Riot

Looking for a truly secure and flexible chat app that puts you in control? Riot.im might be exactly what you need. It’s an open source messaging client that lets you bring all your different groupware accounts together in one place. Whether you're juggling Slack, Discord, or other platforms, Riot keeps everything organized and, more importantly, secure. All your messages, files, and shared data are protected with end to end encryption, so only you and the intended recipients can access them.

One of the coolest things about Riot is that it runs on the decentralized Matrix protocol, which means you can choose or even host your own server. This isn’t just about privacy; it’s about freedom. You’re not locked into someone else’s ecosystem. And thanks to its open source nature, the code is available on GitHub for anyone to view, modify, or contribute to. So whether you're a developer looking to build custom features or just a user who values transparency, Riot offers a level of flexibility you won’t find in most messaging apps.

You don’t need to be a coding expert to use Riot, but if you are, you’ll appreciate that it’s built with the Matrix React SDK and Electron. This makes it easier to debug, customize, and even build standalone desktop apps for Windows and macOS. Collaboration is seamless share messages, videos, and files with read receipts so you know who’s seen what. You can hop on voice or video calls, though availability depends on the integrated platform.

Ideal for teams and communities that value security and self hosted solutions, Riot is more than just a messenger it’s a tool for building your own communication ecosystem. You can run it on Windows 7 and above, and tailor it to fit everything from small group chats to large scale communities. If you believe communication should be open, secure, and under your control, Riot.im is worth a try.