Comment on the forum thread about this page, I respond to all comments!: [Tor/Onion] [I2P/Eepsite] [Clearnet/RetroImages Reverse Proxy Tunnel thru I2P]
Prologue
Navigation
Introduction
TL;DR
Behold, most IMs suck profusely as they are of propriety centralized design. You should use XMPP (the eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol). IRC isn't bad either. Everything else either has issues, lack of features or is obscure.
The Table of Instant Messaging Systems
| Name | Spyware Rating | Network Architecture | Operating System | License | Verdict |
| Adamant | Unrated | Decentralized, Blockchain | Android and Web | GPLv3 | ? |
| Briar | Unrated | Decentralized, P2P | Android | GPLv3 | Probably okay |
| Cabal | Unrated | ? | Electron | AGPLv3 (core), GPLv3 (client) | ? |
| Cwtch | Unrated | Decentralized, Semi-P2P | Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS & Android | MIT | ? |
| DeltaChat | Unrated | Decentralized, same as email | Various | MPLv2, GPLv3 | Probably okay |
| Discord | Extremely High | Centralized | Web Interface and Electron, 3rd party clients prohibited | Proprietary | Do Not Use |
| IRC | Unrated | Distributed, Load balanced | Various, depends on client | Depends on implementation, usually open source | Good |
| Jami | Unrated | Decentralized, P2P | Various | GPLv3 | Probably okay |
| Keybase | Unrated | Centralized | Linux, Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Custom Open Source (Client), ? (Server) | Do Not Use |
| Matrix | Unrated | Decentralized w/ dominant instance (matrix.org), Federated | Web Interface and electron (official client), Various (3rd party clients) | Apache (official implementations), various (other) | Avoid When Possible |
| Psyc | Unrated | Decentralized, Federated | Various | ? | ? |
| Signal | Unrated | Centralized | Various | MIT | Avoid |
| Session | Unrated | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Skype | Unrated | Centralized | Various | Proprietary | Do Not Use |
| Telegram | Unrated | Centralized | Various | Open Source (client), Closed Source (server) | Do Not Use |
| Threema | Unrated | Centralized | Android, iOS, Web | GPLv3 (client), Proprietary (server) | Avoid |
| Tox | Unrated | Decentralized, P2P | Various | GPLv3 | Avoid When Possible |
| Utopia | Unrated | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Wire | Unrated | Centralized | Various | AGPLv3, GPJv3 | ? |
| Unrated | Centralized | Various | Proprietary | Do Not Use | |
| XMPP | Unrated | Decentralized, Federated | Various, depends on client | CC-BY-SA 2.0 (specification), Various (client) | Good |
Instant Messaging Systems Notes
Adamant
Adamant is a crypto/blockchain based messenger that is paid. It's biggest downside is that it only offers web and app clients.
Briar
A peer to peer messenger that works over Tor. There is only an Android client, and you must scan a QR code to friend someone.
Cabal
?
Cwtch
?
DeltaChat
Rather than reinventing the wheel, DeltaChat uses an already existing email server (any) to relay communication, but in a chat-like realtime form. It is essentially an email client. It uses "Autocrypt" encryption.
Discord
For the love of god please do not use this platform.
Others have written about why Discord is really terrible:
IRC
The oldest and longest lived of all chat systems (and still in current use today), IRC was initially one network before getting forked into a plethora of different networks and implementations. Encryption can be had with TLS and OTR, probably other methods too. Features associated with modern chat system such as history can be found in IRCv3.
Jami
Jami is a peer to peer chat application most akin in features to Skype. However, development has been slow so it may lack many features.
Keybase
A messenger from the same entity that does that Keybase website, which is owned by the makers of Zoom no less.
Will collect your data, especially if unencrypted.[1] You also can't talk about weapons or firearms.[2]
Will collect your data, especially if unencrypted.[1] You also can't talk about weapons or firearms.[2]
- 1. Keybase Review – No Longer Recommended (Privacy Issues) - Restore Privacy, 2/17/2022 https://restoreprivacy.com/secure-encrypted-messaging-apps/keybase/ http://web.archive.org/web/20220605073948/https://restoreprivacy.com/secure-encrypted-messaging-apps/keybase/
- 2. Acceptable Use Policy - Keybase Docs, 7/23/2021 https://keybase.io/docs/acceptable-use-policy http://web.archive.org/web/20220606045614/https://keybase.io/docs/acceptable-use-policy
Matrix
The reference client, Element (formerly Riot) is web based and only works on big 5 and big 5-adjacent web browsers. The alternative clients almost always miss critical features such as moderation or encryption (check out the WeeChat plugin, not to be confused with WeChat).
The reference server implementation (Synapse) is massively bloated and very poorly performing. The premier alternative, Construct, is purportedly treated in a hostile way[3] by the reference developers.
The official (massive) instance, matrix.org, is Cloudflared and employs a Google ReCaptcha to keep people away, and is hosted on Amazon servers. If you do use Matrix, be sure to use an independent homeserver or self-host.
The reference server implementation (Synapse) is massively bloated and very poorly performing. The premier alternative, Construct, is purportedly treated in a hostile way[3] by the reference developers.
The official (massive) instance, matrix.org, is Cloudflared and employs a Google ReCaptcha to keep people away, and is hosted on Amazon servers. If you do use Matrix, be sure to use an independent homeserver or self-host.
- 3. Hacker News - Riot/Matrix is a chat standard, but it's not an open standard, 3/12/2019 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19365968
Psyc
Seems to be an implementation of XMPP, but in a different way.
Signal
A common crutch for cattle who are to scared to use XMPP or SIP. Outclassed in every possible way by XMPP.
Session
? Has something to do with LokiNet. Site is clownflared so here's an archive link.
Skype
A botnet owned by Micro$oft.
Telegram
Famous because they had to leave Russia. While the client is open source, and possibly the server software (?) this is meaningless because the whole thing is setup to only use their servers. Requires a phone number, and encryption only works on 1 to 1 messages (?).
Threema
Yet another "secure" "anonymous" "app" that's centralized.
Tox
P2P but there are concerns their crypto, also very poor client support.
Utopia
?
Wire
Another centralized "secure" messenger.
Facebook owned.
XMPP
Pending.