The Best hide.me VPN Alternatives in 2026

AdGuard VPN offers monthly free traffic and additional VPN service plans for protecting internet connections.

This guide compares VPN services for privacy and security, with recommendations based on protection features.

Wire supports secure messaging and team collaboration with communication tools for organizations.

The Tor Project provides software for browsing privately and resisting tracking and surveillance.

Privacy Matters compares secure messaging apps by security and privacy features, with a filterable table of services.

Matrix communication is available through Element, an end-to-end encrypted messenger for interoperable servers.

Wire provides downloads for its end-to-end encrypted communication app, with messaging and collaboration highlighted on the download page.

Signal offers private messaging, with its site introducing a communication experience centered on privacy.

This Kuketz blog page compares messengers by security and data protection features.

This guide recommends privacy-protecting browsers and compares how they guard against tracking.

This page compares instant messaging services and discusses how their approaches to user privacy differ.

Session is a private messenger that routes messages through an onion network, with a stated goal of avoiding metadata collection.

Jami offers distributed, open-source communication software with end-to-end encryption.

Rocket.Chat provides real-time messaging, voice, video, AI, and related collaboration tools for organizations.

Status combines private messaging with a Web3 wallet and browser, presenting communication and decentralized finance tools in one app.

Cwtch provides metadata-resistant messaging, with downloads listed for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.

Briar Desktop is available for download on Linux, Windows, and macOS, with the project site providing operating system links.

The Matrix.org clients page lists software that connects to Matrix, an open protocol for secure decentralized communications.

Use qTox, a free instant messaging application without advertising, to connect with friends and family.

Damus offers a social network described as user-controlled, with versions listed for iOS, iPad, and Apple silicon Macs.

Tox provides instant messaging for connecting with others amid corporate and government surveillance.

Conduit provides a Matrix-powered chat server, described by its project as simple, fast, and reliable.

Ricochet Refresh aims to update the Ricochet project for private and anonymous instant messaging, with its code available as open source.

The Matrix.org ecosystem page introduces projects built around Matrix, an open protocol for secure decentralized communications.