Tox

OPEN SRC

Distributed, secure messenger with audio and video chat capabilities

► Best for privacy-focused users wanting encrypted, decentralized voice and video calls.

VG SCORE

6.8

VIEW ALTERNATIVES

Product Details

PricingOpen Source

API✅ REST

Learning CurveModerate

Integrations11 available

■ INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING — Weekly tool drops. No spam.

PROS & CONS

STRENGTHS

Strong privacy model with mandatory end-to-end encryption for all features.
Truly decentralized architecture eliminates central points of failure or control.
Completely free to use with no subscriptions, ads, or data collection.

WEAKNESSES

−Smaller user base can make it difficult to find contacts already using the network.
−User experience and interface can be less polished than mainstream alternatives.

KEY FEATURES

Multi-Platform Support

Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

No Phone Number Required

Users are identified by a unique Tox ID, not a personal number.

Decentralized Network

No central servers; users connect directly in a peer-to-peer network.

End-to-End Encryption

All messages and calls are encrypted by default for privacy.

WHO IS Tox BEST FOR?

Privacy-conscious individuals and activists

They need secure, decentralized communication resistant to surveillance and censorship.

Open-source software development teams

They require a self-hosted, encrypted chat and video solution that integrates with their workflow.

INTEGRATIONS

Contact DiscoveryGroup ChatVoice MessagesGroup ChatsFile SharingAudio/Video DevicesDesktop NotificationsContact ListsSystem TrayScreen SharingAudio/Video Codecs