MakerFLOSS/docs/møder/2026-05-11_messaging-presentation-fit-test.md

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# Messaging Without Big Tech

### Free & Open Alternatives to WhatsApp and Messenger

MakerFLOSS · May 2026

---

## Why Are We Here?

Most people use WhatsApp, Messenger, or iMessage.

- **WhatsApp** — owned by Meta; metadata harvested
- **Messenger** — no E2EE by default in groups; ad tracking
- **Telegram** — _not_ E2EE by default; closed server
- **iMessage** — Apple lock-in; no Android or Linux

These apps are _convenient_ — but the cost is your data.

---

## Wish-list

| Property                  | Why it matters                              |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| End-to-end encryption     | Only sender and recipient can read messages |
| Open source               | Anyone can audit the code                   |
| Self-hostable             | You control the server and the data         |
| No phone number required  | Less identity linkage                       |
| Cross-platform            | Linux, Android, iOS, Windows                |
| Federated / decentralized | No single point of failure or control       |

---

## The Landscape at a Glance

_All apps below support end-to-end encryption._

| App                  | Open source | Self-host | No phone# | Federation |
| -------------------- | ----------- | --------- | --------- | ---------- |
| **Signal**           | Partial     | ✗         | ✗         | ✗          |
| **Matrix / Element** | ✓           | ✓         | ✓         | ✓          |
| **XMPP + OMEMO**     | ✓           | ✓         | ✓         | ✓          |
| **Briar**            | ✓           | N/A       | ✓         | N/A        |
| **Session**          | ✓           | Partial   | ✓         | Partial    |

---

## Signal — The Gold Standard for E2EE

Non-profit Signal Foundation. The Signal Protocol powers WhatsApp, Google RCS, and Messenger secret chats.

**Pros**

- Simplest UX — works like a normal messaging app
- Audited, battle-tested cryptography; no ads, no tracking

**Cons**

- Phone number required — links identity to account
- Centralized — Signal's servers, Signal's rules

---

## Signal — Under the Hood

```mermaid
sequenceDiagram
    participant A as Alice's phone
    participant S as Signal Server
    participant B as Bob's phone
    A->>S: encrypted message
    Note over S: sees: who, when, how often<br/>does NOT see: content
    S->>B: encrypted message
    Note over B: decrypts with private key
```

Metadata still matters — [Signal subpoena responses](https://signal.org/bigbrother/)

---

## Matrix — The Federated Open Standard

Matrix is a **protocol**, not an app — like email for real-time chat.

```mermaid
graph LR
    EC[Element client] --> YH[your homeserver]
    YH <-->|federation| OH[another homeserver]
    FC[FluffyChat] --> OH
```

- **Servers**: Synapse (Python), Conduit (Rust), Dendrite (Go)
- **Clients**: Element, FluffyChat, Cinny, Fractal, Nheko
- **Bridges**: WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, IRC, Discord…

---

## Matrix — Pros and Cons

**Pros**

- Fully open source, top to bottom
- Self-host your server — you own your data
- Federated — no single company controls the network
- Bridges consolidate all your chats in one place

**Cons**

- E2EE key management is clunky (cross-signing, key backup)
- Synapse is resource-hungry (~1 GB RAM)
- The UX of Element is still maturing

---

## Matrix Bridges — Stay Connected During the Transition

A bridge relays messages between Matrix and another network — both ways.

| Bridge                    | Network    | Notes                                      |
| ------------------------- | ---------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| `mautrix-whatsapp`        | WhatsApp   | Puppeting — your real WA account           |
| `mautrix-telegram`        | Telegram   | Puppeting — very stable                    |
| `mautrix-signal`          | Signal     | Fragile — Signal actively breaks 3rd-party |
| `meshtastic-matrix-relay` | Meshtastic | LoRa mesh ↔ Matrix — off-grid messaging    |

**Catch:** Puppeting bridges hold your credentials. WhatsApp's ToS prohibits it — occasional bans occur.

---

## XMPP (Jabber)

The _original_ federated chat standard — 1999. Still alive and kicking.

- Extremely mature and lightweight
- E2EE via OMEMO
- Good clients: **Conversations** (Android), **Monal** (iOS/macOS), **Gajim** (desktop)
- Con: fragmented client quality; less beginner-friendly than Signal or Matrix

---

## Briar

Peer-to-peer messaging — _no server at all_.

- Works over Tor, local WiFi, or Bluetooth (offline!)
- Censorship-resistant by design
- Con: Android-first; no desktop client; both parties must be online to first connect

**For:** activists, disaster scenarios, high-censorship environments