19 Free Self-hosted Anonymous Chat Solutions for Secure private Messaging and Anonymous Chat Groups

Anonymous chat apps are applications that allow users to communicate with others without revealing their identity. They offer users the ability to engage in real-time conversations while maintaining their privacy.

Use-cases of Anonymous chat apps

These applications are used in various scenarios. For instance, they can be used for online support groups, where individuals might be more comfortable sharing personal experiences anonymously.

They're also used for casual chatting, dating, or discussions on topics that users might not feel comfortable discussing openly.

Additionally, anonymous chat apps can serve as platforms for whistleblowers to share sensitive information. However, they can also potentially be misused for harmful activities due to their anonymous nature.

Why using open-source self-hosted anonymous chat app?

Using an open-source, self-hosted anonymous chat app gives users more control over their data and privacy. As the app is self-hosted, the user or organization has complete control over the data and how it is stored and handled, reducing the risk of data breaches.

Additionally, because the source code is open to the public, it allows for greater transparency and the ability for users to modify or improve the software to suit their specific needs.

Moreover, an open-source, self-hosted anonymous chat app can give users the freedom to customize the app according to their preferences and needs. This could include adding or removing certain features, changing the app's interface, or integrating it with other tools or systems they're already using.

Furthermore, using such an app can help users avoid the common issues associated with using third-party services, such as unwanted ads, data mining practices, or restrictions on the number of users or messages.

Lastly, an open-source, self-hosted chat app can be more cost-effective in the long run, especially for organizations or groups that need to accommodate a large number of users. While there might be some costs associated with setting up and maintaining the server, these can be offset by the lack of subscription fees or charges per user that are common with many commercial chat services.

Self-hosted Open-source Anonymous Chat and Messaging Apps

1. Anomly

Anomly is a free and open-source self-hosted chat app that allow users to chat anonymously without exposing their identity.

It is written using React, Next.js and uses Socket.IO for real-time bidirectional messaging.

2. Mesh

Technitium Mesh stands as a secure, anonymous, peer-to-peer (p2p), open source instant messenger, crafted with end-to-end encryption. Its primary objective is to ensure privacy, a goal achieved using advanced cryptography and anonymity via the Tor network. Whether over the Internet or private LAN networks (no internet required), it serves as a robust tool for instant messaging and file transfer, offering support for both private and group chats.

Drawing its foundation from Bit Chat, Mesh is a valuable successor, retaining core concepts while eliminating others. Importantly, Mesh bypasses the need for centralized user registration, offering anonymous profile support via Tor hidden service. It also eliminates the use of BitTorrent trackers for finding peers, a feature that caused problems with Bit Chat due to some ISPs blocking BitTorrent traffic. Instead, Mesh exclusively leverages Distributed Hash Tables (DHT) for all functionalities.

Totally Anonymous

Mesh provides the capacity to create both pure p2p and anonymous profiles while supporting multiple concurrent profiles. Interoperability is a core feature, allowing a p2p profile user to connect with an anonymous profile user via the Tor Network.

No Metadata

With Mesh, no meta data is generated. The user identifier is ingeniously designed for change at any time to conceal identity. Given the absence of user registration, the usage of Mesh remains impressively anonymous—we have no knowledge of who uses Mesh or the user count.

In p2p mode, connections utilize IPv4 or IPv6 connectivity directly to engage with peers, bypassing any server. In the anonymous mode, all connectivity transpires over the Tor network, using Tor hidden service for inbound connections.

Security Features

Serverless, peer-to-peer architecture that uses Distributed Hash Tables (DHT).
No meta data is stored since even we don't know to whom you are chatting with.
Works as LAN chat just as it works on the Internet.
Works in private LAN networks not connected to Internet.
Anonymous profiles use Tor Network to hide your identity.
Uses RSA 2048 bit keys to generate profiles.
Provides end-to-end encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) using DHE-2048 or ECDHE-256.
Protocol is secured with AES 256-bit encryption with Authenticated Encryption.
Changeable user identifier to hide identity.
Open source implementation allows you to inspect the code.

Platform and License

Mesh currently only Works for Windows and it is released under the GNU GPLv3 Lincese.

3. NekoBox

NekoBox is not your typical chat or messenger for unknown chit-chats. Nope, it's more like a comment or question box, making it a spot-on tool for customer feedback or support. And if you want to stay anonymous, it's also a killer solution for patient support groups.

NekoBox is written using Golang, MySQL, and Redis.

4. Speek.Chat

Speek is a cutting-edge serverless system that guarantees absolute privacy. It doesn't store metadata, nor does it require an ID or phone number.

All messages, inclusive of file transfers, are end-to-end encrypted and meticulously routed via the Tor network. This ensures that IP addresses remain confidential, allowing users to maintain their anonymity.

Its decentralized (p2p) nature eliminates the possibility of a middleman server being compromised, taken down, or leaking sensitive user information such as IP addresses, contacts, metadata, or even messages.

Speek.Chat is currently available for OS X (10.12 or later), Linux and Windows. Visit the releases page for the latest version and changelog. Alternatively, the newest version of Speek.Chat is also available on the MacOS Appstore, the Microsoft Store and the Google Play Store.

Users are only identified via public keys. Each user can share their public key with others to add them to their contact list.

You can chat without exposing your identity (or IP address) to anyone
Nobody can discover who your contacts are or when you talk (metadata-free!)
Your messages and data are never stored on any servers and you can converse without middlemen.
There are no servers or operators that could be compromised, exposing your information.
It's cross-platform and easy for non-technical users.
All your messages are private. Nothing is stored and there is no meta-data. Once you close Speek! all your messages are deleted.

The app is available for Windows, macOS (10.12 and later), and Linux Systems. If you are a Windows user, you can also install it from Microsoft Store.

5. SimpleX

SimpleX is a messaging service that prioritizes user privacy. Different from other apps like Signal or Matrix, SimpleX doesn't use user IDs, not even random numbers, therefore enhancing user privacy significantly. Visit the SimpleX website for more detailed information about its primary features.

SimpleX is ready to download for Android as an APK file or from F-Droid, and Google Play. It is also available for iOS devices from Apple Store.

SimpleX is powered and supported by a community of developers and loyal sponsors and users.

SimpleX's Key Features

E2E encrypted messages
Markdown support for messages
E2E encrypted images, videos and files
Decentralized encrypted groups
E2E encrypted voice messages
Disappearing messages
E2E Encrypted Audio and Video Calls
Portable and encrypted app storage
Incognito mode
SimpleX relay servers do NOT store user profiles, contacts and delivered messages, do NOT connect to each other, and there is NO servers directory.
servers provide unidirectional queues to connect the users, but they have no visibility of the network connection graph — only the users do.

6. Session

Session is a meticulously designed and developed end-to-end encrypted messaging platform that takes the utmost care to minimise any form of sensitive metadata.

However, it is important to note it is not actually an anonymous chat messenger, but it is built to protect and secure privacy, let's know how.

It is the perfect solution for people who value their privacy above all else and desire freedom from any form of surveillance. This innovative messenger is committed to keeping your conversations safe, ensuring that your personal communications are always secure and private.

Session does not require any phone number for register, login, use or message, it also does not leave any footprint for your conversations.

It supports group chats, voice messages, and attachments.

7. Anonymous Chat App

The Realtime Chat App, crafted meticulously with Node and Socket.io, opens up a world of instant, anonymous, bi-directional communication among multiple users. Upon selecting a unique username, users are plunged into a universe of real-time conversations, marking the dawn of a new era in digital connectivity.

One of its significant benefits is its ease of deployment on Vercel, a leading-edge, cloud platform for static sites and Serverless Functions. This compatibility ensures a seamless, hassle-free launch of the application, making it accessible to users in no time.

Further enhancing its appeal is its mobile-friendly design. The Realtime Chat App acknowledges the ubiquitous nature of mobile devices in our lives and is therefore optimized for use on various screen sizes. Whether you're on your smartphone, tablet, or desktop, the app ensures a smooth, intuitive user experience, keeping users engaged and connected.

In addition, the Realtime Chat App boasts a simple, user-friendly interface. It understands that at the heart of every great application is ease of use. By keeping its UI clean and straightforward, it allows users to focus on their conversations, making the app an effortless tool for communication.

In essence, the Realtime Chat App is more than just a chatting platform. It's a testament to user-centric design and functionality, offering anonymous, real-time communication with the added benefits of easy deployment, mobile optimization, and a simple, intuitive user interface.

8. Secretly

Secretly is a state-of-the-art anonymous chatting application, developed using a powerful blend of technologies including NodeJS, Angular, Hasura, GraphQL, and Postgres. This application is designed with user privacy and anonymity as its core features. It allows users to communicate without revealing their identity, thus providing a secure platform for private conversations.

One of the standout features of Secretly is its responsive interface. This ensures that users have a seamless and enjoyable chat experience, regardless of the device they are using. Whether on a desktop or a mobile device, the application adapts to the screen size, providing a consistent user experience across all devices.

The application is designed with a no chat history feature. This means that once a chat session ends, all the conversation data is automatically deleted, leaving no trace of the communication that occurred. This feature adds an extra layer of security for users, as there is no record of their conversations, ensuring complete privacy and peace of mind.

Furthermore, Secretly leaves no footprint. This means that aside from the chat itself, the application does not store any user data, further reinforcing its commitment to user privacy and anonymity.

Lastly, Secretly is easy to self-host. This means that you can host it on your own server, giving you complete control over your data and further enhancing the security and privacy of your chats. This feature makes it an excellent choice for those who prioritize control over their data and are looking for a secure and private means of communication.

Secretly is released under the MIT license.

9. pyChat

pyChat isn't just a chat application - it's a fortress of privacy and security. Developed with Python3 sockets, this platform offers an anonymous and encrypted medium for clients to exchange text messages via a server. Messages are encrypted using the uncrackable AES-256 and sent as custom-crafted packets using Python3 dataclasses, streamed via JSON for that extra layer of security.

Key exchange is performed using the fool-proof DiffieHellman method. The GUI, built using the "Eel" pip library, is not just a user interface, but a user experience - carefully coded from scratch in JS, HTML, and CSS.

10. anonymous chat rooms

This is a self-hosted React app that offers a secure anonymous chat rooms. It is powered by Node.js in the backend and Socket.io, for real-time communication.

It supports rooms, emojis, text, markdown formats, links and reactions.

However, it is important to note the app did not get updates for about 4 years.

11- PyChat

PyChat is another anonymous chat app that is meticulously designed and built using the powerful programming language, Python.

This unique platform provides an opportunity for users from all walks of life to engage in real-time, dynamic conversations while preserving their anonymity, ensuring their privacy and freedom of expression in the digital space.

With PyChat, not only can you connect with a diverse range of users from around the world, but you also have the ability to exchange thought-provoking messages and share ideas in an open, yet secure, environment.

What makes PyChat stand out is the thrill and excitement of anonymous communication, allowing for an unfiltered exchange of thoughts and ideas, free from the constraints of identity. So come explore, connect and communicate with PyChat, your go-to platform for anonymous online conversations.

Key Features of PyChat

Anonymous Chatting: Engage in real-time conversations while preserving anonymity.
Real-time Communication: Instant messaging for dynamic interactions.
Secure Encryption: Messages are secured with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).
Firebase Integration: Utilizes Firebase Realtime Database for storing and retrieving messages.

12. ConfessionBot (Discord Bot)

Boasting unparalleled features, ConfessionBot stands as the pinnacle of anonymous messaging bots on Discord. Equipped with advanced mod tools, diverse anonymous channel types, image support, and so much more! All this is powered by the superior merely framework and disnake.

13. TorChat

TorChat is an anonymous and secure chat system specifically designed for the Tor network. This unique system comes packed with built-in encryption features that are primed to enhance the privacy and security of your conversations.

Additionally, TorChat employs a TCP socket, ensuring reliable and efficient data transfer.

One of the highlights of this system is its user-friendly terminal user interface, which is both intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for different users regardless of their tech proficiency. All these features work together to provide a secure and user-centric communication platform in the Tor network.

We recommend it for advanced users.

14. FlackApp

FlackApp is a free self-hosted anonymous chat application to keep your identity safe. It is written primarily in Python, Flask, Socket, JavaScript, and jQuery.

Its features include:

Create new chat rooms.
Join existing chat rooms.
Set your anonymous username.
Real-time message delivery.
Chat without creating an account.

15- Sesh

Sesh is an innovative chat application that provides the unique feature of allowing anonymous conversations. This exciting attribute opens the door for users to engage in a variety of discussions and debates without the concern of personal identity disclosure. Beyond this, Sesh also enables the creation of dedicated chat rooms, a feature that is perfect for private group conversations. These chat rooms can be further secured with optional password protection, ensuring privacy and confidentiality for its users.

Moreover, the ability to join random chat rooms is an additional attribute that Sesh offers. This feature provides an avenue for users to connect and interact with a diverse range of individuals, fostering a sense of community and connection.

Written using the popular and powerful React.js and Next.js frameworks, in conjunction with the stylish and efficient TailwindCSS, Sesh stands as a robust and visually appealing application. The use of these frameworks ensures a smooth user experience and an aesthetically pleasing interface that is both intuitive and user-friendly.

Furthermore, due to its technical structure, Sesh is easy to deploy on modern web service platforms such as Netlify and Vercel. This ease of deployment allows for quick and efficient updates and changes to the application. Additionally, it can also be hosted on reliable platforms like DigitalOcean, providing greater flexibility for application management and distribution.

16. Yukki Chat Bot (Telegram)

Yukki Chat Bot is a robust and efficient chat bot specifically designed for the Telegram platform. Developed using the Pyrogram framework, this chat bot is noted for its high performance and reliability.

It utilizes MongoDB as its primary database, ensuring fast and secure data handling. This enables users to engage in discussions, provide feedback, and communicate with ease.

One of the remarkable features of the Yukki Chat Bot includes its ability to maintain an anonymous identity, providing users with the privacy they need.

Furthermore, it offers support for group discussions, making it an excellent tool for collaborative efforts. The functionality of the Yukki Chat Bot is similar to that of the Livegram Bot, a well-known bot in the Telegram community, making it a familiar and user-friendly platform for Telegram users.

We highly recommend not using it for production.