✅ Why XMPP Instant Message (Jabber)?
- Open Standard and Federated – like email, no single point of control.
- End-to-end encryption via OMEMO.
- Choose from many free and open-source clients and servers.
- Can be self-hosted for full digital independence.
🔒 Why Not WhatsApp or Telegram?
- WhatsApp owned by Meta (Facebook) collecting all metadata even though encrypted messages.
- Telegram stores messages unencrypted by default, and secret chats are not the norm.
- Both platforms are centralized, one company controls the network, all users and all messages.
📊 Comparison Table
| Feature |
WhatsApp |
Telegram |
XMPP (Conversations/Monal) |
| End-to-end encryption |
✅ |
❌ (default) |
✅ (OMEMO) |
| Metadata privacy |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
| Open-source |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
| Decentralized |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
| Federated |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
📲 Android Setup: Conversations App
- Install the F-Droid App Store
- Search for and install Conversations.
- Create an account at a public XMPP provider
- Log into Conversations using your XMPP address and password.
- Add contacts via their JID (e.g.,
alice@jabber.de).
- Conversations Support: https://conversations.im/#support
🍏 iOS Setup: Monal App
- Install Monal from the App Store
- Setting -> Add Account -> Register a new account -> Choose provider -> Fill in User and Pass -> Register
- Add contacts via their JID (e.g.,
alice@jabber.de).
- Docs & Info: monal-im.org