While communication providers come and go, Trillian has been a mainstay for twenty years now. Released in 2000, Trillian offers individuals and businesses a real-time communication solution.
Trillian features individual and team chat solutions that connect to multiple emails and social media clients, provide gamers with an in-game chat overlay and offer businesses the option to self-host.
Fortunately, there’s never been a better time to chat. Today’s instant messaging not only keeps us connected in our personal lives but also ensures communication and teamwork in the office.
That means there’s no shortage of Trillian alternatives. Below, we’ll explore the best options, each capable of boosting your real-time individual and team communication needs. Learn more about the 10 Trillian alternatives that are worth trying.
Let’s get to it
The Best Trillian Alternatives to Boost Your Personal Communication
Power up your personal communication with these free alternatives to Trillian:
1. Chatox
A feature-rich stack of communication and collaboration tools makes Brx.chat one of the best free Trillian alternatives.
Are we biased? Of course! Chatox is powered by Brosix, after all. But how many free, personal instant messengers afford you unlimited size file transfers, a native whiteboard solution, co-browsing capabilities, and screen sharing? Go ahead; we’ll wait.
That’s all in addition to the features you’d expect of an instant messaging application, such as real-time text chat, group chat rooms, and crystal-clear voice and video. It’s all fully encrypted. And it’s all free.
Give Chatox a try today!
Top Chatox features:
- Unlimited-size file transfers
- A fully synched chat history
- Virtual whiteboard
- Co-browsing capabilities
- End-to-end encrypted peer-to-peer chats
- User-friendly chat interface
2. Telegram
Telegram is a quasi open-source Trillian alternative. Debuting in 2013, Telegram’s client-side code is free and open but the backend infrastructure like the server-side code remains proprietary.
With Telegram, you get messaging one-on-one and in groups, as well as the ability to share unlimited photos, videos, and files. It’s available for both desktop and mobile operating systems. Its cloud-based infrastructure lets you sync messages between multiple devices.
Telegram proclaims a new era in messaging. But keep in mind that Telegram doesn’t encrypt chats by default. Secret chats and voice calls are encrypted end-to-end, but the former has to be manually turned on. That could lead users to a false sense of security.
Top Telegram features:
- Supergroups for up to 200,000 users
- No limits on file size or chats
- Secret chats that prevent users from taking screenshots
- Self-destructing messages with a timer
3. Signal
Signal is another free Trillian alternative with security at heart.
Signal not only encrypts chats end-to-end by default but also hides virtually all metadata, including the message sender. That means neither Signal nor anyone who intercepts the message in transit can tell who’s sending you Signal messages.
There are some criticisms, though. Signal uses real phone numbers to match contacts. What’s more, Signal was initially funded by the U.S. government.
Signal is completely open-source, peer-reviewed, non-profit, and even boasts Edward Snowden as a user.
Top Signal features:
- One-on-one and group chat
- Voice and video capabilities
- Document and file sharing
- Disappearing messages and different customization intervals for each conversation
4. WhatsApp
WhatsApp is considered the most popular instant messaging app and Trillian alternative on the planet.
WhatsApp offers encrypted texting, group chats, and free voice and video calls. You can also send photos and files and leave short voice and video messages. There’s also a group chat feature that allows only admins to send messages. WhatsApp’s recent updates include dark mode and auto-delete messages.
That said, WhatsApp messages backed up on Google Drive aren’t encrypted unless this feature is specifically turned on. The platform has become a vehicle for the spread of fake news in India. And in 2019, WhatsApp exhibited serious vulnerabilities to malicious spyware.
Top WhatsApp features:
- Custom group invitation system
- Play consecutive voice messages
- Fingerprint authentication on Android
- Group calling for up to four participants on Android
5. Viber
Developed by a former Israeli intelligence officer, Viber is another widely used free Trillian alternative. The instant messenger and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) application boasts a large number of users—more than 1 billion, of whom 800 million are active monthly.
With Viber, you can send text, voice, and video messages, stickers, emojis, photos, and files, and also make voice and video calls. It’s all encrypted by default.
For a fee, Viber Out lets you call non-Viber users. Recent versions support group chats for up to 250 users as well as group video calls for up to 60 participants.
Top Viber features:
- Search and share media from sites like YouTube and Booking without leaving the chat
- Identity verification with secret keys
- The ability to delete seen messages
- Dark mode
6. Skype
Skype is a household name in the field of instant messaging. The free Trillian alternative began life in 2003 as a no-cost, peer-to-peer instant messaging option for consumers.
Skype offers individuals free instant messaging, voice and video calling, screen-sharing support, file sharing, and the ability to call landlines at reduced rates.
Rather than registering you via your mobile number, Skype connects you through a username and email with password protection.
Like Trillian, Skype used to offer a team chat solution—Skype for Business—on a separate network. But Skype for Business reached the end of its life in 2021 and was replaced by Microsoft Teams.
Top Skype features:
- Group voice and video calling for up to 100 people
- High-quality outbound calls and SMS text messaging
- Chat history
- The ability to edit sent messages
Trillian Alternatives to Collaborate With Your Team
From stronger security protocols to enhanced control, there are many benefits of instant messaging in the workplace. Take your team’s communication and collaboration to the next level with these Trillian alternatives for business.
7. Brosix
Trillian isn’t the only instant messenger with a long history in the game. Since 2006, Brosix has afforded teams an exclusive workspace for communication and collaboration.
It’s a highly capable, secure, and customizable Trillian alternative. Give Brosix a try today!
Brosix’s rich messaging and collaboration features provide everything teams need for effective communication and teamwork. Texting, group chat rooms, and full voice and video capabilities ensure instantaneous communication. Screen sharing and remote desktop control, instant screenshots, unlimited-size files and multimedia transfers, and a virtual whiteboard facilitate dynamic teamwork.
When you use the app, its robust administrative control allows you to tailor the network to suit your business. This also ensures that communication and collaboration remain on track and on-premises.
To safeguard the network, Brosix allows you to set up a private team network and reinforces it with full end-to-end encryption of messages, peer-to-peer channels, and anti-virus and malware integration.
The multi-layer approach to security makes Brosix not only one of the most secure Trillian alternatives but also one of the most secure instant messengers around.
Top Brosix features:
- Guaranteed user authorization through a Brosix private team network
- Contact management features and chat room control, and the ability to set multiple administrators and specific data security levels
- Easily retrievable chat history archives
- Broadcast messages to better target audiences
- Whiteboard conferences
- Available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and the web
- Mobile apps for both Android and iOS
Brosix pricing: 14-day free trial; $4 per user/month for Business; $6 per user/month for Premium. Startup lets you access communication and modest enterprise control for free, enhancing task management for your business.
8. Google Chat (formerly Hangouts Chat)
Google Chat is Google’s alternative to Trillian. It’s way more straightforward than its predecessor, Hangouts Chat.
Google Chat is freely accessible to consumers, and it’s included in Google Workspace, a subscription service with various paid plans.
In Google Chat, you communicate via direct messages, groups, or rooms. Rooms are thread-based, can be started at any time you have an idea, and can accommodate up to 8,000 people.
You have the option to place voice and video calls using Google Chat. To start a voice call, open the Google Chat app on your mobile or desktop device, select a chat with the person you wish to call, and tap on the phone icon within the individual conversation.
For video calls, simply tap on the camera icon next to the phone icon in the same conversation. These easy steps enable you to conveniently make voice and video calls through Google Chat, improving communication and collaboration with your contacts
Confused yet? Consider Brosix, instead. With Brosix, you get unified text, voice, and collaboration on one easy-to-use platform. Try it today!
Top Hangouts features:
- Screen-sharing
- The ability to create your own bots, like the Hangouts Chatbot
- Integration with Google Workspace, allowing sharing of files, documents, and tasks within the platform
Google Chat pricing: Free for individual use; Part of the Google Workspace packages for businesses, which, if billed annually, are as follows: $6 per user/month for Business Starter; $12 per user/month for Business Standard; $18 per user/month for Business Plus; Enterprise at a custom price.
9. Mattermost
Another self-hosted alternative to Trillian, Mattermost is also open source. That means you can fumble around with the source code, tailoring it to suit your organization’s needs.
Communication on Mattermost happens via multiple chat messages directly, one-on-one messages, or in groups through public and private channels. This app also provides you with voice, video, and screen sharing.
A host of open-source integrations are available, as well as connections with third-party apps like Jira, for example.
With Mattermost you get a host of customization options at your fingertips, like the ability to customize languages in the UI and the ability to add encryption on both the communication and server levels.
Top Mattermost features:
- The ability to custom-build the mobile app
- Custom emojis
- Bespoke branding and login page design
- Unlimited search history
Mattermost pricing: Free; Professional at $10 per user/month for a yearly subscription; Enterprise for a scalable option geared toward large organizations.
10. Discord
Users of Trillian’s Game Chat will appreciate Discord. The voice-based Trillian alternative was conceived to give gamers a more interactive experience.
Like a walkie-talkie, Discord delivers real-time push-to-talk voice capabilities. This, coupled with chat features and screen sharing, has gained Discord traction in the business community.
There are some differences, though. Discord’s voice option is fully separate from text-based communication. By clicking a voice channel, you immediately start communication with users. Voice chat continues in the background, but you can mute it through the push-to-talk feature.
For an in-depth look at Discord, check out our review!
Top Discord features:
- Real-time, push-to-talk communication
- Access to all workspaces on one interface
- Integrations with YouTube, Twitter, Reddit, and other gaming-focused communities
Discord pricing: Discord’s freemium version offers core functionality; Nitro Basic at $2.99 per user/month; Nitro Classic at $4.99 per user/month; Nitro at $9.99 per user/month; Server Boosting for additional perks at $4.99 per user/month
Which Trillian Alternative Is Right for You?
When it comes to Trillian alternatives, you’re spoiled for choice. But that’s a good thing. The competition is making tech more affordable. It’s also making platforms richer in features and tools to drive communication, collaboration, and your business.
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Just keep in mind what exactly you’re looking for as you search for a suitable alternative.
- Are you in need of an individual or team communication solution?
- How much are you willing to pay? Could a free solution suit you?
- What features and tools do you need at your disposal?
Can’t make up your mind? Try Chatox (Brx.chat) for your individual needs and Brosix for your team communication!
