Free Code Chat Apps: Difference between revisions
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{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Name !! License !! Topology !! Protocol(s) Used !! Network Transport(s) | ! Name !! License !! Free Software Directory !! Topology !! Protocol(s) Used !! Network Transport(s) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [https://www.briarproject.org Briar] || [https://code.briarproject.org/briar/briar/blob/master/LICENSE.txt GNU GPLv3+] || distributed || Tor || internet, wifi, bluetooth | | [https://www.briarproject.org Briar] || [https://code.briarproject.org/briar/briar/blob/master/LICENSE.txt GNU GPLv3+] || || distributed || Tor || internet, wifi, bluetooth | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [https://chatsecure.org/ ChatSecure] || [https://github.com/ChatSecure/ChatSecure-iOS/blob/master/LICENSE GNU GPLv3+] || federated || XMPP || internet | | [https://chatsecure.org/ ChatSecure] || [https://github.com/ChatSecure/ChatSecure-iOS/blob/master/LICENSE GNU GPLv3+] || || federated || XMPP || internet | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [https://conversations.im/ Conversations] || [https://github.com/siacs/Conversations/blob/master/LICENSE GNU GPLv3] || federated || XMPP, MUC, OMEMO, PGP || internet | | [https://conversations.im/ Conversations] || [https://github.com/siacs/Conversations/blob/master/LICENSE GNU GPLv3] || || federated || XMPP, MUC, OMEMO, PGP || internet | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [https://jami.net Jami] || [https://git.jami.net/savoirfairelinux/ring-project/blob/master/COPYING GNU GPLv3+] || distributed || SIP || internet | | [https://jami.net Jami] || [https://git.jami.net/savoirfairelinux/ring-project/blob/master/COPYING GNU GPLv3+] || || distributed || SIP || internet | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [https://keybase.io/ Keybase] || [https://github.com/keybase/client/blob/master/LICENSE Modified BSD] || ? || ? || ? | | [https://keybase.io/ Keybase] || [https://github.com/keybase/client/blob/master/LICENSE Modified BSD] || || ? || ? || ? | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [https://www.linphone.org/ Linphone] || core library: [https://gitlab.linphone.org/BC/public/linphone/blob/master/LICENSE.txt GNU GPLv3], desktop, Windows 10, iOS clients: [https://gitlab.linphone.org/BC/public/linphone-desktop/blob/master/LICENSE.txt GPLv2], Android client: [https://gitlab.linphone.org/BC/public/linphone-android/blob/master/LICENSE.txt GNU GPLv3], flexisip server: [https://gitlab.linphone.org/BC/public/flexisip/blob/master/COPYING GNU AGPL] || centralized || SIP, LIME || internet | | [https://www.linphone.org/ Linphone] || core library: [https://gitlab.linphone.org/BC/public/linphone/blob/master/LICENSE.txt GNU GPLv3], desktop, Windows 10, iOS clients: [https://gitlab.linphone.org/BC/public/linphone-desktop/blob/master/LICENSE.txt GPLv2], Android client: [https://gitlab.linphone.org/BC/public/linphone-android/blob/master/LICENSE.txt GNU GPLv3], flexisip server: [https://gitlab.linphone.org/BC/public/flexisip/blob/master/COPYING GNU AGPL] || || centralized || SIP, LIME || internet | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [https://www.mumble.info/ Mumble] || [https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Mumble#tab=Details | | [https://www.mumble.info/ Mumble] || [https://github.com/mumble-voip/mumble/blob/master/LICENSE Modified BSD] || [https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Mumble#tab=Details Listed] || centralized || ? || internet | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [http://signal.org/ Signal] || clients: [https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop/blob/development/LICENSE GNU GPLv3], server: [https://github.com/signalapp/ContactDiscoveryService/blob/master/LICENSE GNU AGPLv3] || centralized || Signal || internet | | [http://signal.org/ Signal] || clients: [https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop/blob/development/LICENSE GNU GPLv3], server: [https://github.com/signalapp/ContactDiscoveryService/blob/master/LICENSE GNU AGPLv3] || || centralized || Signal || internet | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [http://silence.im/ Silence] || [https://github.com/SilenceIM/Silence/blob/master/LICENSE GPLv3] || federated || SMS, MMS || GSM | | [http://silence.im/ Silence] || [https://github.com/SilenceIM/Silence/blob/master/LICENSE GPLv3] || || federated || SMS, MMS || GSM | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [https://riot.im/ Riot ] || [https://github.com/vector-im/riot-web/blob/master/LICENSE Apache 2.0] || federated || Matrix || internet | | [https://riot.im/ Riot ] || [https://github.com/vector-im/riot-web/blob/master/LICENSE Apache 2.0] || || federated || Matrix || internet | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [https://github.com/zoff99/ToxAndroidRefImpl TRIfa] || [https://github.com/zoff99/ToxAndroidRefImpl/blob/zoff99/dev003/LICENSE GNU GPLv2] || distributed || Tox, Tor (with Orbot) || internet | | [https://github.com/zoff99/ToxAndroidRefImpl TRIfa] || [https://github.com/zoff99/ToxAndroidRefImpl/blob/zoff99/dev003/LICENSE GNU GPLv2] || || distributed || Tox, Tor (with Orbot) || internet | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [https://www.wire.com/ Wire] || [https://github.com/wireapp/wire-webapp/blob/dev/LICENSE GNU GPLv3 (clients)] / [https://github.com/wireapp/wire-server/blob/develop/LICENSE AGPLv3 (server)] || centralized ([https://github.com/wireapp/wire-server/issues/631 federation is planned]) || ? || internet | | [https://www.wire.com/ Wire] || [https://github.com/wireapp/wire-webapp/blob/dev/LICENSE GNU GPLv3 (clients)] / [https://github.com/wireapp/wire-server/blob/develop/LICENSE AGPLv3 (server)] || || centralized ([https://github.com/wireapp/wire-server/issues/631 federation is planned]) || ? || internet | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [https://zom.im/ Zom] || [https://github.com/zom/zom-android-matrix/blob/master/LICENSE Android: Apache 2.0], iOS ? || federated || Matrix || internet | | [https://zom.im/ Zom] || [https://github.com/zom/zom-android-matrix/blob/master/LICENSE Android: Apache 2.0], iOS ? || || federated || Matrix || internet | ||
|} | |} | ||
Revision as of 17:02, 20 October 2019
Introduction
Most people are familiar with proprietary chat apps like Skype, FaceTime, FB Messenger, WhatsApp, Hangouts, WeChat, and so on. Chat apps differ from email in that they are designed mainly for use by two or more people who are online at the same time, having a back-and-forth conversation made up of short messages (1 or 2 sentences at a time). Most modern chat apps also support voice and video calling and voice mail. This page has information about chat apps whose code is available as a commons, under a free software license, allowing it to be audited by the community, or modified ("forked") to make new versions or new apps. --Strypey (talk) 16:34, 20 May 2019 (UTC)
Features: what they can do
| Name | Platforms supported | Text/ Voice/ Video? | Group chat | End-to-End Encrypted | Other features | languages supported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Briar | Android | text only | yes | yes | forums, blogs | ? |
| ChatSecure | iOS | text | yes | optional | voice mail, file transfer | ? |
| Conversations | mobile | text, (voice messages) | yes | optional | file transfer, short voice mails, message editing | ? |
| Jami | desktop and mobile | text, audio, video | voice/ video only | yes | none | ? |
| Keybase | desktop and mobile | text, (audio/video?) | yes | yes | signed file storage | ? |
| Linphone | desktop and mobile | text, audio, video | yes | in progress? | file-sharing | ? |
| Mumble | desktop and mobile | text, audio | yes | ? | ? | ? |
| Riot | web, mobile, desktop | text, audio, video | yes | optional (for now) | file transfer | ? |
| Signal | mobile, desktop | text, audio, video | yes | yes | image sharing, voice mails | ? |
| Silence | Android | text, multimedia messages | ? | yes | ? | ? |
| TRIfa | Android | text, audio, video | ? | yes | image sharing, file transfer, video embeds | ? |
| Wire | web, mobile, desktop | text, audio, video | yes | yes | message editing, image-sharing, file transfer | ? |
| Zom | mobile | text | yes | yes | file transfer | ? |
Structure: how they work
| Name | License | Free Software Directory | Topology | Protocol(s) Used | Network Transport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Briar | GNU GPLv3+ | distributed | Tor | internet, wifi, bluetooth | |
| ChatSecure | GNU GPLv3+ | federated | XMPP | internet | |
| Conversations | GNU GPLv3 | federated | XMPP, MUC, OMEMO, PGP | internet | |
| Jami | GNU GPLv3+ | distributed | SIP | internet | |
| Keybase | Modified BSD | ? | ? | ? | |
| Linphone | core library: GNU GPLv3, desktop, Windows 10, iOS clients: GPLv2, Android client: GNU GPLv3, flexisip server: GNU AGPL | centralized | SIP, LIME | internet | |
| Mumble | Modified BSD | Listed | centralized | ? | internet |
| Signal | clients: GNU GPLv3, server: GNU AGPLv3 | centralized | Signal | internet | |
| Silence | GPLv3 | federated | SMS, MMS | GSM | |
| Riot | Apache 2.0 | federated | Matrix | internet | |
| TRIfa | GNU GPLv2 | distributed | Tox, Tor (with Orbot) | internet | |
| Wire | GNU GPLv3 (clients) / AGPLv3 (server) | centralized (federation is planned) | ? | internet | |
| Zom | Android: Apache 2.0, iOS ? | federated | Matrix | internet |
Other notes:
| Briar | adding contacts requires in-person scanning of QR codes |
| Silence | a fork of TextSecure - the app that later became the Android client for Signal - keeping only the support for SMS text messages and MMS multimedia messages. |
| Zom | began as updated version of the old ChatSecure for Android code, using XMPP, but later moved to the Matrix protocol. The blog piece at that link describes a plan to begin a new ChatSecure for Android, as a fork of Conversations, making it also an XMPP client, but this effort was abandoned |
See also:
- Free code chat software - an overview of audio and video chat software
- PrivacyTools.io chat app guide
- F-Droid: Aims to offer a complete collection of Android apps that can be built from free code with no proprietary dependencies. Other chat clients they list: https://search.f-droid.org/?q=chat