Communication Tools

Tools
Productivity
Communication
Published

October 1, 2023

Modified

August 10, 2025

Better Privacy

(Some metadata collected, but E2EE or stronger privacy stance than mainstream competitors)

  • Viber 🇯🇵: E2EE by default; owned by Rakuten.

Good Privacy

(Open-source or self-hostable; privacy depends on server admin / hosting configuration)

  • Discourse: Self-hostable forums; privacy depends on admin choices.
  • Ekiga: Open-source VoIP; not actively maintained.
  • Exo Platform: Open-source digital workplace; self-hostable.
  • Lets Chat: Open-source, self-hosted chat.
  • MyBB: Open-source forums; depends on hosting.
  • Phorum: Open-source forums; depends on admin setup.
  • Talky: WebRTC video chat; no account required.
  • Zulip: Open-source team chat; can be self-hosted.

Privacy Caution

(Proprietary, logs metadata, limited or no E2EE; includes Meta-owned services)

  • Adobe Connect 🇺🇸: Meeting data on Adobe servers.
  • AnyDesk 🇩🇪: Remote desktop; lock down unattended access.
  • AnyMeeting 🇺🇸: Proprietary, U.S.-hosted.
  • BeamYourScreen 🇩🇪: Not E2EE.
  • Blackboard 🇺🇸: Heavy data collection.
  • blind 🇺🇸/🇰🇷: Requires work email; collects user data.
  • Chanty 🇺🇦: Cloud-hosted; not E2EE.
  • Digital Samba 🇪🇸: Proprietary webinar platform.
  • eBLVD 🇺🇸: Proprietary remote access.
  • FaceFlow 🇨🇦: Logs metadata; proprietary.
  • Fleep 🇪🇪: Not E2EE; cloud-stored.
  • Flowdock 🇺🇸/🇫🇮: Cloud storage; owned by CA Technologies.
  • FreeConferenceCall 🇺🇸: Not E2EE; stores metadata.
  • FreeScreenSharing 🇺🇸: Proprietary; not E2EE.
  • Glance 🇺🇸: Proprietary engagement platform.
  • GoToMeeting 🇺🇸: Logs metadata; proprietary.
  • Google Meet 🇺🇸: Google account required; extensive metadata.
  • Highfive 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • ICQ 🇷🇺: Weak encryption history; Russian ownership.
  • Infinite 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • Intercall 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • Join.me 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • Jostle 🇨🇦: Proprietary.
  • Lifesize 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • Live Conference Pro 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • Lucid Meetings 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • LumoFlow 🇫🇮: Proprietary.
  • Mashme tv 🇪🇸: Proprietary.
  • MeetingOne 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • MeWe 🇺🇸: Proprietary. Markets itself as ad- and tracking-free, but this cannot be independently verified due to closed-source code and absence of third-party audits.
  • Microsoft Teams 🇺🇸: Heavy telemetry; logs metadata.
  • Mikogo 🇩🇪: Proprietary.
  • Mobilimeet 🇸🇪: Proprietary.
  • omNovia 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • PGi iMeet 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • Personify 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • Polycom 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • Quick Topic 🇺🇸: Hosted, no encryption.
  • ReadyTalk 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • RingCentral 🇺🇸: Logs metadata; proprietary.
  • Screenleap 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • Sharetronix 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • Skarpline 🇨🇦: Proprietary.
  • Skype 🇺🇸: Microsoft-owned; logs metadata/content.
  • Slack 🇺🇸: Logs metadata; server-side storage unencrypted at rest by default.
  • Socialtext 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • StartMeeting 🇺🇸: Proprietary.
  • TeamViewer 🇩🇪: Logs metadata; proprietary.
  • Telegram 🇷🇺: Default “cloud” chats are not end-to-end encrypted; uses proprietary MTProto protocol with known design concerns; requires phone number, exposing users to SIM-swap risks; metadata and IP address logs accessible to the company; Russian jurisdictional exposure and documented compliance with data requests.
  • WhatsApp 🇺🇸: E2EE by default but Meta-owned; extensive metadata and backups exposure.
  • Workplace by Facebook 🇺🇸: Facebook-linked; extensive tracking.
  • Zoho Cliq 🇮🇳: Proprietary.
  • Zoom 🇺🇸: Logs metadata; E2EE not default across all meeting types.

Defunct / Offline

  • Campfire: Defunct.

  • iLinc: Defunct.

  • iWowWe: Defunct.

  • ooVoo: Defunct.

  • Simple Signal: Defunct.

  • Encrypted Cloud: Defunct.