Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

The Serval Mesh VS Tox

Compare The Serval Mesh VS Tox and see what are their differences

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The Serval Mesh logo The Serval Mesh

It works by using your phone's Wi-Fi to not communicate with other phones on the same network.

Tox logo Tox

Send messages, files, create groups and make Tox to Tox audio and video calls. Securely.
  • The Serval Mesh Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-11
  • Tox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

The Serval Mesh features and specs

  • Decentralized Communication
    The Serval Mesh allows for communication without relying on centralized infrastructure, which can be beneficial in areas with poor network coverage or during disasters when traditional networks fail.
  • Cost-Effective
    By utilizing peer-to-peer communication, Serval Mesh can reduce costs associated with mobile data usage and reliance on telecom providers.
  • Privacy and Security
    The network is inherently encrypted, which can offer a level of privacy and security, protecting messages from interception.
  • Ease of Deployment
    The software can be quickly deployed on standard smartphones, making it accessible and easy to use for people without technical expertise.

Possible disadvantages of The Serval Mesh

  • Limited Range
    Mesh networks typically have a limited range dependent on the number of devices in the area, which may affect connectivity in sparse environments.
  • Bandwidth Constraints
    Mesh networks may experience lower bandwidth than traditional networks, which could affect the quality and speed of data transfer.
  • Device Dependency
    The effectiveness of the mesh network relies on the number of devices with the application installed, making it less effective in areas with fewer users.
  • Battery Drain
    Continuous operation of mesh networking can lead to increased battery usage on devices, which could be problematic in situations where charging is not readily available.

Tox features and specs

  • Privacy-Focused
    Tox uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that all communications are private and secure from eavesdropping.
  • Decentralized
    By not relying on a central server, Tox avoids single points of failure and the risk of data breaches associated with centralized services.
  • Open Source
    Tox is fully open source, which allows anyone to audit the code for security vulnerabilities or to contribute improvements.
  • Cross-Platform
    Tox supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Multi-functional
    In addition to text messaging, Tox supports voice and video calls, as well as file sharing, making it a versatile communication tool.

Possible disadvantages of Tox

  • Resource Intensive
    Running a decentralized network can be more resource-intensive compared to using a lightweight centralized service.
  • Network Reliability
    Decentralized networks may face issues with reliability and speed, particularly if there are not enough nodes available.
  • User Interface
    The user interface of some Tox clients can be less polished compared to mainstream messaging apps, affecting user experience.
  • Learning Curve
    The decentralized nature and specialized features of Tox may require a learning curve for users unfamiliar with such systems.
  • Dependencies
    Setting up and maintaining a Tox node may require additional software dependencies and technical knowledge.

Analysis of Tox

Overall verdict

  • Tox is generally considered a good option for users who value privacy and security in their communications. It effectively protects user data, but it may lack some user-friendly features found in more mainstream messaging apps. Additionally, its decentralized nature could lead to slower performance compared to centralized services.

Why this product is good

  • Tox (tox.chat) is a peer-to-peer instant messaging platform that prioritizes privacy and security. It uses end-to-end encryption to protect user communications, ensuring messages, calls, and file transfers remain private. Since it's decentralized, there is no central server that can be compromised, providing resilience against server attacks and censorship. Its open-source nature allows for community scrutiny and contributions, improving reliability and trustworthiness.

Recommended for

    Privacy-conscious individuals, security experts, activists operating in sensitive environments, and users looking for an open-source, decentralized messaging solution.

The Serval Mesh videos

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Tox videos

CRYPT SKIP TOX MESSENGER REVIEW PART 1

More videos:

  • Review - ULTIMATE BODY TOX REVIEW
  • Review - CRYPT SKIP TOX MESSENGER REVIEW PART 3

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to The Serval Mesh and Tox)
Communication
7 7%
93% 93
Instant Messaging
16 16%
84% 84
Group Chat & Notifications
Messaging
7 7%
93% 93

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare The Serval Mesh and Tox

The Serval Mesh Reviews

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Tox Reviews

Top 10 Apps like Telegram for Android and IOs [2023]
Contrary to other Telegram alternatives, the Tox network is developed by its users rather than central servers that may be raided, shut down, or required to turn up data. Tox uses open-source libraries to encrypt anything you do with it. Your chat partners are the only ones who can see what you're saying.
5 best secure private messengers
Users are identified with a Tox ID, but one consequence of being a P2P platform is that Tox contacts can see other contacts IP addresses. The official documentation suggests a workaround for this being to route your Tox connections through Tor, although we can’t see why routing it through a VPN wouldn’t also work (with the proviso that a using a VPN does not provide the...
Source: proprivacy.com
Top 10 Team Chat Software for a Self-Hosted environment specifically designed for Large Enterprises
Another instant messaging application for large corporations and governments. TOX is a free, easy-to-use messaging tool that comes without advertising. It's a people made a tool, that is highly encrypted and distributed. The other features of Tox include; voice, video, screen sharing, file sharing and groups
The 7 Best Texting Apps
There are a variety of clients you can use, depending on your hardware. On iOS, there's an app called Antidote for Tox, which provides basic access to the service. On Android, an app called Antox does the same. For desktop platforms, you've got a choice of qTox and uTox. You can check out the official wiki to learn more about the different types of clients.
Source: zapier.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Tox should be more popular than The Serval Mesh. It has been mentiond 29 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

The Serval Mesh mentions (5)

  • Ask HN: FOSS Projects Worth Donating To?
    I would opt for the serval project [1]. Having a mobile based mesh network facility that is not controlled by neither corporations nor governments is of paramount importance imho. [1] https://servalproject.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • walkie talkie
    Check out mesh networks like Serval http://servalproject.org/ which may help with your backup comms. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What are your thoughts on Satellite Phones?
    This app was used to organise protesters in Kuala Lumpur. They anticipated the government would shut down the cell network…which they did. As I understand it (I cannot find the article about it) several thousand people used this application on their android phones to communicate during the protest without internet or cell service…it creates a phone-to-phone network. I don’t know if it is still downloadable. The... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Frugal tips on getting a new cell phone?
    Http://servalproject.org/ It's a way for devices to talk to one another without paying for a service. Look for Mesh networks in your area, they provide free service. You can also make yourself a mesh node or support to help spread it. Source: over 3 years ago
  • What do you look for in a internet service provider to save money ?
    You can also use Mesh services on your phone even if you don't have a sim card. http://servalproject.org/ When my kids were younger we had them all using Serval Mesh for a long time to stay in contact with one another and such but we were fortunate to live in an area with an abundance of free WiFi just about everywhere so it was used sparingly but came in handy in a pinch. Add that with Google... Source: almost 4 years ago

Tox mentions (29)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing The Serval Mesh and Tox, you can also consider the following products

Briar - Secure messaging, anywhere

Signal - Fast, simple & secure messaging. Privacy that fits in your pocket.

Bridgefy - Integrating Bridgefy allows mobile devices to communicate in a secure and efficient way across...

Telegram - Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free.

WorldChat - Meet new people around the World on WorldChat.tv, the Original World Chat since 2011.

Element.io - Secure messaging app with strong end-to-end encryption, advanced group chat privacy settings, secure video calls for teams, encrypted communication using Matrix open network. Riot.im is now Element.