHT node and see who is talking to whom.Cite web requires
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(help)The group has set up dozens of servers to handle the encrypted calls in more than 10 countries around the world to minimize latency.
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(help)Note that Viber for Windows Phone 8 will not support the new security features. It will continue to secure calls and messages through standard encryption methods.
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(help)The following types of message can't be saved in a backup: Hidden/ secret chats message historyCite web requires
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(help)A group conversation will only use the upgraded security methods if all group participants are using the upgraded version of Viber.
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(help)You can set a public profile avatar, which will become visible to others on Wickr Me so please do not add an avatar if you do not want it to be viewed by others users within the Wickr Me App.Cite web requires
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