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Home/Categories/Communication & Collaboration/Tox
icon of Tox

Tox

Open source alternative to Threema Work, Wire and Element (Element Matrix Services)

  • 2.7K stars
  • GPL-3.0
  • Active this week
  • Last commit 2 days ago

Last verified Oct 20, 2026

Secure private messaging, voice, and file sharing with a distributed peer-to-peer communication protocol.

Visit websiteGitHub2.7K stars
image of Tox
TL;DR

Tox is a peer-to-peer encrypted messaging protocol and core library for private chat, calls, and file transfer. It replaces centralized messenger services for users and developers who want communication without a central account server. GPL-3.0 licensed core repository.

Read the full breakdownHide the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs and the FAQ
who it's for

Who Tox is for#

Privacy-focused communities

Use Tox when users want encrypted communication without depending on a central messaging provider.

Skip if:

Your community needs polished workspace administration and easy invite-based onboarding.

Developers building secure chat clients

Use Toxcore as a foundation for experiments or apps around peer-to-peer private communication.

Skip if:

You need a hosted messaging API with SLAs and support.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Centralized messengers require users to trust one provider with account identity, metadata, availability, and policy decisions. That can be a poor fit for privacy-focused communities or developers building communication tools.

Peer-to-peer messaging changes the trust model, but it also changes reliability, discovery, and usability expectations. Users need to understand that privacy and decentralization come with practical tradeoffs.

how Tox solves it

How it solves it#

Peer-to-peer communication core

Tox is built around direct peer-to-peer communication rather than a central chat server controlling every conversation.

Encrypted messaging foundation

The protocol and core library target encrypted messaging, voice, video, and file transfer use cases.

Client ecosystem base

Toxcore provides the lower-level foundation that client applications can build on for private communication experiences.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

  • No central account providerTox reduces dependence on one messaging company for identity, message routing, and service policy.
  • Useful for privacy-first clientsDevelopers can build clients around a protocol designed for private peer-to-peer communication.

Trade-offs

  • -Different usability modelPeer-to-peer messaging can be harder for mainstream users than account-based chat apps, especially around discovery, device availability, and support.
tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages
CC++Python
frequently asked

FAQ#

Is Tox a chat app or protocol?

Tox is a protocol and core library with client applications built around it.

Does Tox need a central server?

Tox is designed for peer-to-peer communication rather than a central provider-owned chat server.

Who should use Tox?

Tox is best for privacy-focused users and developers who value peer-to-peer encrypted communication over hosted workspace features.

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