US-based service. Data subject to US jurisdiction
by Microsoft
Professional networking platform for job searching, recruiting, business connections, and industry content sharing.
4 privacy-focused, GDPR-compliant alternatives
Curated by Sidney van den Boogaard, Founder of BuiltInEu · Updated
Quick answer: 4 European alternatives to LinkedIn are listed, from 2 countries. 3 are open source and 2 have a free plan. Top picks: Element, Threema and Wire.
| # | Product | Country | Pricing | Free plan | Open source | Self-host |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Element | 🇬🇧United Kingdom | Freemium | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Threema | 🇨ðŸ‡Switzerland | Paid | No | No | Yes |
| 3 | Wire | 🇨ðŸ‡Switzerland | Freemium | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Stoat | 🇬🇧United Kingdom | Freemium | No | Yes | Yes |
A dash means we have not verified that attribute. Migration difficulty is shown only where the editor tested the switch.
by Element
Element is a secure and interoperable communications platform built on the Matrix open standard. It offers organisations control over their communications with features like end-to-end encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, and desktop collaboration. Element supports digital sovereignty by allowing self-hosted solutions and ensuring independence from vendor-locked systems.
by Threema
Threema is a Swiss encrypted messenger founded in 2012 by Manuel Kasper in Pfäffikon, Switzerland. Unlike most messaging apps, Threema requires no phone number or email to register — users get a random Threema ID, enabling truly anonymous communication. All messages, calls, and files are end-to-end encrypted, and metadata is minimized by design. Threema is fully open source and has been independently audited. It's widely adopted in German-speaking countries and used by the Swiss government and military.
by Wire
Wire is a secure communication platform designed for organizations, offering end-to-end encrypted messaging, calls, and file sharing. It provides flexible deployment options including cloud, on-premises, and hybrid solutions. Wire is trusted by enterprises and governments for its security, compliance, and digital sovereignty features.
by Stoat
Stoat (formerly Revolt, rebranded in October 2025) is an open-source, privacy-focused messaging platform built in the UK. It provides a familiar Discord-like experience with servers, channels, voice chat, and rich media sharing — but with full GDPR compliance and EU data hosting. Stoat is fully self-hostable, giving communities and teams complete control over their data. It features fine-grained role-based permissions, end-to-end encryption, and does not require a phone number or real name to register. Ideal for privacy-conscious communities looking for a feature-rich alternative to Discord.
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