From Signal to Telegram, five alternatives to WhatsApp

Encrypted messaging app Telegram has seen user ranks surge on the heels of the WhatsApp service terms announcement, said its Russia-born founder Pavel Durov. Telegram refuses to cooperate with authorities and handover encryption keys, which resulted in its ban in several countries, including Russia. Last year, Russia announced that it will lift its ban on the messenger app after more than two years of unsuccessful attempts to block it.

Unlike other messaging apps, Viber can’t read your personal chats (including one-on-one chats and group chats) or listen in on your audio or video calls. It uses end-to-end encryption by default. Not only are your communications protected by end-to-end encryption by default, but nothing you share is ever stored on Viber’s servers once delivered. Messages you send make their way from your device to the recipient as an encrypted code.

All communication through Wire is secured with end-to-end encryption — messages, conference calls, files. The company’s source code is available on GitHub for anyone to verify, modify and improve. The company does not sell analytics or usage data to anyone.

Kik was founded in 2009 by a group of University of Waterloo students. At the time, chat between Blackberry, Android and iPhone users wasn't possible, but it became possible with Kik. Kik uses your device to store the data. Now this data storage feature has worked for the app and also against it as the data can't be retrieved in case you lose or switch your device. (Representative Image)