European alternatives to WeChat
China's all-in-one super app for messaging, payments, and social.
About WeChat
- Company
- Tencent Holdings
- HQ
- China
- Zone
- Outside Europe
Key concerns
Olvid
100 · Certified EuropeanFrench 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.
Threema
95 · Certified EuropeanSwiss 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.
SimpleX Chat
90 · Certified EuropeanA 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.
Wire
82 · Strongly EuropeanSwiss end-to-end encrypted messaging and collaboration platform for enterprise and government use. Backed by Schwarz Group (Lidl/Kaufland), hosted in the EU, and used by security-conscious organisations across Europe.
Element
75 · Strongly EuropeanEuropean secure communications platform built on the open Matrix protocol. Used by NATO, the EU, French and German governments, and 47M+ users across 80,000+ deployments. Self-hostable with full end-to-end encryption.
Session
62 · Mostly EuropeanAn 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.
Briar
55 · Mixed OriginsA 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.
Signal
44 · Not Very EuropeanThe gold standard for encrypted messaging. Open-source and non-profit.
Looking for all European Messaging & chat alternatives? Browse the full list →
Why avoid China-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.