Personal messaging app for groups, with a self-hostable open-source server
About this app
Snikket is a personal messaging app designed for groups such as family, friends, clubs or small organizations. It can be used to text and call with contacts without handing over your data to large corporations. This works because, instead of a centralized server, each group has their own private Snikket server under their control.
To get started you can choose:
- Self-host your own Snikket instance using the open-source Snikket server software on any Linux server, - Use the simple hosting service provided by the Snikket not-for-profit organization, - Or join an existing instance of someone you know (they can send you an invitation).
Guides are available at the snikket.org website.
ℹ️ Important note: Unlike many other messaging apps, there is no centralized Snikket service. The app requires a Snikket instance or invitation to get started.
Both the app and the server are 100% free and open source software.
The Snikket Android app is based on the excellent Conversations project by Daniel Gultsch.
Licensed under GPL-3.0-only, by Matthew Wild.
What's New in v2.19.8r2+free
Imported from the F-Droid repository index.
- This new release brings an updated visual design, many reliability,
- performance and security enhancements.
- The new design brings a new default color palette, but can optionally follow
- the system theme colours (aka "Material You" or "Dynamic Colors") for a more
- personalized experience. A new larger font setting is available for people who
- prefer a boost to the system's default font size for their messages. Many
Version history
Jan 25, 2026 · 30.9 MB · Android API 23–36 · code 4216704
Imported from the F-Droid repository index.
- This new release brings an updated visual design, many reliability,
- performance and security enhancements.
- The new design brings a new default color palette, but can optionally follow
- the system theme colours (aka "Material You" or "Dynamic Colors") for a more
- personalized experience. A new larger font setting is available for people who
- prefer a boost to the system's default font size for their messages. Many
SHA-256 9782c3f9c6af4c2be94e89c829d3778bf95765c4fcaa55b1385cf9204a91f84a
Jan 25, 2026 · 33.1 MB · Android API 23–36 · code 4216703
Imported from the F-Droid repository index.
SHA-256 cfd501d15b46555788e78ba98a34e11c867ebf636a7ab61453c8ad165a9bc5b5
Jan 25, 2026 · 31.5 MB · Android API 23–36 · code 4216702
Imported from the F-Droid repository index.
SHA-256 59c9657f5ae9098d7bd96ef30bb9c22a99b77770c01c83726c9b0d8f6dd0d680
Will it run on your device?
78%
- Runs on a broad range of modern Android versions.
- ABI coverage is focused on newer 64-bit devices.
- Aligned with the latest Android target SDK expectations.
Installation Guide
Open Settings on your Android device
Go to Security → Unknown sources (or Install unknown apps)
Enable "Allow from this source" for your browser or file manager
Open the downloaded APK file from your Downloads folder
Tap "Install" and wait for installation to complete
Launch the app from your home screen
Make sure to re-enable Unknown Sources restrictions after installation for security.
How to install this safely
How to verify the file you downloaded
Before you install anything, confirm the file is the one described here. On a computer, run shasum -a 256 your-download.apk (macOS or Linux) or certutil -hashfile your-download.apk SHA256 (Windows), then compare the output character-for-character with the SHA-256 on this page. If a single character differs, the file is not the build we recorded — delete it.
What the signing certificate proves
Every Android app is signed with a private key that only its developer holds. The fingerprint on this page is a hash of the matching public certificate, and it proves continuity rather than identity: it tells you a build came from whoever signed the earlier ones. Android enforces this at install time — if a package claiming to be org.snikket.android is signed with a different key, the system will refuse to install it over your existing copy. A fingerprint that changes between releases is worth pausing on, because a repackaged app that has been modified by someone else cannot keep the original signature.
How to roll back to an earlier version
If the current release misbehaves, 2.19.8r2+free is the last build before it. Android will not install an older version code over a newer one, so you must uninstall Snikket first — which clears its local data unless you have a backup. Reinstall the older APK only if its signing fingerprint matches the build you already trust, and check the API range: an older release may target an Android version your device has moved past.
Why we list sources instead of hosting everything
The official store channel is almost always the right choice: it updates automatically and carries the publisher's own distribution guarantees. A direct APK is useful when a device has no store access, when a rollout has not reached your region, or when you need a specific version — and only when the publisher has authorized that copy. APKBrowse does not list pirated, cracked, or unauthorized rebuilds of Snikket, and a listing is removed when the evidence for it stops holding up.
Get Snikket
Every source we list for org.snikket.android is legality-reviewed. Pirated or cracked builds are never offered.
Other sources
F-Droid listing
officialF-Droid builds this app from source and signs it. This is its official listing, with older builds and full release notes.
Source code
verified publisherThe upstream repository this build is compiled from.
We check legality and signature continuity, but device behaviour still varies. Install at your own discretion.
App Information
Security Verification
We record provenance; we do not run malware scans. Verify the hash yourself before installing.
SHA-256 Hash
9782c3f9c6af4c2be94e89c829d3778bf95765c4fcaa55b1385cf9204a91f84a
Signing certificate
821502bad4ced6cecbfc12844f60eea3f7470583091afae1b19449a6f1dacb28
Permissions Required
What each permission lets Snikket do. A highlighted one is worth a second look — not necessarily wrong, just worth asking whether this app needs it.
Previous Versions
The signing certificate fingerprint for this release is on record, so a build that does not match it did not come from this publisher.
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