Best Open Source Alternatives to Telegram

Compare the best free and open-source alternatives to Telegram — self-hosted and desktop replacements you fully control, ranked by GitHub stars, license and platform support.

Curated by open-source.store · Updated November 2026 · 3 alternatives

Proprietary SaaS

Telegram alternatives compared

Open-source alternatives to Telegram, compared by stars, license and platform
Tool		License	Platforms	Self-hosted
Cinny	3,963	AGPL-3.0	Web	No	Nov 2026	Visit
Quiet	2,661	GPL-3.0	LinuxmacOSWindows	No	Nov 2026	Visit
Twake Chat	173	AGPL-3.0	DockerLinux	Yes	Nov 2026	Visit

Top open-source Telegram alternatives

Cinny3,963AGPL-3.0

Cinny is an open-source, web-based Matrix chat client offering an intuitive Discord-style interface with end-to-end encryption and total data custody.

Web

vs Telegram: a free, open-source option you fully control, licensed AGPL-3.0.

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EasyP

Promoted

The modern standard for Protobuf workflows

Lint, codegen, breaking-change checks and dependency management in one Git-native CLI. Open source, no registry lock-in.

lintgeneratebreakingeasyp.lock

go · ts · java generated

$ easyp breaking

backward compatible

Quiet2,661GPL-3.0

Quiet is an open-source, peer-to-peer team chat app that replaces Slack with encrypted channels syncing over Tor and IPFS without central servers.

LinuxmacOSWindows

vs Telegram: a free, open-source option you fully control, licensed GPL-3.0.

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Twake Chat173AGPL-3.0

Twake Chat is an open-source, Matrix-based team chat client that replaces Slack with self-hosted, end-to-end encrypted messaging and data sovereignty.

DockerLinux

vs Telegram: a free, open-source option you fully control, licensed AGPL-3.0.

Visit Details