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Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Rob Bednark (talk | contribs) at 23:48, 7 October 2022 (→Message handling: Add "(Apple)" to Messages to help disambiguate). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

See also: Messaging apps

The landscape for instant messaging involves cross-platform instant messaging clients that can handle one or multiple protocols.[1] The following table compares general and technical information for cross-platform instant messaging clients in active development, each of which have their own article that provide further information.

General

Client Developer Initial release Platform Latest release License Monthly active users
Version Date
Briar May 9, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-05-09)[2] Android 1.5.9[3] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-01-16 GPL-3.0-or-later
Discord Discord Inc. March 6, 2015; 10 years ago (2015-03-06)[4] Android 269.11[5] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-03-10 Proprietary freeware 150 million (2021)[6]
iOS 270.0[7] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-03-10
Linux 0.0.88[8] Edit this on Wikidata 2025
macOS 0.0.270[9] Edit this on Wikidata 2022-12-12
Windows 1.0.9166 Edit this on Wikidata 2024-10-08
eBuddy Paulo Taylor March 9, 2003; 22 years ago (2003-03-09)[10] Proprietary freeware
Element New Vector Limited July 2016; 9 years ago (2016-07) Android 1.6.32[11] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-02-18 Apache-2.0 43 million (2021)[12]
iOS 1.11.25[13] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-02-04
Linux 1.11.92[14] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-02-11
macOS 1.11.92[14] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-02-11
Windows 1.11.92[14] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-02-11
Web 1.11.92[15] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-02-11
Gadu-Gadu Łukasz Foltyn, GG Network S.A. August 15, 2000; 24 years ago (2000-08-15) Proprietary freeware
Gajim Yann Le Boulanger May 21, 2004; 21 years ago (2004-05-21) BSD 2.3.3[16] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-07-13 GPL-3.0-only
Linux
macOS
Windows
Google Chat (formerly Google Hangouts) Google May 15, 2013; 12 years ago (2013-05-15) (as Google Hangouts)

March 9, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-03-09) (as Google Chat)

Android Proprietary freeware 1 billion (2021) 500 million active (2020)
iOS
Web
Google Messages (RCS) 2018 Android 10.9.36 2022-02-24 Proprietary freeware 1 billion (2021) 500 million active (2020)
Web
Wear OS
ICQ Mail.Ru November 1996; 28 years ago (1996-11) Proprietary adware freemium 11 million (2018)[17]
Jami Savoir-faire Linux Android GPL-3.0-or-later
iOS
Linux
macOS
Windows
Jitsi Emil Ivov 2003; 22 years ago (2003) Desktop 2.10.5550[18][19] Edit this on Wikidata 2017-10-01 Apache-2.0 20 million (2020)[20]
Kadu Kadu Team August 2001; 23 years ago (2001-08) BSD 4.3[21] Edit this on Wikidata 2017-01-24 GPL-2.0-or-later
Linux
macOS
Windows
KakaoTalk Kakao Corp. March 18, 2010; 15 years ago (2010-03-18) Proprietary freeware 47 million (2021)[22]
Keybase Keybase February 8, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-02-08) New BSD License 300 thousand (2019)[23]
Kik Messenger Medialab October 2010; 14 years ago (2010-10) Android 17.3.1.31975[24] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-01-20 Proprietary adware freemium 15 million (2017)[25]
iOS 17.4.0[26] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-01-13
Line LINE Corporation March 2012; 13 years ago (2012-03) Android 15.2.1[27] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-02-25 Proprietary freemium 169 million (2020)[28]
iOS 15.2.2[29] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-02-28
Chrome 3.6.1[30] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-12-10
macOS 9.6.1[31] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-02-14
Windows 9.5.0.3497[32] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-12-23
Linphone Belledonne Communications Android 4.5.6[33] Edit this on Wikidata 2021-11-08 GPL-3.0-or-later
iOS 4.5.1[34] Edit this on Wikidata 2021-10-08
Linux 5.2.4[35] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-04-11
macOS 5.2.4[35] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-04-11
Windows 5.2.4[35] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-04-11
Mattermost Mattermost Inc 2015; 10 years ago (2015) Android Apache-2.0
iOS
Linux
macOS
Windows
MCabber Mikael Berthe June 7, 2005; 20 years ago (2005-06-07) BSD 1.1.2[36] Edit this on Wikidata 2020-09-19 GPL-2.0-or-later
Linux
macOS
Messages (Apple) Apple Inc. July 25, 2012; 12 years ago (2012-07-25) Proprietary, part of macOS and iOS
Messenger Meta Platforms August 9, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-08-09) Android Proprietary freeware 988 million (2022)[37]
iOS
macOS
Windows
Movim Timothée Jaussoin March 3, 2011; 14 years ago (2011-03-03) Any, Progressive web application 0.30.1[38] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-04-23 AGPL-3.0-or-later
Palringo Palringo Ltd 2006; 19 years ago (2006) Android 10.14[39] Edit this on Wikidata 2021-11-29 Proprietary freemium
iOS 10.13.1[40] Edit this on Wikidata 2021-10-19
Paltalk AVM Software, Inc June 1998; 27 years ago (1998-06) Proprietary freeware 5.5 million (2013)[41]
Pidgin Mark Spencer November 1998; 26 years ago (1998-11) BSD 2.14.14[42] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-01-23 GPL-2.0-or-later
Linux
macOS
Windows
Psi Psi and Psi+ developers 2001; 24 years ago (2001) Linux 1.5[43] Edit this on Wikidata 2020-09-06 GPL-2.0-or-later
macOS
Windows
RetroShare Cyril Soler, Gioacchino Mazzurco 2006; 19 years ago (2006) 0.6.7[44] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-11-30 GPL
Ricochet Invisible.im June 2014; 11 years ago (2014-06) FreeBSD 1.1.4[45][46] Edit this on Wikidata 2016-11-07 BSD-3-Clause
Linux
macOS
Windows
Sicher SHAPE GmbH June 2014; 11 years ago (2014-06) Proprietary freeware
Signal Signal Foundation July 2014; 11 years ago (2014-07) Android 7.38.6[47] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-03-25 GPL-3.0-only 40 million (2021)[48]
iOS 7.51[49] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-03-18 GPL-3.0-only
Desktop 7.48.0[50] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-03-26 AGPL-3.0-only
Silent Phone Silent Circle January 16, 2013; 12 years ago (2013-01-16) Proprietary commercial
Skype Skype Technologies, a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation 2003; 22 years ago (2003) Proprietary adware freemium 200 million (2020)[51]
Slack Slack Technologies August 2013; 11 years ago (2013-08) Proprietary freemium 12 million (2019)[52]
Snapchat Snap Inc. November 2011; 13 years ago (2011-11) Android 13.31.1.0[53] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-03-08 Proprietary freeware 557 million (2022)[37]
iOS 13.31.0.47[54] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-03-05
Steam Chat Valve [55] Android, iOS, Desktop, Web Proprietary
Surespot Surespot LLC 2013; 12 years ago (2013) Android GPL-3.0-or-later
iOS
TeamNote TeamNote Limited 2012; 13 years ago (2012) Subscription
Telegram Telegram Messenger LLP 2013; 12 years ago (2013) Android 11.13.0[56] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-07-01 GPL-2.0-or-later 700 million (2022)[57]
iOS, iPadOS, watchOS 11.13[58] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-07-01 GPL-2.0-or-later
Desktop 5.16.1[59] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-07-02 GPL-3.0-or-later
macOS 11.13[60] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-07-01 GPL-2.0-or-later
Tencent QQ Tencent Holdings February 10, 1999; 26 years ago (1999-02-10) Android 9.1.30[61] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-12-25 Proprietary adware 563.8 million (2022)[62]
iOS, iPadOS, watchOS 9.1.3[63] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-12-26
Windows 9.9.20[64] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-06-26
macOS 6.9.61[65] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-11-21
Threema Threema GmbH December 2012; 12 years ago (2012-12) Android 6.0.1[66] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-05-15 AGPL-3.0-only 10 million (2021)[67]
iOS 4.6.17[68] Edit this on Wikidata 2022-03-14
Web AGPL-3.0-or-later
Trillian Cerulean Studios July 1, 2000; 25 years ago (2000-07-01) Android 6.6.0.13[69] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-07-25 Proprietary adware freemium
iOS 6.6.77[70] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-09-13
Linux 6.3.0.1[71] Edit this on Wikidata 2020-05-27
macOS 6.6.0.18[72] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-11-20
Windows 6.5.0.45[73] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-09-04
Web 6.6.19[74] Edit this on Wikidata 2024-04-30
Viber Rakuten Viber December 2, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-12-02) Android 20.4.3.0[75] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-07-02 Proprietary freemium 260 million (2019)[76]
iOS 20.4.0[77] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-07-04
Linux 20.3.0.1[78] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-06-14
macOS 20.2.0[79] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-06-12
Windows 20.4.0.0[80] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-06-30
WeChat Tencent Holdings Limited January 21, 2011; 14 years ago (2011-01-21) Proprietary freeware 1.263 billion (2022)[37]
WhatsApp Meta Platforms January 2009; 16 years ago (2009-01) Android 2.25.19.80[81] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-07-08 Proprietary freeware 2 billion (2020)[82]
iOS 25.19.83[83] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-07-08
macOS 25.19.83[83] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-07-08
Windows 2.2526.2.0[84] Edit this on Wikidata 2025-07-04
Wickr Me Wickr Inc. June 2012; 13 years ago (2012-06) Android Proprietary
iOS
Desktop
Wire Wire Swiss GmbH December 3, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-12-03) Android 4.3.5[85] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-09-27 GPL-3.0-or-later
iOS 3.110.1[86] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-08-08
Linux 3.31.3060[87] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-05-16
macOS 3.31.4556[88] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-05-16
Windows 3.31.4421[89] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-05-16
Web 0.27[90] Edit this on Wikidata 2023-07-13
Client Developer Initial release Platform Latest release License Monthly active users
Version Date

Operating system support

Operating system support for messaging clients
Client Windows macOS Linux Web Android iOS
Briar No No Yes No Yes No
Discord Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
eBuddy No No No No Yes Yes
Element Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Gadu-Gadu Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Gajim Yes No Yes No No No
Google Chat No No No Yes Yes Yes
Google Messages (RCS) No[a] No[a] Needs third-party client[a][91] Yes Included No
ICQ Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jami Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jitsi Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Kadu Yes Yes Yes No No No
KakaoTalk Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Keybase Yes Yes Yes No, partial Yes Yes
Kik Messenger No No No No Yes Yes
Line Yes Yes As browser extension[92] No Yes Yes
Linphone
Mattermost Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
MCabber No Yes Yes No No No
Messages (Apple) No Included No No No Included
Messenger Yes Yes Needs third-party client[a][93] Yes Yes Yes
Movim Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Palringo No No No No Yes Yes
Paltalk Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Pidgin Yes Yes Yes No No No
Psi Yes Yes Yes No No No
RetroShare Yes Yes Yes No Yes No
Ricochet Yes Yes Yes No No No
Sicher No No No No Yes Yes
Signal Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Silent Phone No No No No Yes Yes
Skype Included Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Slack Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Snapchat No No No No Yes Yes
Surespot No No No No Yes Yes
TeamNote No[a] No[a] No[a] Yes Yes Yes
Telegram Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tencent QQ Yes Yes Partial[94][a] Yes Yes Yes
Threema No[a] No[a] No[a] Yes Yes Yes
Trillian Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Viber Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
WeChat Yes Yes Needs third-party client[a][95] Yes Yes Yes
WhatsApp Yes Yes Needs third-party client[a][97][98][99] Yes Yes

iPhone devices only.

App cannot be installed on iPad, iPod touch.

Wickr Me Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Wire Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Client Windows macOS Linux Web Android iOS

Privacy

Some messaging services that are not designed for privacy require a unique phone number for sign-up, as a form of identity verification and to prevent users from creating multiple accounts.

Some messaging services that do not solely focus on a mobile-first experience, or enforce SMS authentication, may allow email addresses to be used for sign-up instead.

Some messaging services offer greater flexibility and privacy, by allowing users to create more than one account to compartmentalize personal & work purposes, or not requiring personally identifiable information for sign-up.

Client Registration requirement Search for contacts Lock screen Screenshot detection[100] Screenshot/recording disabled (Android only)[101] Voice changer Plugins Peer-to-peer text chat Open source servers Federated servers
Briar Yes
Discord Email •Username & Discord Tag
•Phonebook contacts scanning if enabled 		No No No No No
eBuddy Phone number Yes No No No No
Element No •Username
•Matrix ID 		No Yes No Yes Yes
Gadu-Gadu Email and Phone number No No No
Gajim Email Yes No Yes
Google Chat Email; Google account •Email address
Google Messages (RCS) Phone number •Phone number — Yes
ICQ Phone number Yes No
Jami No No No Yes[102] No Yes Yes decentralised
Jitsi No Yes No Yes Yes
Kadu Yes No
KakaoTalk No No No
Keybase No No No No No
Kik Messenger Email •Username
•Phonebook contacts scanning if enabled 		No No No
Line Phone number •Username
•Phone number
•Phonebook contacts scanning if enabled (sending friend requests are required) 		No Yes No No No
Linphone
Mattermost No Yes No Yes No
MCabber No
Messages (Apple) Email; Apple ID account •Email address
•Phone number 		No No No — —
Messenger Email or Phone number; Facebook account •Facebook profile
•Username URL
•Phone number
•Phonebook contacts scanning if enabled 		No Yes No No No
Movim No ? No No Yes Yes
Palringo No No No No
Paltalk Email No No No
Pidgin Yes Yes Yes Yes
Psi Yes No
RetroShare Yes — (P2P) —
Ricochet Yes — —
Sicher Phone number No No No
Signal Phone number; iOS or Android device[103][104] •Phone number
(Contact list syncs automatically with phonebook contacts) 		Yes No No Yes[105] No
Silent Phone No Yes No No No
Skype Email; Microsoft account •Username
•Email address
•Phone number 		Yes No No No
Slack Email •Name (requires joining a Slack workspace)
•Email address invitation (requires Slack Connect) 		Yes No No No
Snapchat Email or Phone number •Username
•Phonebook contacts scanning if enabled 		Yes Yes No No No
Surespot No No No No No
TeamNote
Telegram Phone number; iOS or Android device[106] •Username
•Phone number
(Contact list syncs automatically with phonebook contacts) 		Yes Yes (on secret chats and self-destructing media) Yes (on secret chats and self-destructing media) No No No No
Tencent QQ No No No No
Threema No Yes No No No No
Trillian No Yes No No Yes
Viber Phone number •Phone number
(Contact list syncs automatically with phonebook contacts) 		Yes Yes No No No
WeChat Phone number or QQ number •Username
•Phone number
•Phonebook contacts scanning if enabled
(sending friend requests are required) 		No No No
WhatsApp Phone number •Phone number
(Contact list syncs automatically with phonebook contacts) 		No No No No No
Wickr Me No Yes Yes[100] Yes[101] Yes No No No
Wire Email or Phone number No No No Yes[107] Yes
Client Registration requirement Search for contacts Lock screen Screenshot detection[100] Screenshot disabled (Android only)[101] Voice changer Plugins Peer-to-peer text chat Open source servers Federated servers
  • 1: Apple iOS doesn't allow screenshot protection.

Message handling

Client Sent messages Read messages Self-destructing messages
Editing Deleting Receipts Deleting Deleting request Exists Default setting Receiver deletion Setting receipts Contact-based setting Delete sent/read on read
Briar Yes No
Discord Yes Yes No No
eBuddy No Partial Yes Yes
Element Partial Yes Yes No
Gadu-Gadu
Gajim Yes Yes No
Google Chat Google Workspace accounts only Google Workspace accounts only Yes No
Google Messages (RCS) No Yes Yes No
ICQ Yes
Jami Yes Disabled
Jitsi No
Kadu
KakaoTalk
Keybase Yes Yes Yes Yes
Kik Messenger
Line No Partial Yes No
Linphone
Mattermost Yes Yes No No
MCabber
Messages (Apple) No
Messenger No Yes Yes Yes
Movim Yes Yes No
Palringo
Paltalk
Pidgin Yes
Psi Yes
RetroShare No No Yes No
Ricochet
Sicher Yes
Signal No Partial Yes Yes Disabled
Silent Phone Yes
Skype Yes Yes Yes
Slack Yes Yes Yes
Snapchat No Yes Yes Yes
Surespot No
TeamNote Yes Yes No
Telegram Yes Yes Yes Yes Disabled
Tencent QQ
Threema No Yes Yes No
Trillian Yes
Viber Yes Yes Yes Yes
WeChat
WhatsApp No Partial Yes No
Wickr Me Yes Yes 6 days
Wire Yes Yes Yes Yes[108]
Client Sent messages Read messages Self-destructing messages
Editing Deleting Receipts Deleting Deleting request Exists Default setting Receiver deletion Setting receipts Contact-based setting Delete sent/read on read

Media

Client File transfer Voice messages Voice chat Video chat E2EE Encrypted local storage
Individual Groups
Briar No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Discord Yes No Yes Yes No No
eBuddy Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Element Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Gadu-Gadu Yes Yes Yes No No
Gajim Yes No No No[109] Yes Plug-in
Google Chat Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Google Messages (RCS) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
ICQ Yes No Yes Yes No No
Jami Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jitsi Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Kadu Yes No Yes No No No
KakaoTalk Yes Yes Yes
Keybase Yes No No No Yes Yes
Kik Messenger Yes No No
Line Yes Yes Yes Yes Partial Yes[110]
Linphone
Mattermost Yes Plug-in Plug-in Plug-in No No
MCabber No No No No No No
Messages Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Messenger Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Movim Yes No Yes Yes Yes For private group
Palringo No No Yes No No No
Paltalk Yes Yes Yes No No
Pidgin No No Partial Yes Yes
Psi Yes Yes Partial Partial Yes Yes
RetroShare Yes Yes Yes
Ricochet Yes
Sicher Yes Yes Yes
Signal Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Partial[111]
Silent Phone Yes Yes Yes[112]
Skype Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Slack Yes No No
Snapchat No Yes Yes Yes No No
Surespot Yes Yes Yes No Yes No groupchat
TeamNote Yes No
Telegram Yes Yes Yes Yes Secret Chats No No[113]
Tencent QQ Yes No Yes Yes No No
Threema Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Trillian Yes Partial Yes Yes No No
Viber Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
WeChat Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
WhatsApp Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Wickr Me Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Wire Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Client File transfer Voice messages Voice chat Video chat E2EE Encrypted local storage
Individual Groups


Miscellaneous

Messaging services can operate around different models, based on security and accessibility considerations.[114]

A mobile-focused, phone number-based model operates on the concept of primary and secondary devices. Examples of such messaging services include: WhatsApp, Viber, Line, WeChat, Signal, etc. The primary device is a mobile phone and is required to login and send/receive messages. Only one mobile phone is allowed to be the primary device, as attempting to login to the messaging app on another mobile phone would trigger the previous phone to be logged out. The secondary device is a computer running a desktop operating system, which serves as a companion for the primary device. Desktop messaging clients on secondary devices do not function independently, as they are reliant on the mobile phone maintaining an active network connection for login authentication and syncing messages.

A multi-device, device-agnostic model is designed for accessibility on multiple devices, regardless of desktop or mobile. Examples of such messaging services include: Skype, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts (subsequently Google Chat), Telegram, ICQ, Element, Slack, Discord, etc. Users have more options as usernames or email addresses can be used as user identifiers, besides phone numbers. Unlike the phone-based model, user accounts on a multi-device model are not tied to a single device, and logins are allowed on multiple devices. Messaging services with a multi-device model are able to eliminate feature disparity and provide identical functionality on both mobile and desktop clients. Desktop clients can function independently, without relying on the mobile phone to login and sync messages.

Client Multi-device support Independent of mobile phone Emoji reactions Stickers GIF search Custom emoji Themes / skins
Briar No Yes No
Discord Yes[115][116] Yes Yes Paid Yes Yes No
eBuddy No No Yes
Element Yes[117][116] Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Gadu-Gadu No
Gajim Yes Yes
Google Chat Yes (an optional setting allows messages to be accessible on Gmail as well)[118][119] Yes Yes Yes No
Google Messages (RCS) On secondary web browsers only (phone required to sync messages)[120] Similar to SMS requirements, RCS messaging requires a valid SIM card to be inserted in the device.
RCS chat features may continue to work for up to 14 days, when a SIM card is removed from the device.[121] 		Only a limited set of reactions available Yes Yes Partial
ICQ Yes[122] Phone required for initial registration.
Desktop client can function independently afterwards.[123] 		Yes Yes Yes
Jami
Jitsi Yes
Kadu Yes Yes
KakaoTalk On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[124][125] No No
Keybase No Yes Yes, only 2 official skins
Kik Messenger No[126] No Yes Yes
Line On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[127] No Yes Yes No Yes
Linphone
Mattermost No Yes Yes
MCabber No
Messages Yes (Apple devices)[128] Yes No No
Messenger Yes (messages are also accessible on the main Facebook website)[129] Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Movim Yes No No
Palringo No Yes
Paltalk No Yes
Pidgin No No Yes Yes
Psi Yes Yes
RetroShare Yes No
Ricochet No
Sicher No
Signal On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages; 5 linked devices)[130] No Yes Yes Only on Android and iOS No Yes
Silent Phone No
Skype Yes[131][116] Yes Yes Yes No No
Slack Yes[114][116] Yes Yes Yes
Snapchat No[132] No Yes Yes No No
Surespot No Yes
TeamNote No
Telegram Yes[133][116][134] Phone required for initial registration & login.
Desktop client can function independently afterwards.[135] 		Full set of reactions only available on Telegram Premium Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tencent QQ On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[136] No[137][138] No Yes
Threema On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages).
Phone must maintain an active network connection at all times to use the desktop client.[139] 		A valid phone number or email address is not required for registration & login.
However, the mobile app serves as the primary device, due to the end-to-end encryption architecture.[140] 		Yes No Yes
Trillian Yes Yes
Viber On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[141] No Only a limited set of reactions available Yes Yes No Yes
WeChat On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[142] No No
WhatsApp On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages; 4 linked devices)
Phone must not be offline for ≥ 14 days; message history limited to 3 months.
Unsupported on iPad, iPod touch.

[143] 		No Yes Yes Yes No No
Wickr Me No No
Wire Yes[144] Yes No No No
Client Multi-device support Independent of mobile phone Emoji reactions Stickers GIF search Custom emoji Themes / skins

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m In addition to other official and third-party solutions, a native desktop application can be generated for the instant messaging app website using Nativefier.[96]

References

  1. ^ "History of Instant Messaging". The top 6 best Instant Message client apps on any platform. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Secure P2P Messenger Releases First Version, Receives New Funding". Briar. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  3. ^ "release-1.5.9". 16 January 2024.
  4. ^ Marks, Tom (May 14, 2016). "One year after its launch, Discord is the best VoIP service available". PC Gamer. Future plc. Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  5. ^ "Version 269.11 - Stable; Updated on Mar 10, 2025". 10 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Number of monthly active users (MAU) of Discord worldwide as of September 2021". Statista. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Version History 270.0; Mar 10, 2025". 10 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  8. ^ "Download for desktop Linux *.deb | *.tar.gz". 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  9. ^ "What's new in version 0.0.270 Updated on Dec 12 2022". Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  10. ^ Kirkpatrick, Marshall (2006-06-21). "E-Messenger raises funds, relaunches as eBuddy.com". techcrunch.com. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  11. ^ "Element Android v1.6.32". 18 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  12. ^ "2021: It's been a busy year for Element!" (Press release). Element Blog. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  13. ^ "v1.11.25". 4 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  14. ^ a b c "v1.11.92". 11 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  15. ^ "v1.11.92". 11 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  16. ^ Error: Unable to display the reference from Wikidata properly. Technical details:
    • Reason for the failure of {{Cite web}}: The Wikidata reference contains the property URL (P2699), which is not assigned to any parameter of this template.
    • Reason for the failure of {{Cite Q}}: The Wikidata reference contains the property URL (P2699), which is not assigned to any parameter of this template.
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  17. ^ ICQ 11 million users in the world per month, 28 November 2018
  18. ^ damencho (4 February 2017). "Changes version to 2.10". Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  19. ^ "Release 2.10". 1 October 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
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