Instant messaging: replacing WhatsApp
| Solution | Country / publisher | Origin | Open source | Self-hostable | Pricing model | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threema / Threema Work | Switzerland | Switzerland | Yes (apps) | No (Threema OnPrem optional) | Paid | No phone number required |
| Wire | Switzerland / Germany | Switzerland | Yes | Yes | Freemium | Business-oriented |
| Olvid | France | EU | Yes (apps) | No | Freemium | Certified by ANSSI |
| Element (Matrix) | United Kingdom | Europe outside the EU | Yes | Yes | Freemium | Open Matrix protocol |
Threema Work is the simplest choice for a Swiss team: no phone number to expose, an admin console, servers in Switzerland. Wire suits organisations that want to host themselves. Element relies on Matrix, an open protocol; it is the most flexible and the most technical.
E-mail: replacing Gmail
| Solution | Country / publisher | Origin | Open source | Pricing model | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton Mail | Switzerland | Switzerland | Yes (apps) | Freemium | End-to-end encryption |
| Infomaniak Mail | Switzerland | Switzerland | No | Freemium | Part of kSuite |
| Tuta | Germany | EU | Yes (apps) | Freemium | End-to-end encryption |
| mailbox.org | Germany | EU | No | Paid | Mail + calendar + documents suite |
E-mail is the heaviest migration: addresses, archives, calendars, contacts, filters, and the habits of the whole team. Proton Mail brings end-to-end encryption, useful for health or legal data; Infomaniak Mail is part of kSuite (documents, kDrive, kChat, kMeet), which makes it a complete suite to replace Google Workspace in one go.
Video calls: replacing Teams and Google Meet
| Solution | Country / publisher | Origin | Open source | Self-hostable | Pricing model | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| kMeet (Infomaniak) | Switzerland | Switzerland | Yes (based on Jitsi) | No | Free | |
| Jitsi Meet | American publisher (8x8) | International (open source) | Yes | Yes | Free | To self-host in Europe |
kMeet is Jitsi hosted in Switzerland by Infomaniak, with no account required for guests. Proton also offers Proton Meet, end-to-end encrypted, in its suite. It is the easiest migration of the whole series: one link to change in the invitations.
Where to start
- Video, in a day: a kMeet link replaces the Teams link.
- Messaging, in a week: Threema Work deployed, groups recreated, WhatsApp closed for professional exchanges.
- E-mail, in a quarter: new domain or migration of the existing one, archive transfer, a period of double reception, then cut-over.
I put this kind of migration in place with your teams: inventory, choices by data sensitivity, staged switch-over, operations. A first conversation is enough to know where to start.
Frequently asked questions
Threema or Wire for a team?
Threema Work if you want a simple, administered Swiss solution that does not expose phone numbers. Wire if you want to host yourself or if the team spans several organisations.
Can we keep our e-mail address when changing provider?
Yes, if you own your domain name. The DNS records are pointed to the new provider; addresses stay the same.
Is end-to-end encryption necessary?
For health, legal or financial data it brings a strong guarantee. For everyday communication, Swiss hosting with a serious provider is often enough.