European Alternatives to Telegram

Looking for a European alternative to Telegram? Telegram Messenger Inc. says in its privacy policy that it is located outside the EEA, names Telegram Group Inc. in the British Virgin Islands as its parent and Telegram FZ-LLC in Dubai as a group member, and uses an EU representative (EDPO) under Article 27 of the GDPR.

Eleven European tools cover different parts of what people use Telegram for: private messengers with no phone number, a federated community platform, business messengers, a self-hosted suite and a SIP calling app, from companies and foundations in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

11 Alternatives
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11 European Alternatives to Telegram

Element

London Matrix client with public rooms, federation, open source code and a free app, plus hosted and self-hosted servers

#1 for replacing Telegram
United Kingdom

Session

Swiss foundation messenger with no phone number or email, community-run nodes, group chats and Communities of 100+

#2 for replacing Telegram
Switzerland

Threema

Swiss messenger with no phone number needed, a one-time Private purchase and a per-user Work tier with Broadcast

#3 for replacing Telegram
Switzerland

Wire

Swiss collaboration messenger with chat, calls and files, a personal account and a free tier for small teams of up to 5

#4 for replacing Telegram
Switzerland

Delta Chat

Open source messenger from Freiburg that runs on chatmail relays or ordinary email, with no phone number

#5 for replacing Telegram
Germany

SimpleX Chat

London open source messenger with no user identifiers at all, preset relay servers and an AGPLv3 code base

#6 for replacing Telegram
United Kingdom

Olvid

Paris messenger built around contact-by-contact trust, with a free tier and a business offer

#7 for replacing Telegram
France

ginlo

Munich messenger with a private and a business version, servers in Germany and a Management Cockpit

#8 for replacing Telegram
Germany

Nextcloud Talk

Chat, calls and video in the Nextcloud suite from Stuttgart, run on your own server or via a provider

#9 for replacing Telegram
Germany

Linphone

Grenoble SIP softphone for VoIP, video and instant messaging, with a free SIP service and French law

#10 for replacing Telegram
France

Teamwire

Munich business messenger hosted in Germany, with a free trial and audit logs, aimed at organisations

#11 for replacing Telegram
Germany

Key takeaways

  • Telegram Messenger Inc. says it is located outside the EEA, with a parent in the British Virgin Islands and a group member in Dubai.
  • Telegram cloud chats are stored on its servers. End-to-end encryption exists only in secret chats, which sync to one device.
  • Element, the Matrix client from London, is the nearest for communities and large rooms, and it is free to use, with open source code and federation.
  • Session (Zug foundation) and Threema (Pfaeffikon) both work without a phone number, and both are the most direct private-chat replacements.
  • None of the eleven matches Telegram for public channels of unlimited size or for its bot and mini-app ecosystem.

Why people leave Telegram

Telegram is the messenger people reach for when WhatsApp feels too small: groups and supergroups, public channels that anyone can follow, bots and mini-apps, large file uploads and chats that sync to every device without your phone being on. It is free to use, with an optional paid Premium subscription and a Business tier, both described in its own terms.

The company behind it is not European. The privacy policy says the controller is Telegram Messenger Inc., that Telegram is "located outside the EEA", and that personal data may be shared with the parent Telegram Group Inc. in the British Virgin Islands, with Telegraph Inc.

(also BVI) and with Telegram FZ-LLC in Dubai. For European users it names an EU representative, EDPO, as required by Article 27 of the GDPR. Its terms of service do not name a governing law or court.

This page lists eleven European tools. They are not clones. Telegram is three things at once: a private messenger, a broadcast and community platform, and a cloud service. Different alternatives cover different parts of that, and none covers all of it.

  • The company is outside the EEA and offshore Telegram Messenger Inc. describes itself as located outside the EEA, with a parent in the British Virgin Islands and a group member in Dubai. Data is moved to those group companies on standard contract clauses, and an EU representative exists only to receive GDPR requests. If you want a contracting party and a court inside Europe, none of that applies to the tools below.
  • Most chats are not end-to-end encrypted by default Telegram says plainly that it is a cloud service: messages, photos, videos and documents from cloud chats are stored on its servers, encrypted, so you can open them from any device. End-to-end encryption is available only in "secret chats", which are not stored in the cloud and work on one device. Threema, Session, SimpleX, Olvid, Wire and Delta Chat encrypt end to end by design.
  • An unwritten governing law The terms of service are short and name no governing law, no court and no arbitration route. Most of the European tools here do name one, for example Swiss law with Zug courts for Session, French law with Paris courts for Olvid, and French law with the Grenoble court for Linphone. A named law is not a guarantee of anything, but it is something to point to.
  • The cloud model is a trade-off, not a flaw Because Telegram holds your chats on its servers, a new phone shows your whole history at once. Privacy-first tools keep history on your devices, so moving phone means a backup or a transfer. That is the price of not trusting a server with your messages, and it is the main thing you will notice after switching.

What you have to replace, not just match

List what you actually use Telegram for. A few private groups of friends or a family move easily to Threema, Session, Wire or SimpleX. A public channel with thousands of followers, or a group with several thousand members, does not: only Element (through Matrix rooms) and, in part, Session Communities come close, and neither reaches Telegram's reach among ordinary users.

Move groups one at a time, keep Telegram installed for the people who will not follow, and agree a date. If you run bots, check whether your replacement has an API: Threema Work has an API on its Professional tier, Element and Matrix have an open client API, and Nextcloud Talk is part of a server you control.

The alternatives compared

European Telegram alternatives, in the order this page ranks them, compared on headquarters, pricing and jurisdiction
PositionToolHeadquartersPricingJurisdiction
#1 Element London, United Kingdom Free self-hosted / from about €5/user/month (managed) United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
#2 Session Switzerland Free Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
#3 Threema Pfaffikon, Switzerland CHF 4.99 one-time (mobile) / CHF 2/user/month (Work) Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
#4 Wire Zug, Switzerland Free (personal) / from €5.83/user/month (business) Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
#5 Delta Chat Freiburg, Germany Free and open source EU (Germany)
#6 SimpleX Chat United Kingdom Free United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA)
#7 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)
#8 ginlo Munich, Germany ginlo Private free / ginlo Business from €3.57/user/month incl. 19% VAT (education €1.19) EU (Germany)
#9 Nextcloud Talk Stuttgart, Germany Free self-hosted / Enterprise plans on request EU (Germany)
#11 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)

How each alternative compares to Telegram

#1

Element

the nearest for communities and large rooms, from London

London, United KingdomFree self-hosted / from about €5/user/month (managed)#4 in Messaging Apps

  • Which law reaches it. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA). Telegram is operated from British Virgin Islands / UAE, outside the EU and without an adequacy decision, so transfers rest on contractual safeguards rather than on the data staying inside the EEA.
  • Where the data sits. Self-hosted, or European managed options.
  • Source code. Open source, where Telegram is not: you can read what it does rather than take the description on trust.

Best for: Communities, open-source projects and organisations that want public or 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.

Telegram's public groups and channels have an open Matrix equivalent in public rooms, but setup is more technical than a one-app messenger.

What Element does better than Telegram

  • Rooms that federate across servers instead of living on one company's cloud
  • Open source code and a free app
  • Self-hosting option for organisations
  • Contracting entity in London instead of the BVI and Dubai

Where Element is a step down from Telegram

  • Less polished than Telegram, with more settings to understand
  • No equivalent of Telegram's public channel reach
  • The UK is outside the EU and EEA

Standout against Telegram. Federation: you can chat with other Matrix servers, not only Element's

element.io Visit Element
#2

Session

closest private chat with groups and open communities

SwitzerlandFree#5 in Messaging Apps

  • Which law reaches it. Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA). Telegram is operated from British Virgin Islands / UAE, outside the EU and without an adequacy decision, so transfers rest on contractual safeguards rather than on the data staying inside the EEA.
  • Where the data sits. Decentralised community nodes worldwide.
  • Source code. Open source, where Telegram is not: you can read what it does rather than take the description on trust.

Best for: People who want Telegram-style groups and communities without giving 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's Communities are the nearest to Telegram supergroups among the private messengers.

What Session does better than Telegram

  • No phone number or email needed
  • Foundation under Swiss law with Zug courts
  • Groups and Communities of 100+ members
  • End-to-end encryption by default

Where Session is a step down from Telegram

  • Smaller community reach than Telegram
  • No Telegram-style bot ecosystem
  • Nodes run by volunteers around the world
  • Smaller feature set for files and cloud history

Standout against Telegram. Account IDs instead of phone numbers

getsession.org Visit Session
#3

Threema

the clearest anonymous messenger with a business route

Pfaffikon, SwitzerlandCHF 4.99 one-time (mobile) / CHF 2/user/month (Work)#1 in Messaging Apps

  • Which law reaches it. Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA). Telegram is operated from British Virgin Islands / UAE, outside the EU and without an adequacy decision, so transfers rest on contractual safeguards rather than on the data staying inside the EEA.
  • Where the data sits. Switzerland.
  • Source code. Open source, where Telegram is not: you can read what it does rather than take the description on trust.

Best for: Individuals and companies that want a paid, audited, Swiss messenger

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.

Telegram's channels have a rough counterpart in Threema Broadcast, which is part of the Work Professional tier, not the private app.

What Threema does better than Telegram

  • No phone number or email needed
  • Swiss company with a published company ID
  • One-time purchase for private use instead of a subscription
  • Open source code and external audits, by its own account

Where Threema is a step down from Telegram

  • Not free for private use
  • Group size and channel reach below Telegram's
  • No Telegram-style bot and mini-app ecosystem

Standout against Telegram. Paid once, no phone number

threema.ch Visit Threema
#4

Wire

chat and calls for small teams, under Swiss law

Zug, SwitzerlandFree (personal) / from €5.83/user/month (business)#3 in Messaging Apps

  • Which law reaches it. Switzerland (adequacy decision, outside the EEA). Telegram is operated from British Virgin Islands / UAE, outside the EU and without an adequacy decision, so transfers rest on contractual safeguards rather than on the data staying inside the EEA.
  • Where the data sits. EU (Germany, Ireland).
  • Source code. Open source, where Telegram is not: you can read what it does rather than take the description on trust.

Best for: Small teams and families that want calls, chat and files in one app

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 fits Telegram's small-group and file-sharing use, not its broadcast use.

What Wire does better than Telegram

  • Swiss company with Swiss law for users outside the US
  • Free for small teams of up to 5 people
  • Calls, files and chat in one app
  • Plans for SMBs and enterprises

Where Wire is a step down from Telegram

  • Delaware law and arbitration for US users
  • No broadcast channels
  • Free tier is for small teams only

Standout against Telegram. Free for up to 5 people

wire.com Visit Wire
#5

Delta Chat

a decentralised messenger that works over email

Freiburg, GermanyFree and open source

  • Which law reaches it. EU (Germany). Telegram is operated from British Virgin Islands / UAE, outside the EU and without an adequacy decision, so transfers rest on contractual safeguards rather than on the data staying inside the EEA.
  • 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, where Telegram is not: you can read what it does rather than take the description on trust.

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 has groups and interactive web apps in chats, which echo Telegram's mini-apps in a very small way.

What Delta Chat does better than Telegram

  • Nothing is tied to one server or phone number
  • merlinux GmbH is an identifiable German company
  • Open source and audited encryption, by its own account
  • Also works with a normal email provider

Where Delta Chat is a step down from Telegram

  • Contacts need to be set up by address or QR code
  • Messages sent through ordinary email without encryption are marked as such
  • Smaller user base than Telegram
  • Not designed for large public channels

Standout against Telegram. No phone number, and nothing central

delta.chat Visit Delta Chat
#6

SimpleX Chat

the most identifier-free design on the list

United KingdomFree#2 in Messaging Apps

  • Which law reaches it. United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA). Telegram is operated from British Virgin Islands / UAE, outside the EU and without an adequacy decision, so transfers rest on contractual safeguards rather than on the data staying inside the EEA.
  • Where the data sits. Self-hostable relay servers.
  • Source code. Open source, where Telegram is not: you can read what it does rather than take the description on trust.

Best for: Users who want no account, no phone number and no 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 has groups but no public channels in the Telegram sense.

What SimpleX Chat does better than Telegram

  • No phone numbers, emails or usernames
  • AGPLv3 code
  • Identifiable UK company in the register
  • Choice of relay servers

Where SimpleX Chat is a step down from Telegram

  • The UK is outside the EU and EEA
  • iOS push notifications go through servers run by SimpleX Chat Ltd
  • Steeper learning curve than Telegram
  • No bots or channels at Telegram's scale

Standout against Telegram. No user profile identifiers

simplex.chat Visit SimpleX Chat
#7

Olvid

private chat under French law, with a clear price list

Paris, FranceFree / Pro €4.99/user/month incl. tax (in-app) / Business €9.90/user/month excl. tax / Enterprise €9.90/user/month + €4,990/year#9 in Messaging Apps

  • Which law reaches it. EU (France). Telegram is operated from British Virgin Islands / UAE, outside the EU and without an adequacy decision, so transfers rest on contractual safeguards rather than on the data staying inside the EEA.
  • Where the data sits. Amazon Web Services (AWS), region not stated by Olvid; the server only relays encrypted payloads.
  • Source code. Open source, where Telegram is not: you can read what it does rather than take the description on trust.
  • 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 suits private chats and small groups, not public channels.

What Olvid does better than Telegram

  • French company with a register number
  • French law and Paris courts, with a consumer option for the local court
  • Free tier at 0 euros
  • Public price list

Where Olvid is a step down from Telegram

  • Calling out is not listed for the free tier, so check the pricing page
  • Smaller user base than Telegram
  • No public channels

Standout against Telegram. A price list you can read

olvid.io Visit Olvid
#8

ginlo

a German messenger aimed at organisations

Munich, Germanyginlo Private free / ginlo Business from €3.57/user/month incl. 19% VAT (education €1.19)

  • Which law reaches it. EU (Germany). Telegram is operated from British Virgin Islands / UAE, outside the EU and without an adequacy decision, so transfers rest on contractual safeguards rather than on the data staying inside the EEA.
  • Where the data sits. Germany, in an ISO 27001 (IT-Grundschutz) data centre; operator not named.
  • Source code. Closed source, as Telegram is.

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 is a business-first tool; it replaces Telegram only for closed groups.

What ginlo does better than Telegram

  • German GmbH with court and register number
  • Servers in Germany, by its own account
  • Central user management for organisations

Where ginlo is a step down from Telegram

  • No prices could be read on its site
  • Not designed for public channels or communities
  • Smaller user base than Telegram

Standout against Telegram. Management Cockpit for organisations

ginlo.net Visit ginlo
#9

Nextcloud Talk

for teams that already run Nextcloud

Stuttgart, GermanyFree self-hosted / Enterprise plans on request#2 in Cloud Storage

  • Which law reaches it. EU (Germany). Telegram is operated from British Virgin Islands / UAE, outside the EU and without an adequacy decision, so transfers rest on contractual safeguards rather than on the data staying inside the EEA.
  • Where the data sits. Wherever you host it.
  • Source code. Open source, where Telegram is not: you can read what it does rather than take the description on trust.

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 Telegram, and is best used by people who already have a Nextcloud account.

What Nextcloud Talk does better than Telegram

  • Runs on a server you control
  • Chat, calls, files and calendar together
  • German GmbH with a register number

Where Nextcloud Talk is a step down from Telegram

  • Not a stand-alone messenger
  • Someone has to run the server
  • Weak for consumer chat or public channels

Standout against Telegram. You can host it yourself

nextcloud.com Visit Nextcloud Talk
#10

Linphone

for calls first, chat second

Best for: People who want open SIP calling with some messaging in one app

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 Telegram's calls, not its channels.

What Linphone does better than Telegram

  • SIP is an open standard
  • French company with a register number and French law
  • Free app and free SIP service

Where Linphone is a step down from Telegram

  • Chat is secondary to calling
  • Not a Telegram-style community tool
  • Smaller user base

Standout against Telegram. Open standard calling with a free SIP service

#11

Teamwire

an organisation messenger, not a consumer one

Munich, GermanySmall Business €79/month for up to 25 users / Standard €3.45/user/month (25–500 users), billed annually / Professional on request

  • Which law reaches it. EU (Germany). Telegram is operated from British Virgin Islands / UAE, outside the EU and without an adequacy decision, so transfers rest on contractual safeguards rather than on the data staying inside the EEA.
  • Where the data sits. Germany, on IONOS Cloud (public cloud or dedicated private cluster); on-premise option.
  • Source code. Closed source, as Telegram is.
  • 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 is a business tool with a "Signal alternative" page on its own site.

What Teamwire does better than Telegram

  • 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 Telegram

  • Not for private or public use
  • No consumer price list that could be read
  • No community or channel features

Standout against Telegram. Built for audit-proof communication

teamwire.eu Visit Teamwire

What actually breaks when you switch

The hardest part is your contacts. Telegram finds people by phone number, and most of these do not. With Threema, Session, SimpleX and Delta Chat you add people by ID, QR code or invite link, so allow time for every contact to install the new app.

Telegram keeps your whole history in the cloud. After you leave, you will have to export what you want to keep, because most of the tools here keep history on your own device and will not import it. Check the export option inside Telegram before you delete anything.

Check storage and file limits on the tool you choose. Telegram allows large uploads and unlimited cloud storage, and a privacy-first messenger usually does not.

Which of these is closest to Telegram?

For community rooms, Element: Matrix rooms can be public, hold many members and be reached from other Matrix servers, and Element lists a free app and backend under AGPL. For a simple private messenger with groups, Session and Threema are the nearest in feel.

No tool here has Telegram's mix of channels, bots and cloud sync. Pick the part you actually use and test that.

Can I stay anonymous?

Threema says it needs no phone number or email address. Session needs neither, and SimpleX says it creates connections without any user identifiers. Delta Chat asks for no phone number, email address or name when you create a profile on a chatmail relay. Telegram asks for a phone number.

Anonymity depends on the whole setup, not on the app. Your app store account, your network and the people you talk to all matter.

What about groups and channels with many people?

Session offers group chats and Communities of 100+ members. Element builds on Matrix rooms that are not tied to one server. Threema Work's Professional tier adds Broadcast for one-to-many messages. Wire's free tier is aimed at small teams of up to 5 people. Check the limits for your size on the tool's own pages before you move a big group.

If you run a public channel with a large audience, expect Telegram to remain the place where that audience already is.

Are there business options?

Yes. Teamwire (Munich) and ginlo Business are business messengers hosted in Germany. Wire has paid plans for SMBs and enterprises, Olvid has a Business offer, Threema Work is per user and month, and Nextcloud Talk is part of a server you or a provider run. None of them is a place to build a public audience.

Which one to pick

If you want a private messenger to replace Telegram's direct chats and small groups, Threema or Session are the cleanest. If you want community rooms and bridges to other services, Element is the answer, and you accept that Matrix is more complex than a one-app messenger.

For organisations, look at Wire, Teamwire, ginlo Business, Olvid or Nextcloud Talk, and check the contract, the hosting and the price on the vendor's own page. Use Linphone when calls are what you really need.

Be honest about the gap. Telegram is bigger than any of these, and public channels, bots and mini-apps have no European equivalent at the same scale. Switch if you want a European contract and end-to-end encryption by default for your group chats, and keep Telegram for what only it does.

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on what you use Telegram for. For communities and large rooms, Element. For private chats without a phone number, Threema or Session. For a small team that wants calls and chat in one tool, Wire or Nextcloud Talk. None of them replaces Telegram's public channels and bots.

No. Its privacy policy names Telegram Messenger Inc. as controller, says Telegram is located outside the EEA, and lists Telegram Group Inc. (British Virgin Islands), Telegraph Inc. (BVI) and Telegram FZ-LLC (Dubai) as group members. It appoints EDPO as its EU representative.

Only in secret chats. By its own privacy policy, cloud chats (the default for private chats, groups and channels) are stored on Telegram's servers, encrypted, with the encryption keys kept in other data centres in different jurisdictions. Secret chats are end-to-end encrypted, are not stored in the cloud and work on one device.

The terms of service read on 8 October 2026 do not name one. They say EU users must be at least 18 and that the EU Digital Services Act user guidance is part of the terms. Telegram Premium and Stars have their own terms sections.

Threema, Session, SimpleX and Delta Chat all say they do not ask for one. Element and Wire work with an account, and the others (Olvid, ginlo, Teamwire, Nextcloud Talk, Linphone) depend on how your organisation or provider sets accounts up.

Threema AG (Pfaeffikon SZ, CHE-487.082.806), Wire Swiss GmbH (Zug, CHE-432.881.146) and Session Technology Foundation (terms under the laws of Zug). Switzerland is outside the EU and the EEA but has its own data protection law.

Element Creations Ltd, trading as Element, in London, and SimpleX Chat Ltd (company 13691484), also in London. The UK is outside the EU and EEA, but both are European by location and by law.

Threema Private is a one-time purchase whose price depends on the app store and country. Olvid lists a free tier, 4.99 euros per user and month including taxes for the in-app licence and 9.90 euros excluding taxes for Business.

Element lists a free app and backend, Linphone a free app and SIP service, and Session and Delta Chat show donation links but no price. Wire is free for small teams of up to 5 people. ginlo, Teamwire and Nextcloud show no prices that could be read on their sites.

About the author

One person researches and writes every comparison page on European Purpose and checks the compliance and pricing claims against the vendor's own documentation.

Sebastiaan Smits

Sebastiaan Smits

Founder · Amsterdam, Netherlands

Founder of European Purpose. Researches and writes the reviews and checks where each company is actually established.

Read our editorial process for how we source, verify and update these pages, and how paid placement works.

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