Best Self-Hosted Telegram Alternatives in 2026
Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app with group chats, channels, bots, and end-to-end encrypted secret chats.
10 Self-Hosted Alternatives to Telegram
Meilisearch
56KLightning-fast, typo-tolerant search engine with an intuitive API. Drop-in replacement for Algolia that you can self-host for free.
Berty
9.1KBerty is a TypeScript-based application that provides secure peer-to-peer messaging, always accessible.
Cinny
3.5KCinny is a self-hosted communication & messaging tool with support for reactjs, client, matrix.
Stoat
2.9KSelf-hosted team chat & messaging tool that provides modern chat platform featuring text channels.
Stoat
2.3KStoat handles user-first chat platform built with modern web technologies as a self-hosted solution.
Lokinet
2KLokinet is a self-hosted social & community tool that browses privately and block surveillance.
Session
1.6KFor communication & messaging, Session is a self-hosted solution that provides session: encrypted messenger for privacy.
Speek
758Speek lets you run anonymous, decentralized, and censorship-resistant messaging entirely on your own server.
Coyim
610Self-hosted communication & messaging tool that provides coyIM: Safe, secure, and no plugins.
Twake Chat
147Twake Chat is a self-hosted kanban boards replacement for Microsoft Teams, Skype, and more.
Why Look for Telegram Alternatives?
Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app with group chats, channels, bots, and end-to-end encrypted secret chats.
Self-hosted alternatives give you full data ownership, predictable costs, and zero vendor lock-in. You run the software on your own infrastructure and control everything.
10 Best Open-Source Alternatives to Telegram
Cinny
Elegant, secure Matrix client with e2ee. — 3,431 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
Stoat
Stoat is a user-first chat platform built with modern web technologies. Licensed under AGPL-3.0/MIT.
Twake Chat
Free Matrix-based messenger with end-to-end encryption, multi-platform bridges, and on-premise deployment. Connect across 30+ networks securely. — 145 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
MeiliSearch
Hyper-relevant search engine for any workflow. — 56,418 GitHub stars. Licensed under MIT.
Berty
Secure peer-to-peer messaging, always accessible. — 9,109 GitHub stars. Licensed under Open Source.
Stoat
Open source, user-first chat platform — 2,837 GitHub stars. Licensed under Custom.
Lokinet
Browse privately and block surveillance. — 2,026 GitHub stars. Licensed under GPL-3.0.
Session
Session: encrypted messenger for ultimate privacy — 1,586 GitHub stars. Licensed under GPL-3.0.
Speek
Anonymous, decentralized, and censorship-resistant messaging. — 758 GitHub stars. Licensed under Open Source.
Coyim
CoyIM: Safe, secure, and no plugins. — 610 GitHub stars. Licensed under Open Source.
Why Self-Host Instead of Telegram?
- Data ownership. Your data stays on your server, not on Telegram’s infrastructure.
- Predictable costs. Pay a fixed VPS cost instead of growing per-user or per-usage fees.
- No vendor lock-in. Export and migrate your data anytime. You control the database.
- GDPR and compliance. Hosting your own tools simplifies data residency and compliance requirements.
Why teams switch from Telegram
- → Data ownership. Your data stays on your server -- not on Telegram's infrastructure.
- → Predictable costs. Pay a fixed VPS cost instead of growing per-user or per-usage fees.
- → No vendor lock-in. Export and migrate your data anytime. You control the database.
- → GDPR and compliance. Hosting your own tools simplifies data residency and compliance requirements.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
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