Communication: what to install, and why
Chat, mail and calls. This is the category where the default choice is usually made by whoever else is on the conversation, so the honest advice is about…
What this category is for
Chat, mail and calls. This is the category where the default choice is usually made by whoever else is on the conversation, so the honest advice is about what you can control: encrypt where you can, keep a client that does not depend on a web tab, and avoid installing three apps that do the same job.
What we filter on
- Encryption that is on by default rather than available in a settings screen nobody opens.
- A desktop client that works as a client, not a browser wrapper that loses your session when you clear cookies.
- Clear scoping of the free tier, especially for team and business use.
- A publisher that does not depend on selling conversation data.
The 6 programs, compared
The table below is generated from the same directory data as the main list. Licence wording matters here: free for personal use is not the same as free for a work machine, and source-available is not the same as open source. Every link opens the publisher's own site.
| Program | Licence / price | Platforms | Why it is on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderbird Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | The desktop mail client that stopped the argument: handles any IMAP or Exchange account, has a real calendar, and runs your own rules locally. Newer versions are fast again after years of neglect. |
| Signal Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | The benchmark for private messaging, run by a non-profit and audited repeatedly. Everything is end-to-end encrypted including calls, and the desktop app links to your phone rather than existing on its own. |
| Discord Publisher's site ↗ | Free + paid tiers | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Where communities actually live: voice rooms, screen sharing and persistent channels. Great for hobby groups and small teams. Assume everything you post there is readable by the platform. |
| Telegram Desktop Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Closed source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Fast, syncs across devices without needing your phone nearby, and handles very large files. Only private chats are end-to-end encrypted, so treat groups and channels as server-visible. |
| Zoom Workplace Publisher's site ↗ | Free + paid tiers | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Install it because other people schedule in it, not because you want it. Use the desktop client rather than the browser version, and check the meeting settings before you assume a call is private. |
| Element Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | A client for the open Matrix network, which means you can self-host or join someone else's server and still talk to people on other servers. Choose it for sovereignty, not for polish. |
If you only install one
Signal. End-to-end encryption is the default for everything, not an optional mode, and the protocol is published. That removes the need to audit a settings page before every sensitive conversation. The trade-off is network effect: it only helps if the people you talk to are there too.
Its Free · Open source licence and Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS support are listed in the table above. The rest of this category exists because the right answer changes with the job, not because the other entries are filler.
The trade-offs
| Instead | What changes |
|---|---|
| Thunderbird | A real mail client with local mail and no account requirement from us; the right first install for anyone with more than one mailbox. |
| Element | Federated and open, useful when you need to run your own server or join one. |
| Telegram / Discord / Zoom | Install for the group you actually need, and only that one. They solve a presence problem, not a privacy one. |
Mistakes we see
- Equating a lock icon with end-to-end encryption. Transport encryption protects the connection; only E2EE limits what the service itself can read.
- Installing every messenger a different group uses, then leaving all of them signed in on an unattended machine.
- Using a personal free tier for work calls without checking the licence terms. Several of these are explicitly personal-use only.
Questions people ask
Can I replace webmail with a desktop client?
Yes, and it usually makes multiple accounts far easier to manage. You will need the server settings from your provider.
Is a federated messenger harder to run?
It is easier than running a server, but you do have to choose a homeserver. That is the trade for not depending on one company.
Where to go next
These guides use tools from this category:
- Setting up a new Windows PC: the order that actually works
- Building a reliable remote-work machine
- Why we link to publishers, and how to check a download yourself
Or continue through the other categories:
- Browsers — 4 programs
- Files & Organisation — 6 programs
- Media, Recording & Capture — 10 programs
- Graphics & Design — 7 programs
- Documents & Notes — 8 programs
- Privacy & Security — 10 programs
- Developer Tools — 12 programs
- System & Hardware — 8 programs
- Backup & Sync — 5 programs
- Network & Remote — 6 programs
How to read this page. How to read this page. Platform, licence and publisher details come from our directory data. Where an independent review, audit or survey is mentioned, it is summarised in our own words with the source named and linked; our /sources page sets out that policy. The recommendation, the trade-offs and every 'skip it if' line are our editorial judgement. We do not run benchmarks, publish measured performance figures or host installers, and every download link goes to the publisher's own site. If a detail is out of date, our About page explains how to tell us.