Category
Messaging
Team chat and secure messengers
Team chat and personal messengers carry a lot of sensitive conversation, and most of the popular ones are US-owned and centralised. The tools in this category offer encrypted messaging, channels and calls under European terms. Several are open source and self-hostable, so the server is genuinely yours. Some use open, federated protocols, which means no single company controls the network at all. For teams and communities that want the familiar chat experience without handing it to a US platform, the options here are mature.
4 European tools
Element
United KingdomFreemium
United KingdomEnd-to-end encrypted Matrix-based team messenger and collaboration suite.
Alternative to:
Olvid
FranceFreemium
FranceFrench end-to-end encrypted messenger that requires no phone number or central directory to work.
Alternative to:
Threema
SwitzerlandPaid
SwitzerlandPay-once Swiss messenger that needs no phone number or email.
Alternative to:
Wire
SwitzerlandFreemiumSwiss-made encrypted messaging app with end-to-end encryption for both personal chats and business teams.
Alternative to: