European Alternatives to Signal
Looking for a European alternative to Signal? Signal Messenger LLC, at 650 Castro Street in Mountain View, California, writes in its terms that disputes go exclusively to the US District Court for the Northern District of California or a state court in San Mateo County, under California law, and that you register with your phone number.
Eleven European tools offer end-to-end encrypted messaging from companies and foundations in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, several of them with no phone number, plus business messengers, a self-hosted suite and a SIP calling app.
How we rank these tools — 4-step process
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1
European ownership, verified
The company is headquartered and incorporated in the EU, EEA or Switzerland, and processes customer data in Europe. A US parent company disqualifies a tool from this page regardless of where its servers are.
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Category fit and hands-on review
What the tool actually does, who it suits, and where it falls short — checked against the vendor’s own documentation, changelog and pricing page rather than its marketing copy.
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Compliance and pricing check
GDPR posture, hosting location and the prices quoted on this page are verified against the vendor’s public pricing before publication, and re-checked when we revisit the category.
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Position on this page
Placement on this page can be paid, and that can affect which tools appear here and the order they appear in. It never buys a good review: a tool that fails the checks above is not here at any price, and payment does not change the shortcomings we write about. A vendor can ask us to correct a factual error — not to remove a criticism.
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11 European Alternatives to Signal
Threema
Swiss messenger that needs no phone number or email, with a one-time Private purchase and a per-user Work tier
Session
Swiss foundation messenger with no phone number or email, community-run nodes and open source code
SimpleX Chat
London open source messenger with no user identifiers, preset relay servers and AGPLv3 code
Olvid
Paris messenger with a free tier at 0 euros, an in-app licence and a business offer, under French law
Wire
Swiss collaboration messenger with chat, calls and files, a personal account and a free tier for small teams of up to 5
Delta Chat
Open source messenger from Freiburg that runs on chatmail relays or ordinary email, with no phone number
Element
London Matrix client with rooms, federation, open source code and a free app, plus hosted and self-hosted servers
ginlo
Munich messenger with a private and a business version, servers in Germany and a Management Cockpit
Linphone
Grenoble SIP softphone for VoIP, video and instant messaging, with a free SIP service and French law
Teamwire
Munich business messenger hosted in Germany, with a free trial and audit logs, with its own Signal alternative page
Nextcloud Talk
Chat, calls and video in the Nextcloud suite from Stuttgart, run on your own server or via a provider
Key takeaways
- Signal's terms are with Signal Messenger LLC in Mountain View, California, with an exclusive California forum, California law and a one hundred dollar liability cap.
- Signal requires a phone number to register. Threema, Session, SimpleX and Delta Chat all say they do not.
- Threema (Pfaeffikon SZ) and Session (Zug foundation) are the closest in spirit: private, end-to-end encrypted and phone-number-free.
- SimpleX (London) goes furthest on identifiers, with no user IDs at all by its own description.
- Wire, Teamwire, ginlo, Olvid and Threema Work add the admin tools Signal lacks.
Why people leave Signal
Signal is the messenger privacy people recommend to each other. It is free to use, built around end-to-end encryption, and its legal page says Signal messages and calls cannot be accessed by Signal or third parties. It is run by a nonprofit, and the footer of its own site says so.
So why look in Europe? Because of the contract, not the cryptography. The Terms of Service are with Signal Messenger LLC of Mountain View, California.
Disputes go exclusively to a federal court in the Northern District of California or a state court in San Mateo County, California law governs, the aggregate liability of Signal is limited to one hundred dollars, and you must register with a phone number. If you want a contracting party inside Europe, or want to sign up without a phone number, you need something else.
This page lists eleven European tools. Be clear about what they are: several match Signal's privacy stance, some beat it on identifiers (no phone number), and some are business messengers with admin tools that Signal does not have. Few have Signal's public scrutiny.
- A US contract with a fixed California forum Signal's terms send disputes exclusively to the Northern District of California or to a state court in San Mateo County, and say California law governs. They also cap Signal's total liability at one hundred dollars. For a free personal app that is ordinary. For an organisation that wants a European counterparty and court, it is a reason to look elsewhere.
- You need a phone number Signal's terms say you register using your phone number and agree to receive texts and calls with verification codes from Signal or its third-party providers. Threema, Session, SimpleX and Delta Chat say they do not ask for one, which is a real difference for people who do not want an account tied to a SIM.
- No admin or compliance tooling Signal is a consumer messenger. There is no central admin, no audit log and no organisation-wide user management. Wire, Teamwire, ginlo Business, Olvid Business and Threema Work all have admin or licence tools, because organisations need them.
- Your contacts are the real lock-in The best messenger is the one your contacts will install. If your family and your friends are on Signal, a European alternative has to be good enough to convince them. This is the hardest part and no vendor can make it easier.
What you have to replace, not just match
Decide what you are trying to change. If it is the contracting party, almost all eleven qualify. If it is the phone number, pick Threema, Session, SimpleX or Delta Chat. If it is admin control, pick Wire, Teamwire, ginlo Business, Olvid or Threema Work.
Move a small group first, keep Signal installed during the change and agree a date. Check how each tool handles groups, calls and multi-device use, as they differ more than the headline "end-to-end encrypted" suggests.
The alternatives compared
| Position | Tool | Headquarters | Pricing | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Threema | Pfaffikon, Switzerland | CHF 4.99 one-time (mobile) / CHF 2/user/month (Work) | Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA) |
| #2 | Session | Switzerland | Free | Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA) |
| #3 | SimpleX Chat | United Kingdom | Free | United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA) |
| #4 | Olvid | Paris, France | Free / Pro €4.99/user/month incl. tax (in-app) / Business €9.90/user/month excl. tax / Enterprise €9.90/user/month + €4,990/year | EU (France) |
| #5 | Wire | Zug, Switzerland | Free (personal) / from €5.83/user/month (business) | Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA) |
| #6 | Delta Chat | Freiburg, Germany | Free and open source | EU (Germany) |
| #7 | Element | London, United Kingdom | Free self-hosted / from about €5/user/month (managed) | United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA) |
| #8 | ginlo | Munich, Germany | ginlo Private free / ginlo Business from €3.57/user/month incl. 19% VAT (education €1.19) | EU (Germany) |
| #10 | Teamwire | Munich, Germany | Small Business €79/month for up to 25 users / Standard €3.45/user/month (25–500 users), billed annually / Professional on request | EU (Germany) |
| #11 | Nextcloud Talk | Stuttgart, Germany | Free self-hosted / Enterprise plans on request | EU (Germany) |
How each alternative compares to Signal
- Which law reaches it. Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA). Signal is run from the United States, so the CLOUD Act obliges the provider to hand over data on a valid order regardless of which country the servers are in.
- Where the data sits. Switzerland.
- Source code. Open source, as Signal is.
Best for: Individuals and companies that want a Signal-grade messenger with a Swiss counterparty
Threema contracts through Threema AG, Churerstrasse 82, 8808 Pfaeffikon SZ, Switzerland, company ID CHE-487.082.806 (its contact page and privacy policy).
Threema says it needs no phone number or email address, uses end-to-end encryption for chats, calls and files, and publishes open source code and external audits. Threema Private is a one-time purchase whose price depends on the app store and country. Threema Work is per user and month on annual payment, and the Professional tier adds Broadcast for one-to-many messages. Its server terms are under Swiss law with Zurich courts.
Threema is not free for private use, but a one-time payment avoids a subscription.
What Threema does better than Signal
- No phone number or email needed
- Swiss company with a published company ID
- Business tier with admin tools
Where Threema is a step down from Signal
- Not free for private use
- Smaller user base than Signal
- Public scrutiny shorter than Signal's
Standout against Signal. Paid once, no phone number
- Which law reaches it. Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA). Signal is run from the United States, so the CLOUD Act obliges the provider to hand over data on a valid order regardless of which country the servers are in.
- Where the data sits. Decentralised community nodes worldwide.
- Source code. Open source, as Signal is.
Best for: People who want a free messenger without a phone number
Session contracts through Session Technology Foundation (its terms of service, last updated 15 October 2024).
Session needs no phone number or email to sign up, uses end-to-end encryption and disappearing messages, and relays messages over thousands of nodes run by a global community. It has group chats and Communities of 100+ members. The terms are governed by the laws of Zug, Switzerland, with the courts of the canton of Zug.
Session is the free route to a phone-number-free Signal replacement.
What Session does better than Signal
- No phone number or email
- Free, with donation links
- Foundation under Swiss law with Zug courts
- Groups and Communities
Where Session is a step down from Signal
- Nodes run by volunteers around the world
- Smaller user base than Signal
- Less established than Signal
Standout against Signal. Account IDs, not phone numbers
- Which law reaches it. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA). Signal is run from the United States, so the CLOUD Act obliges the provider to hand over data on a valid order regardless of which country the servers are in.
- Where the data sits. Self-hostable relay servers.
- Source code. Open source, as Signal is.
Best for: People who want no account or username anywhere
SimpleX Chat contracts through SimpleX Chat Ltd, company number 13691484, incorporated 20 October 2021, 20-22 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU (Companies House search).
SimpleX says its protocol creates connections without any user identifiers: no phone numbers, emails, usernames or identity keys. The software is AGPLv3 and the app ships with preset relay servers run by SimpleX Chat Ltd and other operators. On iOS, push notifications go through servers operated by SimpleX Chat Ltd.
SimpleX goes further than Signal on identifiers, at the cost of a steeper setup.
What SimpleX Chat does better than Signal
- No phone numbers, emails or usernames
- AGPLv3 code
- Identifiable UK company in the register
Where SimpleX Chat is a step down from Signal
- The UK is outside the EU and EEA
- iOS push goes through servers run by SimpleX Chat Ltd
- Steeper learning curve
Standout against Signal. No user profile identifiers
- Which law reaches it. EU (France). Signal is run from the United States, so the CLOUD Act obliges the provider to hand over data on a valid order regardless of which country the servers are in.
- Where the data sits. Amazon Web Services (AWS), region not stated by Olvid; the server only relays encrypted payloads.
- Source code. Open source, as Signal is.
- Independently checked. ANSSI CSPN security visas (iOS and Android apps).
Best for: Users and organisations that want a French contract and clear prices
Olvid contracts through Olvid SAS, RCS Paris 850 667 171, 26 rue Vignon, Paris 75009 (its terms and privacy policy).
Olvid is under French law with the Paris courts, though a consumer may also use the court where they lived. Its pricing page lists a free tier at 0 euros forever, an in-app licence at 4.99 euros per user and month including taxes, and a Business offer at 9.90 euros per user and month excluding taxes. The free tier can receive secure calls from any Olvid user.
Olvid's free tier covers receiving secure calls from any Olvid user; calling out is not listed for the free tier.
What Olvid does better than Signal
- French company with register number
- French law and Paris courts, consumer court option
- Public price list
Where Olvid is a step down from Signal
- Calling out is not in the free tier
- Smaller user base than Signal
- Fewer public audits to point to
Standout against Signal. A price list you can read
- Which law reaches it. Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA). Signal is run from the United States, so the CLOUD Act obliges the provider to hand over data on a valid order regardless of which country the servers are in.
- Where the data sits. EU (Germany, Ireland).
- Source code. Open source, as Signal is.
Best for: Small teams and companies that want calls, chat and admin controls
Wire contracts through Wire Swiss GmbH, Untermuli 9, 6300 Zug, Switzerland, CHE-432.881.146 (its imprint, terms and privacy policy).
Wire offers a personal account for friends and family and a pricing page with Wire for Free for small teams of up to 5 people, then plans for SMBs and enterprises. Its consumer terms are governed by Swiss law for users outside the United States, and by Delaware law with an arbitration clause for users in the United States.
Wire has SMB and enterprise plans, which Signal does not.
What Wire does better than Signal
- Swiss law for users outside the US
- SMB and enterprise plans
- Calls, files and chat in one app
Where Wire is a step down from Signal
- Delaware law and arbitration for US users
- Free tier is for small teams only
- More business-oriented than Signal
Standout against Signal. Free for up to 5 people, plans above
- Which law reaches it. EU (Germany). Signal is run from the United States, so the CLOUD Act obliges the provider to hand over data on a valid order regardless of which country the servers are in.
- Where the data sits. No central Delta Chat server: messages go over chatmail relays or any email server the user picks; the default relay nine.testrun.org is run by testrun UG i.G., Freiburg (hosting provider not named).
- Source code. Open source, as Signal is.
Best for: People who want a messenger that no single company controls
Delta Chat contracts through merlinux GmbH, Reichsgrafenstr. 20, 79102 Freiburg, Amtsgericht Freiburg HRB709589 (its imprint and privacy policy).
Delta Chat is an open source community project. New profiles are set up on community-run chatmail relays with no phone number, email address or name asked, and it can also use a classic email provider. It says its encryption is audited, and messages without end-to-end encryption carry a small email icon.
Delta Chat is the least like Signal in architecture and the most flexible.
What Delta Chat does better than Signal
- Nothing tied to one server or phone number
- merlinux GmbH is an identifiable German company
- Works with a normal email provider too
Where Delta Chat is a step down from Signal
- Contacts are set up by address or QR code
- Unencrypted email messages are marked as such
- Smaller user base
Standout against Signal. No phone number, nothing central
- Which law reaches it. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA). Signal is run from the United States, so the CLOUD Act obliges the provider to hand over data on a valid order regardless of which country the servers are in.
- Where the data sits. Self-hosted, or European managed options.
- Source code. Open source, as Signal is.
Best for: Communities and organisations that want open, federated rooms
Element contracts through Element Creations Ltd, trading as Element, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1AG (its privacy policy).
Element is the main app on the open Matrix standard, which federates between servers. Its site offers a free app and backend under AGPL, with Element Call included, plus paid hosted and self-hosted server products for organisations.
Element is a different kind of tool from Signal: more flexible, more technical, and not built around one app.
What Element does better than Signal
- Federation across servers
- Open source and a free app
- Self-hosting option
Where Element is a step down from Signal
- More complex than Signal
- The UK is outside the EU and EEA
- Sign-up details depend on the server
Standout against Signal. Federation across Matrix servers
- Which law reaches it. EU (Germany). Signal is run from the United States, so the CLOUD Act obliges the provider to hand over data on a valid order regardless of which country the servers are in.
- Where the data sits. Germany, in an ISO 27001 (IT-Grundschutz) data centre; operator not named.
- Source code. Closed source, where Signal publishes its code.
Best for: Practices, schools and local authorities that want German hosting
ginlo contracts through ginlo.net Gesellschaft fuer Datenkommunikationsdienste mbH, Rupert-Mayer-Strasse 44, 81379 Munich, Amtsgericht Munich HRB 254209 (its imprint).
ginlo sells ginlo Private and ginlo Business, says its servers are in Germany and its data is fully encrypted, and states that the company is governed by German legislation. It is aimed heavily at organisations such as medical practices, authorities and schools. No prices could be read on its site.
ginlo replaces Signal for organisations that want a German counterparty and admin control.
What ginlo does better than Signal
- German GmbH with register number
- Servers in Germany, by its own account
- Central user management
Where ginlo is a step down from Signal
- No prices could be read
- Smaller user base than Signal
- Business-first
Standout against Signal. Management Cockpit
Linphone
for calls first, chat second
Best for: People who want open SIP calling with some messaging
Linphone contracts through Belledonne Communications SARL, 3 Avenue Marie Reynoard, 38100 Grenoble, RCS Grenoble 520 318 437 (its conditions of use and the French company register).
Linphone is a SIP softphone for VoIP, video and instant messaging, with a free SIP service and apps for the main platforms. Its conditions of use are governed by French law with the Tribunal judiciaire of Grenoble. It lists a ZRTP module for end-to-end encrypted calls.
Linphone replaces Signal's calls more than its chat.
What Linphone does better than Signal
- SIP is an open standard
- French company with register number and French law
- Free app and free SIP service
Where Linphone is a step down from Signal
- Chat is secondary to calling
- Smaller user base
- Setup is closer to a phone system
Standout against Signal. Open standard calling
- Which law reaches it. EU (Germany). Signal is run from the United States, so the CLOUD Act obliges the provider to hand over data on a valid order regardless of which country the servers are in.
- Where the data sits. Germany, on IONOS Cloud (public cloud or dedicated private cluster); on-premise option.
- Source code. Closed source, where Signal publishes its code.
- Independently checked. ISO 27001 and BSI C5 (stated for the IONOS-hosted service).
Best for: Companies, authorities and emergency services that need audit trails
Teamwire contracts through Teamwire GmbH, Tittmoninger Strasse 11, 81679 Munich, Amtsgericht Munich HRB 187102 (its imprint).
Teamwire is a business messenger. Its site describes hosting in Germany, ISO 27001 and BSI-C5, audit logs and central user administration, offers a free trial, and has a landing page titled "Signal alternative". It is not meant for private group chats.
Teamwire has a landing page titled "Signal alternative" on its own site, aimed at organisations.
What Teamwire does better than Signal
- Munich GmbH with a register number
- Hosting in Germany, ISO 27001 and BSI-C5, by its own account
- Audit logs and central administration
Where Teamwire is a step down from Signal
- Not for private use
- No consumer price list that could be read
- Smaller user base
Standout against Signal. Built for audit-proof communication
- Which law reaches it. EU (Germany). Signal is run from the United States, so the CLOUD Act obliges the provider to hand over data on a valid order regardless of which country the servers are in.
- Where the data sits. Wherever you host it.
- Source code. Open source, as Signal is.
Best for: Organisations that want chat, calls and files on infrastructure they control
Nextcloud Talk contracts through Nextcloud GmbH, Hauptmannsreute 44a, 70192 Stuttgart, Commercial Register HRB 227086 (its legal notice).
Talk is the chat, call and video conferencing part of the Nextcloud Hub, which also covers files, groupware and office documents. It is a component of a server you or a provider run, not a stand-alone messenger app.
Talk is not a pocket messenger like Signal, and is best used by people who already have a Nextcloud account.
What Nextcloud Talk does better than Signal
- Runs on a server you control
- Chat, calls, files and calendar together
- German GmbH with register number
Where Nextcloud Talk is a step down from Signal
- Not a stand-alone messenger
- Someone has to run the server
- Weak for consumer chat
Standout against Signal. You can host it yourself
What actually breaks when you switch
Contacts first. Signal finds people by phone number. With Threema, Session, SimpleX and Delta Chat you share an ID, link or QR code, so plan for each person to do a short setup.
History does not move. Signal keeps message history on your devices and none of these will import it, so keep the old chats on a device you do not wipe if you need them.
Check calls and multi-device use on the exact tool. Not all of them offer the same group calling, desktop apps or tablets as Signal does.
Is any of these as private as Signal?
On identifiers, several are stricter: SimpleX says it has no user identifiers at all, and Threema, Session and Delta Chat say they do not ask for a phone number. On public scrutiny, Signal has the longest record, and none of the eleven can claim that.
Look at what each tool publishes: Threema says it has open source code and external audits, Session and SimpleX publish open source code, and Delta Chat says its encryption is audited. Judge them on those documents rather than on slogans.
Which ones need no phone number?
Threema (a Threema ID), Session (an Account ID), SimpleX (no identifiers) and Delta Chat (a random address on a chatmail relay). The others depend on how your organisation sets up accounts.
Is there a European tool with admin controls?
Yes. Teamwire and ginlo Business are business messengers hosted in Germany, Wire has paid SMB and enterprise plans, Olvid has a Business offer, and Threema Work is billed per user and month. Nextcloud Talk is part of a server you or your provider run.
What changes for a family group?
Everyone has to install the new app, and some of these ask for a purchase: Threema Private is a one-time payment. Olvid, Element, Wire for small teams and Linphone all list free options. For a family, Threema, Session and Olvid are the simplest.
Which one to pick
If you want a private messenger like Signal under a European contract, Threema is the cleanest, and Session is the free alternative under a Swiss foundation. If identifiers matter most to you, SimpleX and Delta Chat go furthest.
If you are an organisation, Wire, Olvid, Teamwire, ginlo or Threema Work add the admin tools Signal does not have. Nextcloud Talk suits teams that already run Nextcloud, and Linphone suits people who want open SIP calling.
Be realistic. Signal has the strongest public record in this category, and the European tools do not all match its audits or its adoption. Switch for the contract, the phone number or the admin tools, not because Signal is weak.
Frequently Asked Questions
Threema is the nearest for a private, end-to-end encrypted messenger that needs no phone number, from a Swiss company with a published company ID. Session is the free pick under a Swiss foundation, and SimpleX goes furthest on identifiers. For organisations, look at Wire, Olvid, Teamwire and ginlo.
No. Signal's terms are with Signal Messenger LLC, 650 Castro Street, Suite 120-223, Mountain View, California. Its site says Signal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and that the Signal name is a trademark of Signal Technology Foundation.
The laws of the State of California, with disputes exclusively in the US District Court for the Northern District of California or a state court in San Mateo County, and personal jurisdiction in those courts.
Yes. Its terms say you must register using your phone number and agree to receive verification codes by text or call, which can come from third-party providers.
It is free to use, and its site has a Donate link. No price is listed on the legal pages.
Threema AG (CHE-487.082.806), Wire Swiss GmbH (CHE-432.881.146) and Session Technology Foundation (terms under the laws of Zug). Switzerland is outside the EU and EEA but has its own data protection law.
By their own sites: Element (AGPL), Session, SimpleX (AGPLv3), Delta Chat and Linphone say so, and Threema says it publishes open source code. Olvid, ginlo, Teamwire and Wire were not checked on this point here.
Olvid lists a free tier at 0 euros, an in-app licence at 4.99 euros per user and month including taxes and a Business offer at 9.90 euros per user and month excluding taxes. Threema Private is a one-time purchase whose price depends on the app store and country.
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