European alternatives to Signal

Encrypted messenger run by a US non-profit and funded by donations.

Signal Messenger LLC · Outside Europe

About Signal

Company
Signal Messenger LLC · Signal Technology Foundation
HQ
United States
Zone
Outside Europe

Key concerns

Non-European ownershipSubject to US CLOUD Act
#1

Olvid

100 · Certified European

France · Messaging & chat

French end-to-end encrypted messenger certified by ANSSI, the French national cybersecurity agency. Unlike Signal, requires no phone number or personal data to register. Used by the French government, recommended by French Prime Minister for ministerial communications.

Freemium · from Free Free tier Partly open source 🇪🇺 EU
#2

Threema

95 · Certified European

Switzerland · Messaging & chat

Swiss encrypted messaging app requiring no phone number or email to register. End-to-end encrypted messages, calls, and groups. One-time purchase of CHF 4.99, with no subscription, no ads, and no data mining. Used by Swiss government and military.

Paid · from CHF 4.99 Partly open source EFTA
#3

SimpleX Chat

90 · Certified European

United Kingdom · Messaging & chat

A UK-built messenger that is the first with no user identifiers of any kind - no phone number, no username, not even a random ID. End-to-end encrypted, fully open source, and decentralised across relay servers, making it one of the most metadata-resistant chat apps available.

Free · from Free Free tier Open source European
#4

Session

62 · Mostly European

Switzerland · Messaging & chat

An encrypted messenger that needs no phone number or email - you get a random Session ID instead. Messages are onion-routed through a decentralised network of nodes, and the project moved its legal home to Switzerland in 2024 for stronger privacy protection.

Free · from Free Free tier Open source EFTA
#5

Briar

55 · Mixed Origins

United Kingdom · Messaging & chat

A peer-to-peer encrypted messenger designed for activists, journalists, and anyone who needs resilient communication. Messages sync directly between devices over Tor, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth - with no central servers - built by a European non-profit with EU public funding.

Free · from Free Free tier Open source European

Looking for all European Messaging & chat alternatives? Browse the full list →

Did you know? Storing data on European servers does not protect you from US law if the company is American-owned.

Why avoid United States-owned services?

CLOUD Act

Allows US authorities to compel American companies to hand over data stored anywhere in the world.

FISA Section 702

Permits mass surveillance of non-US persons' data held by US tech providers, without a warrant.

GDPR vs US law

Transferring personal data to US companies may conflict with EU data protection rules under GDPR.

These concerns apply to all United States tech companies — see our full analysis →