Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients
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Instant messaging was created in July 1996 by Yair Goldfinger, Arik Vardi, Sefi Vigiser, and Amnon Amir, when they started a company called Mirabilis in order to introduce a new way of communication over the Internet. [1] The current landscape for instant messaging involves cross-platform instant messaging clients that can handle one or multiple protocols so that internet users can communicate with multiple users at the same time. [2] The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of instant messaging clients. See the individual products' articles for further information. External links may lead to extensions that add a feature to a client.
General information
Client | Publisher | First public release | Type | Latest stable version | License | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adium | Adam Iser, Evan Schoenberg | 2001-09 | Multi-protocol | 1.5.10.4 (April 27, 2017[±] | )GPLv2 | ||||||||||||
aMSN | The aMSN team | 2002-05 | Single-protocol | 0.98.4 | GPL | ||||||||||||
AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) | AOL | 1997-05 | Single-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/AOL Instant Messenger | Discontinued (was freeware) | ||||||||||||
Ayttm | Colin Leroy and Philip Tellis | 2003-04 | Multi-protocol |
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GPL | ||||||||||||
BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) | BlackBerry Limited | 2006 | Single-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) | Freeware | ||||||||||||
BitlBee | Wilmer van der Gaast | 2002-08-09 | Multi-protocol IRC gateway | Template:Latest stable software release/BitlBee | GPL | ||||||||||||
Bombus | Eugene Stahov | 2005-01-05 | Single-protocol | v0.6 (2008 | )GPL | ||||||||||||
Centericq | Konstantin Klyagin | 1999 | Multi-protocol | 4.21.0 (September 2, 2005[±] | )GPL | ||||||||||||
Coccinella | Mats Bengtsson | 1999-12-01 | Single-protocol | 0.96.16 (December 1, 2009 | )GPLv3 | ||||||||||||
Discord | Discord Inc. | 2015-03-06 | Single-protocol | 03.30.2017; (March 30, 2017 | )Freeware | ||||||||||||
eBuddy | Paulo Taylor | 2003-03-09 | Multi-protocol | 2011 | Freeware | ||||||||||||
emesene | Luis Mariano Guerra | 2006-05-24 | Multi-protocol | 2.12.5 | GPL | ||||||||||||
Empathy | The GNOME Project | 2007-05 | Multi-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Empathy (software) | GPL | ||||||||||||
Facebook Messenger | Facebook, Inc. | 2011-08-09 | Single-protocol | Freeware | |||||||||||||
FaceTime | Apple Inc. | 2010-06-24 for iOS; 2011-02-24 for macOS: | Single-protocol |
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Part of macOS or iOS | ||||||||||||
Fire | Eric Peyton | 1999-04-01 | Multi-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Fire | GPL | ||||||||||||
Firetalk | Multitude Communications | 1997 -2001 | voice/music chat program | GPL | |||||||||||||
Gadu-Gadu | Łukasz Foltyn / GG Network S.A. | 2000-08-15 | Single-protocol |
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Freeware | ||||||||||||
Gajim | Yann Le Boulanger | 2004-05-21 | Single-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Gajim | GPL | ||||||||||||
Google Allo | Google, Inc. | 2016-09-21 | Single-protocol |
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Freeware | ||||||||||||
Google Hangouts | Google, Inc. | 2013-05-15 | Single-protocol | Freeware | |||||||||||||
Hookt | Hookt, Inc. | 2011-09-14 | Single-protocol | Freeware | |||||||||||||
Hike | Bharti SoftBank | 2012-12-12 | Single-protocol | Freeware | |||||||||||||
IBM Lotus Sametime | IBM, Ubique | 1998 | Multi-protocol — proprietary T.120, SIP, XMPP | 9.0.0 (September 20, 2013 | )Proprietary commercial software | ||||||||||||
iChat | Apple Inc. | 2002-08 | Multi-protocol | 6.0.1 (1002) (February 1, 2012Messages | ), replaced byPart of macOS | ||||||||||||
ICQ | Mail.Ru | 1996-11 | Single-protocol | 8.0.5977 (January 14, 2016 | )Apache license | ||||||||||||
IMVU | Will Harvey | 2001-07 | Multiple-protocol | 3.0 | Freemium | ||||||||||||
Instantbird | Florian Quèze | 2007 | Multi-protocol | 1.5 (December 17, 2013[±] | )GPLv2 | ||||||||||||
Jitsi | Emil Ivov | 2003 | Multi-protocol | 2.10 (build.5550) (February 5, 2017[±] | )LGPL | ||||||||||||
Kadu | Kadu Team | 2001-08 | Multi-protocol | 4.1 (December 2, 2016 | )GPLv2 | ||||||||||||
KakaoTalk | Kakao Corp. | 2010-03-18 | single-protocol |
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Freeware | ||||||||||||
Kik Messenger | Kik Interactive | 2010-10 | Signle-protocol | 6.2 | Freeware | ||||||||||||
Kopete | Kopete Team | 2002-03-03 | Multi-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Kopete | GPL | ||||||||||||
Libon | Orange S.A. | 2012-11-21 | Freemium | ||||||||||||||
Line | LINE Corporation | 2011 | Single-protocol |
|
Freemium | ||||||||||||
MCabber | Mikael Berthe | 2005-06-07 | Single-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/MCabber | GPL | ||||||||||||
Meetro | Paul Bragiel & Samuel Stauffer | 2005 | Multi-protocol |
|
Discontinued | ||||||||||||
Messages | Apple Inc. | 2012-07-25 | Multi-protocol | 8.1.3 (January 27, 2015 | )Part of macOS and iOS | ||||||||||||
Skype for Business | Microsoft | 2005 | Single-protocol | 2013 (October 2, 2012 | )Trialware | ||||||||||||
Miranda IM | Miranda IM project | 2000-02-06 | Multi-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Miranda IM | GPL | ||||||||||||
Mysms | sms.at mobile internet services gmbh | 2011 | Single-protocol | ? | Freemium | ||||||||||||
MySpaceIM | MySpace | 2006-05-09 | Single-protocol | 1.0.754.0 (February 7, 2008 | )Freeware | ||||||||||||
naim | Daniel Reed | 1998-10-05 | Multi-protocol | 0.11.8.3.1 (July 9, 2007 | )GPL | ||||||||||||
Nimbuzz | Evert Jaap Lugt | 2006 | Multi-protocol | Android: 7.1.0 (10 March 2019 ) [±][9] iOS: 5.11.0 BlackBerry OS: 4.0 Windows Phone: 1.1.8.1
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Freeware | ||||||||||||
Palringo | Palringo Ltd | 2006 | Single-protocol |
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Freemium | ||||||||||||
Paltalk | 1998-06 | Multi-protocol | Version 10.2 Build 455 | Freeware | |||||||||||||
Pidgin | Mark Spencer | 1998-11 | Multi-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Pidgin | GPL | ||||||||||||
Psi | Psi and Psi+ developers | 2001 | Single-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Psi | GPL | ||||||||||||
Quiet Internet Pager (QIP) | Ilgam Zyulkorneev | 2004 | Multi-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Quiet Internet Pager | Freeware | ||||||||||||
QuteCom | QuteCom | 2004 | Multi-protocol | 2.2.1 (22 June 2011[13]) [±] | GPL | ||||||||||||
Ricochet | Invisible.im | 2014-06 | Single-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Ricochet | BSD | ||||||||||||
Ring | Savoir-faire Linux Inc. | 2014 | Single-protocol | 1.0 / 21 July 2017; 4 months ago | GPLv3 | ||||||||||||
RingID | Ring Inc. | 2015 | Multi-protocol | Freeware | |||||||||||||
Sicher | SHAPE GmbH | 2014-06 | Single-protocol | 1.1 | Freeware | ||||||||||||
Signal | Open Whisper Systems | 2014-07 | Single-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Signal | GPLv3 | ||||||||||||
Silent Phone | Silent Circle | 2014 | Single-protocol | Android: 6.2 (May 6, 2018) iOS: 6.2.1 (May 1, 2018) | Apache License | ||||||||||||
Skype | Skype Technologies, a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation | 2003 | Single-protocol |
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Freemium adware | ||||||||||||
Spark (XMPP client) | Ignite Realtime | 2006-09 | Single-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Spark (XMPP client) | Apache License | ||||||||||||
Surespot | Surespot LLC | 2013 | Single-protocol |
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GPLv3 | ||||||||||||
Telegram | Telegram Messenger LLP | 2013 | Single-protocol |
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GPLv2, GPLv3[28] | ||||||||||||
Tencent QQ | Tencent Holdings | 1999-02 | Single-protocol | See current releases | Adware | ||||||||||||
TextSecure | Open Whisper Systems | 2010-05 | Single-protocol | Discontinued (merged with RedPhone to become Signal) | GPLv3 | ||||||||||||
Threema | Threema GmbH | 2012-12 | Single-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Threema | Proprietary commercial software | ||||||||||||
Tkabber | Alexey Shchepin | 2002-07-03 | Single-protocol | 1.1.2 (May 10, 2015 | )GPL | ||||||||||||
Tox | Tox Foundation | 2013 | Single-protocol | GPLv3 | |||||||||||||
Trillian | Cerulean Studios | 2000-07-01 | Multi-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Trillian | Freemium adware | ||||||||||||
Tuenti | Tuenti | 2006 | Multi-protocol | Proprietary | |||||||||||||
Upptalk | Upptalk | 2010 | Dual-protocol | iOS 2.4 (November 26, 2014[29]) [±] Android 2.0.2 (February 12, 2014[±] |
Freeware | ||||||||||||
Viber | Talmon Marco, Igor Magazinnik, Sani Maroli and Ofer Smocha | 2010-12-02 | Single-protocol |
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Freemium | ||||||||||||
Tencent Holdings | 2011-01 | Single-protocol |
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Freeware | |||||||||||||
Facebook, Inc. | 2009-08 | Single-protocol |
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Freeware | |||||||||||||
Wickr | Wickr Inc. | 2012-06 | Single-protocol |
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Trialware | ||||||||||||
Windows Live Messenger | Microsoft | 1999-07 | Dual-protocol | 16.4.3508.205 (August 7, 2012[±] | )Discontinued (was freeware) | ||||||||||||
Wire | Wire Swiss GmbH | 2014-12-03 | Single-protocol |
|
GPLv3 | ||||||||||||
Xfire | Xfire Inc. | 2004 | Dual-protocol | Template:Latest stable software release/Xfire | Discontinued (was freeware) | ||||||||||||
Yahoo! Messenger | Yahoo! | 1999-06-21 | Dual-protocol |
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Discontinued (was freeware) | ||||||||||||
Zephyr | Project Athena | 1987 | Single-protocol | 2.0 | MIT | ||||||||||||
Client | Publisher | First public release | Type | Latest stable version | License |
Operating system support
The operating systems the clients can run on without emulation or compatibility layers.
Client | Desktop | Mobile | Other | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Windows | OS X | 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 | No | 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 |
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 |
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][49] | 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 |
Ring | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
RingID | Yes[50] | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Signal | Yes[51] | Yes[51] | Partial[d][52] | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Dropped[52] | 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 | PSP PSV XB1 |
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[53] | 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 | No | 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[54] | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | |
8+[55] | Yes[55] | No | No | No | 8.1+[56] | Yes | To be discontinued in 2017[57] | Yes | To be discontinued in 2017[57] | 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 |
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 |
- ^ a b c d The only supported desktop Unix-like platform is Linux.
- ^ a b c Only available as Google Chrome/Chromium plugin. No native application available.
- ^ May not be the final version suitable for everyday use.
- ^ The only supported desktop Unix-like platforms are Debian-based Linux distributions.
- ^ Runs under Java, no native installer for latest version
- ^ Secret chats supported only in native application Telegram. Cross-platform application Telegram Desktop does not support them.
- ^ Secret chats supported only in the third-party applications Cutegram and Telegram CLI. Cross-platform application Telegram Desktop does not support them.
- ^ Currently in beta testing.
Protocol support
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 | —[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 |
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[58] | 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[59] | Bonjour, Google Talk, 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 |
Ring | 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[60] | Yes | Yes | Yes[l] | No | Yes[l] | Yes[j][l] | Yes[j][l] | No[61][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 |
Y!M | AIM/ICQ | XMPP | IRC | IBM Lotus Sametime | Novell GroupWise Messenger | Gadu-Gadu | Skype | MySpaceIM | SIP | Others |
- ^ a b Supports messaging to a phone number (text messaging service).[1][2]
- ^ AOL is ending AIM access to cryptographically insecure MD5 authentication.[3]
- ^ AIM was discontinued December 15, 2017.[4]
- ^ Commonly termed Jabber, used in Facebook, LiveJournal, Tweeter, Identi.ca, etc.
- ^ a b Needs running official Skype client.
- ^ a b Via AIM account only.
- ^ Bitlbee is accessed via IRC.
- ^ a b c d e Supported via Pidgin back-end, depends on its version
- ^ Via ICQ account only.
- ^ a b c d Available as plugin.
- ^ Requires Pidgin 2.12
- ^ a b c d e f g h Not supported in versions for Android (checked 12 November 2012 in latest version 1.2.0.11)
- ^ Via Yahoo! Messenger account only.
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XMPP-related features
Client | Transports[a] | File transfer (XEP-0096)[b] |
Multi-user chat (XEP-0045) |
Link-local (XEP-0174) |
Jingle (XEP-0166) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
File transfer[b] | Voice calls |
Video calls | |||||
Adium | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
BitlBee | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Bombus[62] | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
climm | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Coccinella[63] | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Conversations | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Telepathy-based[c][64] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Gajim[65] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Except Windows |
Jitsi | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
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 |
MCabber[66] | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Miranda IM | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Nimbuzz | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Pidgin[67] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial[68] | Except Windows[e] | Except Windows[e] |
Psi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Plug-in | Plug-in |
Spark (XMPP client) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Plug-in | Plug-in |
Tkabber[69] | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Trillian | No | Yes | Only Windows[f] | Only Windows[f] | No | No | No |
- ^ Transport support means the ability to set up transports. Once transport is set up, any client can use it to manage contacts and communicate with them.
- ^ a b The difference between XEP-0096 (legacy) and XEP-0234 (Jingle) file transfer is that the latter works behind NAT (e.g., from home and corporate networks).
- ^ Both Empathy and KDE Telepathy are based on Telepathy framework and share same properties in regard of XMPP features support.
- ^ Multi-user chats can be joined but not started
- ^ a b Feature unavailable on Windows.
- ^ a b Feature available on Windows only.
Features
Information on what features each of clients support.
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 | — | Yes | ? | Yes | No | Yes | No | — | Yes | No | No | — | ? | ? | 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 | ? | ? | — | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | 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[70] |
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 | — | 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 | ? | ? | ? | ||
Ring | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||
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 [71] | 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 | style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"|No | 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 |
- ^ a b c d e f g h Feature only supported on Windows
- ^ While IMVU does not allow add-ons to extend the client, registered accounts can create new content for use inside the simulation.[clarification needed]
- ^ a b c d Supported with plugin
- ^ a b c d e f Tox is a communications protocol and a library implementing that protocol. Applications can bring features of their own.
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 | — | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Centericq | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
climm | — | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Coccinella | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? |
Discord | No | No | No | No | 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 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Ring | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
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 |
- ^ The connection between the Google Talk client and the Google Talk server is encrypted, except when using Gmail's chat over HTTP, a federated network that doesn't support encryption, or when using a proxy like IMLogic. - Google
- ^ a b Feature unavailable in standalone version.
- ^ Depends on build configuration options.
Secure messengers
Messengers with client-to-client encryption
The following table is an overview of instant messaging clients that provide end-to-end encryption. Some of the listed client applications do not provide end-to-end encryption by default. These clients may require that users install a separate plugin, turn on a setting, or use an optional mode. In these cases, the encryption-related information in this table is only applicable when the encryption is enabled.
Client name | Encrypted by default | Development status | Open source client[a] | Decentralized[b] | Servers | Contact verification[c] | Encryption ciphers | Forward secrecy[d] | Multiple encryption[e][f] | Encrypted groupchat[g] | Encrypted file transfer[g] | Public key and IP unrelated[h] | Proxy /Tor[i] | Transport[j] | Asynchronous encryp. communication[k] | Encrypted client data[l] | Screenshot protection[m] | Self-destructing messages[m] | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open source | Distributed | Federated | Data | Symmetric[e][n] | Asymmetric[o] | Asym. key size[p] | TCP | UDP | SCTP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Profile information[q] | Chat metadata[r] | Contact lists[s] | McEliece | RSA | DSA | ECC | NTRU | El Gamal | Default | Max. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Briar | Yes | Active, public beta | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ECC-256 | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | Yes | No |
ChatSecure | allows unencrypted | Active | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[72] | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[t] | Optional | ? | ? | ? | Optional | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | No | |||
Conversations | allows unencrypted | Active | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stored; not client-side encrypted[73] | Stored[73] | Yes | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Depends | Optional | Optional | Yes | Optional | Optional | ? | ? | ? | Optional | ? | ? | No | |
Cryptocat | Yes | Active | Yes | No | ? | ? | No | Yes[74] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[74] | Yes[74] | No groupchat | Yes[74] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||
FireChat[75] | allows unencrypted[u] | Active | No | Yes | — | — | — | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Includes groupchat, but it is not encrypted | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | No | |||
iMessage[76] | allows unencrypted[v] | Active | No[76] | No | No | ? | No | No[72] | ? | ? | Yes[77] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No[76] | ? | Depends[78] | Yes[79] | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | No | No | |||
Line[80][81] | Yes | Active | No | No | No | Yes[82] | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted[82] | Stored[82] | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[83] | ? | ? | ECC-256[83] | — | No | ? | Yes[81] | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | No | No | No | |
RetroShare | Yes | Active | Yes[w] | Yes | — | — | — | Yes[72] | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | No | No | ? | ? | Yes[72] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Optional | Optional | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | |||
Ring | Yes[84] | Active | Yes[w] | Yes | Stored[85] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||
Ricochet | Yes | Active | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | — | No[86] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[86] | No[86] | No groupchat | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | No[86] | No | No |
Sicher | Yes | Active | No[w] | No | No | ? | No | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | No | No | RSA-2048[87] | — | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | |||
Signal | Yes[x] | Active | Yes[w] | No | Yes | Yes[88] | No[89] | Stored; client-side encrypted[90] | Not stored[91] | Not stored[91][92] | Yes[72] | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | No | No | ECC-256[93] | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[94] | Yes[94] | No | Yes | Yes[y] | Yes | Yes |
Silent Phone | Yes | Active | Viewable source[95] | No | No | No | No | Stored[96] | Not stored[citation needed] | Not stored[citation needed] | Yes[72] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[72] | Yes[97] | Yes[98] | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes[citation needed] | Yes | Yes |
Surespot | Yes | Active | Yes[w] | No | No | ? | No | Stored; client-side encrypted[99] | Stored[99] | Stored[99] | Yes[72] | Yes | ? | No | ? | Yes[100] | No | No | ECC-521[100] | — | Yes | No | No groupchat | No | No | ? | Yes | No | No | ? | ? | ? | No |
Threema | Yes | Active | Partially[z][101] | No | No | ? | No | Stored; client-side encrypted[102] | Not stored[102] | Not stored[102] | Yes[72] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No[aa] | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | No |
Tox | Yes | Active | Yes[w] | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | ? | No | No | ? | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Viber | allows unencrypted[ab][103] | Active | No | No | No | ? | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted[104] | Stored[104] | Stored[104] | Yes[105] | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[105] | ? | ? | ECC-256[105] | — | Yes[105] | ? | Depends[105][106] | Yes[105] | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes[105] | ? | No | No |
Yes | Active | Partially[z][107] | No | No | Yes | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted[108] | Stored[108] | Stored[108] | Yes[107] | Yes[107] | ? | ? | ? | Yes[107] | ? | ? | ECC-256[107] | — | Yes[107] | Yes[107] | Yes[107] | Yes[107] | Yes[107] | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes[107] | No | No | No | |
Wickr Me | Yes | Active | Partially[z][109] | No | No | ? | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted[110] | Not stored[111] | Not stored[111] | Yes[112] | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[112] | No | No | ECC-521[112] | — | Yes[112] | Yes[112] | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes[112] | Capture notification[113] | Yes |
Wickr Pro | Yes | Active | Partially[z][114] | No | No | ? | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted[110] | Not stored[111] | Not stored[111] | Yes[112] | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[112] | No | No | ECC-521[112] | — | Yes[112] | Yes[112] | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | Yes[112] | ? | Yes |
Wire | Yes | Active | Yes[115] | No | Yes[116] | ? | No[116] | Stored; not client-side encrypted[117] | Stored[117] | Stored[117] | Yes[118] | Yes[119] | ? | ? | ? | Yes[119] | ? | ? | ECC-256[119] | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[120] | ? | No | Yes[119] | Yes[119] | ? | Yes | Yes[citation needed] | No | Yes[121] |
TextSecure | Yes | Discontinued[ac] | Yes[w][122] | Partially[ad] | Yes[ad] | Yes | Yes, briefly[ad] | — | Not stored | Not stored | Yes[72] | Yes | ? | ? | No | Yes | No | No | ECC-256[93] | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes[123] | Yes | Yes | No |
WASTE | Yes | Discontinued | Yes[w] | Yes | — | — | — | No | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | ? | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||||
Adium | No | Active | Yes[w] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[t] | ? | ? | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No | No | No | |||
Google Allo (incognito mode)[124] | No | Active | Partially[z] | No | No | Yes[125] | No | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ECC-256 | — | Yes | Yes | Optional | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Yes | |||
Facebook Messenger (secret conversations)[126] | No | Active | Partially[z][127] | No | No | Yes[128] | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted | Stored | Yes[127] | Yes[127] | ? | ? | ? | Yes[127] | ? | ? | ECC-256[127] | — | Yes[127] | Yes | Includes groupchat, but it is not encrypted[129] | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Yes | Yes[127] | ? | Yes[127] | |
Gajim | No | Active | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[t] | Optional | Optional[ae] | Yes | ? | No | ? | ? | ? | Optional | ? | ? | No | |||
Jitsi | No | Active | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[72] | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[t] | ? | ? | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | No | No | |||
KakaoTalk (secret chats)[130] | No | Active | No | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||
Kopete[af] | No | Active | Yes[w] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[t] | ? | Includes groupchat, but it is not encrypted | Yes[t] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | No | ? | ? | |||
Miranda IM | No | Active | Yes[w] | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes[131] | Yes[132] | ? | Optional[ae][133] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ECC-192[133] | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[134] | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||
Pidgin | No | Active | Yes[w] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[72] | Yes[t][135] | ? | Optional[ae][136] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes[t][135] | ? | ? | Yes[135] | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Optional[ag] | ? | ? | ? | |||
Telegram (secret chats) | No | Active | Yes[w] | No | No | Yes | No | Stored; not client-side encrypted | Not stored[137] | Stored[137] | Yes[72] | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | No | No | No | RSA-2048[138] | — | Sort of[ah] | Yes | Includes groupchat, but it is not encrypted | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | ? | No | Optional | Yes, warning | Yes |
Client name | Encrypted by default | Development status | Open source client[a] | Decentralized[b] | Servers | Contact verification[c] | Encryption ciphers | Forward secrecy[d] | Multiple encryption[e][f] | Encrypted groupchat[g] | Encrypted file transfer[g] | Public key and IP unrelated[h] | Proxy /Tor[i] | Transport[j] | Asynchronous encryp. communication[k] | Encrypted client data[l] | Screenshot protection[m] | Self-destructing messages[m] | |||||||||||||||
Open source | Distributed | Federated | Data | Symmetric[e][n] | Asymmetric[o] | Asym. key size[p] | TCP | UDP | SCTP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Profile information[q] | Chat metadata[r] | Contact lists[s] | McEliece | RSA | DSA | ECC | NTRU | El Gamal | Default | Max. |
Messengers with client-to-server encryption
The following table is an overview of those Instant Messenger clients which provide client-to-server encryption. It does not include clients that also provide end-to-end encryption.
Client name | Encryption protocol |
---|---|
AIM[72] | ? |
BlackBerry Messenger[72] | ? |
eBuddy[72] | ? |
Gadu-Gadu | TLS[citation needed] |
Google Hangouts[72] | TLS[139] |
Kik Messenger[72] | ? |
Skype[72][140] | TLS[141] |
Snapchat[72] | ? |
Tencent QQ[72] | A custom protocol[72] |
Yahoo! Messenger[72] | ? |
Echat[142] | ? |
Messengers with no encryption
The following is a list of those Instant Messenger clients which do not provide client-to-server encryption:
- Empathy[citation needed]
- ICQ[citation needed]
- Mxit[72]
- Nimbuzz[143][failed verification]
- Palringo[citation needed]
- Notes
- ^ a b For transparency to the public, the source code of the encryption algorithms, and its implementation into a messenger, should be subject to public auditing—which may disclose flaws or implementation failures. Whereas, a company offering a messenger which does not reveal the source must be blindly trusted. In general it is recommended to not trust closed source encryption.
- ^ a b If a messenger relies on a central server, the setup is closed and may be surveilled. To counter this, decentralized computing architectures have been developed via a peer-to-peer technology, open source chat servers (easily setup by anyone) and/or federated protocols. An architecture in which all the messages do not pass through a central server lessens a single point for surveillance.
- ^ a b The clients have a built-in method for users to verify the identity of correspondents they are speaking with and the integrity of the channel, even if the service provider or other third parties are compromised. Two possible ways of doing this are through:
- An interface for users to view the fingerprint (hash) of their correspondent's public keys as well as their own, which users can verify manually or out-of-band.
- A key exchange protocol with a short-authentication-string comparison. An example is the Socialist millionaire's protocol.
- ^ a b Forward secrecy describes the option to change the encryption key every session or even instant. This may be implemented by Off-the-Record Messaging (OTR)
- ^ a b c d In symmetric cryptography, the same key is used for encryption and decryption. Knowledge of this key needs to be limited to the two communication partners to ensure confidentiality. As asymmetric algorithms are relatively computationally costly in terms of speed, as compared to symmetric cryptography, the session key may be encrypted / decrypted by a asymmetric algorithm and use a much faster symmetric algorithm to encrypt and decrypt messages, reducing computational cost (increasing speed).
- ^ a b Multiple encryption is the process of encrypting an already encrypted message one or more times, either using the same or a different algorithm.
- ^ a b c d Some messengers offer Groupchat and file transfer. These features should transfer only encrypted bytes. Encrypted file transfer may be implemented by Off-the-Record Messaging (OTR)
- ^ a b Public keys are used to identify users. A user's IP address can in some cases be related to his or her public key. Messengers that do not relate the user's public key to the user's IP address are considered more secure. This offers more security because the IP cannot be targeted to gain access to the private key. If an attacker knows the IP related to a public key, he or she can try to get on the remote machine, download and decrypt the private key and thus decrypt all encrypted communication.
- ^ a b Proxies and Tor might prevent an IP from being related to the public key.
- ^ a b Not all messengers support the same transport protocols like TCP, UDP and SCTP.
- ^ a b Lets users exchange encrypted messages asynchronously, i.e. participants do not have to be online at the same time.
- ^ a b Lets users set a passphrase that encrypts the local message database. The messages are protected if the device is e.g. lost or stolen.
- ^ a b c d Screenshot protection and self-destructing messages provide only basic protection against casual/inadvertent logging of messages by users.
- ^ a b Off-the-Record Messaging encryption uses the AES symmetric algorithm and Diffie–Hellman key exchange. It allows forward secrecy and encrypted file transfers.
- ^ a b The critical advantage in an asymmetric key system is that copies of keys do not need to be sent between communicators. This prevents a third party from copying a key while it is in transit, and preventing the third party from spying on all future messages. In addition, if one key was copied by a third party, only messages to the holder of the key would be compromised, not the messages to the other party in the communication. However, asymmetric algorithms are relatively computationally costly in terms of speed, as compared to symmetric cryptography. The most common asymmetric cryptography algorithm is the RSA Algorithm. Alternative asymmetric algorithms are Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA), Elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), ElGamal and NTRU. NTRU is regarded not vulnerable to decryption by quantum computing.
- ^ a b The key size describes the length of the needed mathematical operation. Simply spoken, the longer the key, the longer it takes to crack it.
- ^ a b For example user avatars and display names.
- ^ a b For example when and to whom messages have been sent, the time when chats were created, lists of chat participants, the roles of chat participants, chat titles, and chat avatars.
- ^ a b For example a list of contacts who are also using the software or a list of other users whom the user has communicated with.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Implements Off-the-Record Messaging encryption which uses the AES symmetric algorithm and Diffie–Hellman key exchange. It allows forward secrecy and encrypted file transfers.
- ^ Only one-to-one messages are end-to-end encrypted. Public chatrooms are not end-to-end encrypted.
- ^ iMessage allows users to send instant messages to other iMessage users, as well as SMS/MMS messages to contacts who are not iMessage users. Only instant messages sent to other iMessage users are end-to-end encrypted. iMessage also contains an optional setting that allows fallback to unencrypted SMS/MMS messaging if the user or an iMessage contact is offline.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m See: Comparison of instant messaging clients#General information.
- ^ Signal contains a setting that allows users to send unencrypted SMS/MMS messages to contacts who do not have Signal. This setting is not enabled by default. Users can also enable a setting that allows fallback to unencrypted SMS/MMS messaging if the user or a Signal contact is offline.
- ^ On iOS, the local message database is encrypted by the operating system if the user has a password on their lock screen.
- ^ a b c d e f Only the encryption related source code is open.
- ^ Only on the network connection, not on the end-to-end layer.[5]
- ^ Only messages between Viber users with the latest version for Android, iOS, Desktop or Windows 10 are end-to-end encrypted. The Windows Phone and BlackBerry versions are not supported.
- ^ Merged with RedPhone to become Signal.
- ^ a b c The TextSecure server architecture was partially decentralized between December 2013 and February 2016, when it federated with servers run by the developers of CyanogenMod.
- ^ a b c Supported with plugin
- ^ OpenPGP encryption (XEP-0027).
- ^ Supported when used with a protocol/service (e.g. Yahoo, MSN etc.) that supports offline messaging. Most protocols support offline messaging (see the features table, fourth from last column).
- ^ Encryption keys are only changed after a key has been used more than 100 times or has been in use for more than a week.
See also
- Comparison of instant messaging protocols
- Comparison of Internet Relay Chat clients
- Comparison of LAN messengers
- Comparison of VoIP software
- List of SIP software
- List of video telecommunication services and product brands
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