Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The landscape for instant messaging involves cross-platform instant messaging clients that can handle one or multiple protocols.[1] Clients that use the same protocol can typically federate and talk to one another. The following table compares general and technical information for cross-platform instant messaging clients in active development, each of which have their own article that provide further information.

General

Template:Sticky header Template:Sort-under

Client Developer Initial release Platform Latest release License (client) License (server) Monthly active users
Version Date
BlackBerryMessenger Enterprise Blackberry Template:Start date and age[2] iOS, Android Template:Proprietary freeware Template:Proprietary
Beeper Template:Plainlist Template:Start date and age Template:Plainlist Template:Open source Template:Open source
Briar Template:Start date and age[2] Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata Template:Open source Template:NA
  1. REDIRECT Template:Break(peer-to-peer over Bluetooth, WiFi, or Tor network)
Conversations Daniel Gulsche Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata Template:Open source Template:Open source
Discord Discord Inc. Template:Start date and age[3] Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="5" Template:Proprietary freeware rowspan="5" Template:Proprietary 150 million (2021)[4]
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Linux Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
macOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Windows Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Element New Vector Limited Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="6" Template:Open source rowspan="6" Template:Open source 43 million (2021)[5]
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Linux Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
macOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Windows Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Web Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Fractal Template:Start date and age Linux desktops and mobile OSs Template:Open source Template:Open source
Gadu-Gadu Łukasz Foltyn, GG Network S.A. Template:Start date and age Template:Proprietary freeware Template:Proprietary
Gajim Yann Le Boulanger Template:Start date and age BSD Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="4" Template:Open source rowspan="4" Template:Open source
Linux
macOS
Windows
Gitter New Vector Ltd Template:Start date and age[6] Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Template:Open source Template:Open source (Synapse)
Google Chat (formerly Google Hangouts) Google Template:Start date and age (as Google Hangouts)

Template:Start date and age (as Google Chat)

 Android rowspan="3" Template:Proprietary freeware rowspan="3" Template:Proprietary 1 billion (2021) 500 million active (2020)
iOS
Web
Google Messages (RCS) Template:Start date and age Android rowspan="3" Template:Proprietary freeware rowspan="3" Template:Proprietary 1 billion (2021) 500 million active (2020)
Web
Wear OS
ICQ Mail.Ru Template:Start date and age Template:Proprietary adware freemium Template:Proprietary Defunct
Jami Savoir-faire Linux Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="5" Template:Open source rowspan="5" Template:NA
  1. REDIRECT Template:Break(peer-to-peer)
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Linux Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
macOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Windows Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Jitsi Emil Ivov Template:Start date and age Desktop Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata Template:Open source Template:Open source 20 million (2020)[7]
KakaoTalk Kakao Corp. Template:Start date and age Template:Proprietary freeware Template:Proprietary 47 million (2021)[8]
Kik Messenger Medialab Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="2" Template:Proprietary adware freemium rowspan="2" Template:Proprietary 15 million (2017)[9]
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Line LY Corporation Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="5" Template:Proprietary freemium rowspan="5" Template:Proprietary 169 million (2020)[10]
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Chrome Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
macOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Windows Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Linphone Belledonne Communications Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="5" Template:Open source or proprietary SIP protocol, could connect to any SIP provider/server, including Linphone's service only for SIP linphone service : over 700,000 in 2024[11]
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Linux Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
macOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Windows Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
BSD
Mattermost Mattermost Inc Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="5" Template:Open source rowspan="5" Template:Open source
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Linux Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
macOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Windows Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Messenger Meta Platforms Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="4" Template:Proprietary freeware rowspan="4" Template:Proprietary 988 million (2022)[12]
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
macOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Windows Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Movim Timothée Jaussoin Template:Start date and age Any, Progressive web application Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata Template:Open source Template:Open source
Mumble[13] Template:Start date and age Linux, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, iOS 1.4.287 2022-09-14 Template:Open source Template:Open source
Palringo Palringo Ltd Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="2" Template:Proprietary freemium rowspan="2" Template:Proprietary
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Paltalk AVM Software, Inc Template:Start date and age Template:Proprietary freeware Template:Proprietary 5.5 million (2013)[14]
Pidgin Mark Spencer Template:Start date and age BSD Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="4" Template:Open source Umpteen, both open protocols and interfaces with proprietary messengers
Linux
macOS
Windows
Psi Psi and Psi+ developers Template:Start date and age Linux Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="3" Template:Open source rowspan="3" Template:Open source
macOS
Windows
QQ Tencent Holdings Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="5" Template:Proprietary adware rowspan="5" Template:Proprietary 597 million (2023)[15]
iOS, iPadOS, watchOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Windows Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
macOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Linux Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
RetroShare Cyril Soler, Gioacchino Mazzurco Template:Start date and age Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata Template:Open source Template:NA
  1. REDIRECT Template:Break(peer-to-peer)
Ricochet Invisible.im Template:Start date and age FreeBSD Template:WikidataTemplate:Update inline (fork took over development, now at 3.0.15) Template:Wikidata rowspan="4" Template:Open source rowspan="4" Template:NA
  1. REDIRECT Template:Break(peer-to-peer over the Tor network)
Linux
macOS
Windows
Signal Signal Foundation Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata Template:Open source rowspan="3" Template:Open source 40 million (2021)[16]
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata Template:Open source
Desktop Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata Template:Open source
Skype Skype Technologies, a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation Template:Start date and age Template:Proprietary adware freemium Template:Proprietary Defunct
Slack Slack Technologies Template:Start date and age Template:Proprietary freemium Template:Proprietary 12 million (2019)[17]
Snapchat Snap Inc. Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="2" Template:Proprietary freeware rowspan="2" Template:Proprietary 557 million (2022)[12]
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Surespot Surespot LLC Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="2" Template:Open source Defunct
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
TeamNote TeamNote Limited Template:Start date and age Template:Proprietary Template:Proprietary
Telegram Telegram Messenger LLP Template:Start date and age Android Template:Telegram cached versions Template:Telegram cached versions Template:Open source rowspan="4" Template:Proprietary 700 million (2022)[18]900 million (2024)[19]
iOS, iPadOS Template:Telegram cached versions Template:Telegram cached versions Template:Open source
Desktop Template:Telegram cached versions Template:Telegram cached versions Template:Open source
macOS Template:Telegram cached versions Template:Telegram cached versions Template:Open source
Threema Threema GmbH Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="2" Template:Open source rowspan="3" Template:Proprietary 10 million (2021)[20]
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Web Template:Open source
Trillian Cerulean Studios Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="6" Template:Proprietary adware freemium rowspan="6" Template:Proprietary
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Linux Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
macOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Windows Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Web Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Viber Rakuten Viber Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="5" Template:Proprietary freemium rowspan="5" Template:Proprietary 260 million (2019)[21]
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Linux Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
macOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Windows Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
WeChat Tencent Holdings Limited Template:Start date and age Template:Proprietary freeware Template:Proprietary 1.263 billion (2022)[12]
WhatsApp Meta Platforms Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="4" Template:Proprietary freeware rowspan="4" Template:Proprietary 2 billion (2020),[22] confirmed in 2024[23]
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
macOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Windows Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Wire Wire Swiss GmbH Template:Start date and age Android Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata rowspan="6" Template:Open source rowspan="6" Template:Open source
iOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Linux Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
macOS Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Windows Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Web Template:Wikidata Template:Wikidata
Client Developer Initial release Platform Latest release License (client) License (server) Monthly active users
Version Date

Operating system support

Template:Sticky header

Operating system support for messaging clients
Client Windows macOS Linux Web Android iOS
Beeper Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Briar No No Yes No Yes No
Discord Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Element Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Fractal No Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Gadu-Gadu Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Gajim Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Gitter Yes No Yes No No No
Google Chat No No No Yes Yes Yes
Google Messages (RCS) NoTemplate:Efn NoTemplate:Efn Template:NeedsTemplate:Efn[24] Yes Included No
ICQ Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jami Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jitsi Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
KakaoTalk Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Kik Messenger No No No No Yes Yes
Line Yes Yes Template:Okay[25] No Yes Yes
Linphone Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Mattermost Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Messages (Apple) No Included No No No Included
Messenger Yes Yes Template:NeedsTemplate:Efn[26] Yes Yes Yes
Mumble Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Movim Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Palringo No No No No Yes Yes
Paltalk Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Pidgin Yes Yes Yes No No No
Psi Yes Yes Yes No No No
RetroShare Yes Yes Yes No Yes No
Ricochet Yes Yes Yes No No No
Session Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Signal Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Skype Included Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Slack Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Snapchat No No No No Yes Yes
Surespot No No No No Yes Yes
TeamNote NoTemplate:Efn NoTemplate:Efn NoTemplate:Efn Yes Yes Yes
Telegram Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tencent QQ Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Threema Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Trillian Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Viber Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
WeChat Yes Yes Template:NeedsTemplate:Efn[27] Yes Yes Yes
WhatsApp Yes Yes Template:NeedsTemplate:Efn[28][29][30] Yes Yes iPhone devices only. App cannot be installed on iPad, iPod Touch.
Wire Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Client Windows macOS Linux Web Android iOS

Connectivity

Template:Sticky header Template:Sort-under

Client Registration requirement Independent of mobile phone End-to-end encryption Template:Verth Open source servers Federated servers
Briar No Yes Yes Template:NA(P2P) Template:NA(P2P)
Discord Email or Phone number Yes No No No No
Element No Yes Yes[31] No Yes Yes
Fractal No No Yes Yes
Gadu-Gadu Email and Phone number No No
Gajim No Yes With plugin only No Yes
Gitter ? ? ? ? ? ?
Google Chat Email; Google account Yes
Google Messages (RCS) Phone number Similar to SMS requirements, RCS messaging requires a valid SIM card to be inserted in the device.
RCS chat features may continue to work for up to 14 days, when a SIM card is removed from the device.[32] 		Yes, only for RCS chats N/A
Template:Clarify 		Yes
ICQ Phone number Phone required for initial registration.
Desktop client can function independently afterwards.[33] 		No
Jami No No Yes Yes Template:NA(P2P) Template:NA(P2P)
Jitsi No Yes No Yes Yes
KakaoTalk No No No No
Kik Messenger Email No No No No
Line Phone number No No No No
Linphone No Yes No No Yes Yes
Mattermost No Yes No
Messages (Apple) Email; Apple ID account Yes No N/A
Template:Clarify 		N/A
Template:Clarify
Messenger Email or Phone number; Facebook account Yes No No No
Movim No No Yes Yes
Mumble no Yes Yes Yes
Palringo No No No
Paltalk Email No No
Pidgin No Yes With extension only Yes Yes Yes
Psi No
RetroShare Yes N/A(P2P) N/A(P2P)
Ricochet Yes Yes N/A(P2P) N/A(P2P)
Session No Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Signal Phone number; iOS or Android device.[34][35] VoIP number[36] VoIP workaround[36] Yes No Yes[37] No
Skype Email; Microsoft account Yes No No No
Slack Email Yes No No No
Snapchat Email or Phone number No No No No
Surespot No No No
TeamNote
Telegram Phone number; iOS or Android device[38] Phone required for initial registration & login.
Desktop client can function independently afterwards.[39] 		For some features: secret chats,[40] voice and video calls,[41] and voice chats in groups[41] No No No
Tencent QQ No[42][43] No No No No
Threema No A valid phone number or email address is not required for registration & login.
However, the mobile app serves as the primary device, due to the end-to-end encryption architecture.[44] 		Yes No No No
Trillian No Yes No No Yes
Viber Phone number No No No No
WeChat Phone number or QQ number No No No No No
WhatsApp Phone number No Yes No No No
Wire Email or Phone number Yes Yes[45] No Yes[46] Yes
Client Registration requirement Independent of mobile phone End-to-end encryption Template:Verth Open source servers Federated servers

Privacy

Some messaging services that are not designed for privacy require a unique phone number for sign-up, as a form of identity verification and to prevent users from creating multiple accounts.

Some messaging services that do not solely focus on a mobile-first experience, or enforce SMS authentication, may allow email addresses to be used for sign-up instead.

Some messaging services offer greater flexibility and privacy, by allowing users to create more than one account to compartmentalize personal & work purposes, or not requiring personally identifiable information for sign-up.

To find out if the software has end-to-end encryption, see "media" table below.

Template:Sticky header Template:Sort-under

Client Share username Hide number Account expiration Reset password Password lockout Search for contacts Voice changer Plugins
Briar by public key or in-person pairing
Discord Template:Blist No
Element Template:Blist Yes
Fractal Template:Blist
Gadu-Gadu No
Gajim Yes
Gitter
Google Chat Template:Blist
Google Messages (RCS) Template:Blist
ICQ Yes
Jami Yes No (not stored on servers) No (not stored on servers) No (not stored on servers)[47] by random identifier or email-like address No Yes
Jitsi by shared 4-random-words URL Yes
KakaoTalk
Kik Messenger Template:Blist
Line Template:Blist Yes
Linphone
Mattermost Yes
Messages (Apple) Template:Blist No
Messenger Template:Blist Yes
Movim No
Mumble Template:Blist
Palringo No
Paltalk No
Pidgin Yes
Psi Yes
RetroShare
Ricochet
Signal Yes Default. Number is only visible if it is saved to a friend's contact No[48] 30 seconds after 5 fails Template:Blist No
Skype Template:Blist Yes
Slack Template:Blist Yes
Snapchat Template:Blist Yes
Surespot No No
TeamNote
Telegram 6 months 5 seconds after 3 fails Template:Blist No
Tencent QQ No
Threema No
Trillian Yes
Viber Template:Blist Yes
WeChat Template:Blist
WhatsApp No Template:Blist No
Wire No
Client Share username Hide number Account expiration Reset password Password lockout Search for contacts Voice changer Plugins
  • 1: Apple iOS doesn't allow screenshot protection.

Screenshot security

Template:Sticky header

Client Hide number in chats Lock screen timeout Lock screen when closed Lock screen button Screenshot detection Screenshot/recording disabled (Android only)[49]
Briar Yes Yes
Discord No
Element No
Fractal
Gadu-Gadu
Gajim
Gitter
Google Chat
Google Messages (RCS)
ICQ
Jami No (not stored on servers) No No Yes[50]
Jitsi No
KakaoTalk
Kik Messenger
Line Yes
Linphone
Mattermost No
Messages (Apple) No
Messenger No
Movim ?
Mumble
Palringo
Paltalk
Pidgin
Psi
RetroShare
Ricochet
Signal Yes No Yes Yes[51]
Skype
Slack
Snapchat Yes
Surespot
TeamNote
Telegram Yes Yes No Yes (on Secret Chats)[52] Yes (on Secret Chats)[53]
Tencent QQ
Threema Yes
Trillian
Viber Yes
WeChat
WhatsApp No Fingerprint sensor
Wire No
Client Hide number in chats Lock screen timeout Lock screen when closed Lock screen button Screenshot detection Screenshot/recording disabled (Android only)[49]

Message handling

Template:Sticky header

Client Threads Sent messages Read messages Self-destructing messages
Threads Collapse[54] Ignore Editing Deleting Delete for contacts Delete notification Receipts Hide receipts Exists Deletion trigger
Briar Yes[55] No No Yes No
Discord Yes Yes[56] Yes[57] Yes Yes No No
Element Yes[58] Yes No Partial Yes Yes No
Fractal
Gadu-Gadu
Gajim Yes Yes No
Gitter
Google Chat Yes[59] Yes Yes Originally for Google Workspace accounts only; rolled out to consumer accounts in July 2023[60] Originally for Google Workspace accounts only; rolled out to consumer accounts in July 2023 Yes No
Google Messages (RCS) No No No No Yes Yes No
ICQ No No No Yes
Jami No No No No Desktop only No Not applicable Yes[61] Android only[61] Yes
Jitsi No No No No
KakaoTalk No No No
Kik Messenger No No No
Line No No No No Partial Yes No
Linphone No No No
Mattermost Yes Template:Okay[62] No Yes Yes No No
Messages (Apple) No No No No
Messenger Yes[63] No No No Yes Yes Yes
Movim Yes[64] No No Yes Yes No
Mumble No No No
Palringo No No No
Paltalk No No No
Pidgin No No No Yes
Psi No No No Yes
RetroShare Yes Yes[65] No No No Yes No
Ricochet No No No
Signal No No No Yes Yes Within 24 hours[66] Yes Yes Yes Yes Read[67]
Skype No No No
Slack Yes Yes[68] Yes[69] Yes Yes Yes
Snapchat No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Surespot No No No No
TeamNote No No No Yes Yes No
Telegram No[70] No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Read
Tencent QQ No No No
Threema No[71] No No No Yes Yes No
Trillian No No No Yes
Viber No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
WeChat No No No
WhatsApp No No No No Partial Yes Yes No
Wire No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes[72]
Client Threads Sent messages Read messages Self-destructing messages
Threads Collapse Ignore Editing Deleting Delete for contacts Delete notification Receipts Hide receipts Exists Deletion trigger

Media

Template:Sticky header

Client File transfer Voice messages Voice chat Video chat E2EE Encrypted local storage
Individual Groups
Briar Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes
Discord Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Element
Fractal
Gadu-Gadu Yes Yes Yes No No
Gajim Yes Yes No No[73] Yes Yes
Gitter
Google Chat Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Google Messages (RCS) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
ICQ Yes No Yes Yes No No
Jami Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jitsi Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
KakaoTalk Yes Yes Yes
Kik Messenger Yes No No
Line Yes Yes Yes Yes Partial Yes[74]
Linphone
Mattermost Yes Plug-in Plug-in Plug-in No No
Messages (Apple) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Messenger Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Movim Yes No Yes Yes Yes For private group
Mumble Yes Yes No No No
Palringo No No Yes No No No
Paltalk Yes Yes Yes No No
Pidgin No No Partial Yes Yes
Psi Yes Yes Partial Partial Yes Yes
RetroShare Yes Yes Yes
Ricochet Yes
Signal Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Partial[75]
Skype Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Slack Yes No No
Snapchat No Yes Yes Yes No No
Surespot Yes Yes Yes No Yes No groupchat
TeamNote Yes No
Telegram Yes Yes Yes Yes Secret Chats No No[76]
Tencent QQ Yes No Yes Yes No No
Threema Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Trillian Yes Partial Yes Yes No No
Viber Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
WeChat Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
WhatsApp Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Wire Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Client File transfer Voice messages Voice chat Video chat E2EE Encrypted local storage
Individual Groups

Backup and restore messages

Official status to guarantee support for backing up and restoring messages.

Template:Sticky header

Client Windows macOS Linux Web Android iOS
Beeper
Briar
Discord
Element
Fractal
Gadu-Gadu
Gajim
Gitter
Google Chat
Google Messages (RCS)
ICQ
Jami
Jitsi
KakaoTalk
Kik Messenger
Line
Linphone
Mattermost
Messages (Apple)
Messenger
Mumble
Movim
Palringo
Paltalk
Pidgin
Psi
RetroShare
Ricochet
Session
Signal No[77] No[77] No[77] No[77] Yes[77] Yes[77]
Skype
Slack
Snapchat
Surespot
TeamNote
Telegram
Tencent QQ
Threema
Trillian
Viber
WeChat
WhatsApp
Wire
Client Windows macOS Linux Web Android iOS

Miscellaneous

Messaging services can operate around different models, based on security and accessibility considerations.[78]

A mobile-focused, phone number-based model operates on the concept of primary and secondary devices. Examples of such messaging services include: WhatsApp, Viber, Line, WeChat, Signal, etc. The primary device is a mobile phone and is required to login and send/receive messages. Only one mobile phone is allowed to be the primary device, as attempting to login to the messaging app on another mobile phone would trigger the previous phone to be logged out. The secondary device is a computer running a desktop operating system, which serves as a companion for the primary device. Desktop messaging clients on secondary devices do not function independently, as they are reliant on the mobile phone maintaining an active network connection for login authentication and syncing messages.

A multi-device, device-agnostic model is designed for accessibility on multiple devices, regardless of desktop or mobile. Examples of such messaging services include: Skype, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts (subsequently Google Chat), Telegram, ICQ, Element, Slack, Discord, etc. Users have more options as usernames or email addresses can be used as user identifiers, besides phone numbers. Unlike the phone-based model, user accounts on a multi-device model are not tied to a single device, and logins are allowed on multiple devices. Messaging services with a multi-device model are able to eliminate feature disparity and provide identical functionality on both mobile and desktop clients. Desktop clients can function independently, without relying on the mobile phone to login and sync messages.

Template:Sticky header

Client Typing notifications Multi-device support Emoji reactions Stickers GIF search Custom emoji Themes / skins
Briar No Yes No
Discord Yes Yes[79][80] Yes Yes (custom stickers require paid) Yes Paid[81] Paid[82]
Element Yes[83][80] Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Fractal
Gadu-Gadu No
Gajim Yes Yes
Gitter
Google Chat Yes (an optional setting allows messages to be accessible on Gmail as well)[84][85] Yes Yes No
Google Messages (RCS) On secondary web browsers only (phone required to sync messages)[86] Only a limited set of reactions available Yes Yes Partial
ICQ Yes[87] Yes Yes Yes
Jami Yes[61] Yes Partial[88] No
Jitsi Yes
KakaoTalk On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[89][90] No
Kik Messenger No[91] Yes Yes
Line On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[92] Yes Yes No Yes
Linphone
Mattermost No Yes Yes
Messages (Apple) Yes (Apple devices)[93] No No
Messenger Yes (messages are also accessible on the main Facebook website)[94] Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Movim Yes No No
Mumble
Palringo No Yes
Paltalk No Yes
Pidgin No No Yes Yes
Psi Yes Yes
RetroShare Yes No
Ricochet No
Signal Yes On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages; 5 linked devices)[95] Yes Yes Only on Android and iOS No Yes
Skype Yes[96][80] Yes Yes No No
Slack Yes[78][80] Yes Yes
Snapchat No[97] Yes Yes No No
Surespot No Yes
TeamNote No
Telegram Yes Yes[98][80][99] Full set of reactions only available on Telegram Premium Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tencent QQ On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[100] No Yes
Threema On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages).
Phone must maintain an active network connection at all times to use the desktop client.[101] 		Yes No Yes
Trillian Yes Yes
Viber On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[102] Only a limited set of reactions available Yes Yes No Yes
WeChat On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages)[103] No
WhatsApp On secondary desktop devices only (phone required to sync messages; 4 linked devices)
Phone must not be offline for ≥ 14 days; message history limited to 3 months.
Unsupported on iPad, iPod Touch.

[104] 		Yes Yes Yes No No
Wire Yes[105] No No No
Client Typing notifications Multi-device support Emoji reactions Stickers GIF search Custom emoji Themes / skins

See also

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Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Instant messaging

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  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ The Importance of Message Threads in Team Messaging Apps
  55. ↑ Briar User Manual
  56. ↑ Discord Threads FAQ
  57. ↑ Discord I Want To Leave A Thread
  58. ↑ Introducing Threads in Beta!
  59. ↑ Learn how to manage a space with in-line threading
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Organize conversations using Collapsed Reply Threads
  63. ↑ Facebook Messenger gets threaded replies
  64. ↑ Movim: a decentralized open-source XMPP-based messaging and social platform
  65. ↑ Retroshare » Docs » User Guide » Interface
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  68. ↑ Use threads to organize discussions
  69. ↑ How to Unfollow Thread in Slack?
  70. ↑ Bugs and Suggestions » Threads
  71. ↑ Comparison of Communication Tools for Companies
  72. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  74. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  76. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  77. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  78. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  79. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  80. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  81. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  82. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  83. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  84. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  85. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  86. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  87. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  88. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  89. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  90. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  91. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  92. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  93. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  94. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  95. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  96. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  97. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  98. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  99. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  100. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  101. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  102. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  103. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  104. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  105. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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