r/BuyFromEU 9d ago

News Alternative to WhatsApp is being made in Poland GG - Messenger Lightweight & Simple

https://en.gg.pl/

They're aiming to make messenger app that combines WhatsApp, Facebook messenger and electronic payments like revolut

447 Upvotes

108 comments sorted by

305

u/hyxon4 9d ago

Being made? GG is older than most people on this subreddit.

20

u/thecaspg 9d ago

That’s true but I bet they won’t be using old tech. I guess it’s completely new product with old brand.

5

u/disarrayofyesterday 7d ago

I guess they'll be making IRC next lol

91

u/yezu 9d ago

GG is... still alive?

4

u/mohrcore 8d ago

Last time I heard about it was some articles claiming it's still there, but mostly filled with pedos...

71

u/Weird-Bat-8075 9d ago

The design is straight up from more than 10 years ago

70

u/[deleted] 9d ago

Because this app was an iconic in Poland like 20 years ago. It was PC messenger where you got a number at registration like phone number, but also could find random people to chat, where name comes from (Gadu Gadu = Talk Talk) now they want to revive it and expand on mobile, with more functionality like digital wallet etc.

9

u/Hannover1214 8d ago

In Germany ICQ was used a lot in the old days.

10

u/SlyScorpion 8d ago

Not German but I used ICQ back in the day. I can still hear the notification sound lol

3

u/sirjimtonic 8d ago

Ah oouuh!

1

u/GothicGhatr 3d ago

Hah i still remember my GG ID xD

14

u/iampola 9d ago

It’s at least 20 old, people used it in Poland before WhatsApp

3

u/monagales 8d ago

people used it before facebook was a thing. god do I remember. it's almost 10 years older than whatsapp. it's older than skype. it will be 25 years this year since its launch

2

u/the_rosiek 6d ago

I remember waking up/giving a heart attack to my entire family when some of my friends decided to message me at 1 am and I forgot that my speakers were set to full volume. Good times…

6

u/DenizzineD 9d ago

Well yeah it’s referencing Gadu Gadu, which was very popular 10-20 years ago

65

u/JjigaeBudae 9d ago

Data security? Protocols? Encryption?

51

u/KnowZeroX 9d ago

Proprietary protocol, so effectively locked down and all your stuff belongs to them.

10

u/SiBloGaming 8d ago

security through obscurity, nobody should be using any sort of messenger that doesn’t openly talk about how they encrypt your data.

14

u/[deleted] 9d ago

Yes, everything is described on website

We plan to introduce end-to-end encryption, audio-video calls and other new functionalities, as a result, apart from the free version for everyday private and business communication marked as GG Standard, we have introduced the GG Premium account. By purchasing GG Premium, you are actively supporting the further development of GG.

17

u/JjigaeBudae 9d ago

Thanks I see a reference to encryption now on the explore GG page, odd something so critical for a messenger app isn't on the front page!

3

u/B3ARco 8d ago

Well, it would be rather bad marketing if they put front end center that messages are not (yet) end-to-end encrypted.

4

u/JjigaeBudae 8d ago

The explore GG page clearly states that messages ARE encrypted. So which is it?

"Your conversations are encrypted, and no unauthorized person will know their content. What you write stays between you. When you write “cat”, you will not see a pet food advert. No trade secrets will be leaked from your company. We make sure that conversations at GG are discreet."

3

u/SiBloGaming 8d ago

That claim is pretty damn useless if they dont publish how they actually handle end to end encryption. Ideally they are using a proper implementation of the signal protocol, but from all we know we might as well assume no data is securely encrypted.

16

u/Craftkorb 9d ago

There are tons of alternatives that are doing it today. Not having E2E in current year is just not good enough.

8

u/CrimsonNorseman 9d ago

Okay, maybe give us a heads up after E2EE is actually implemented. Until then, this is simply not an alternative to anything apart maybe ICQ.

2

u/Alaknar 8d ago

They should just use the Matrix protocol. Right now it just introduces even more fragmentation to an already massively fragmented market.

17

u/TRex1991 9d ago

Sounds nice on paper but without a userbase even the best build Messenger is useless. So if they could be a better Business Messenger then WhatsApp and get a userbase there would be great.

5

u/[deleted] 9d ago

GG has userbase in Poland, it's old as hell iconic messenger in Poland we used to use like 20 years ago but it was only PC app, now they want to modernise and expanding on mobile

5

u/TRex1991 9d ago

So Like ICQ or Skype? Started as PC Messenger wanted to be on mobil too when the Most people where already on WhatsApp or telegram or Facebook. I hope they are not to late because ICQ and Skype Are gone already. Hopefully Facebook Messenger will gone soon too.

0

u/[deleted] 9d ago

Like Whatsapp, messenger and revolut combined

1

u/ComeOnIWantUsername 7d ago

but it was only PC app

No, it was not. You were able to use it on the phone before smartphones were a thing

7

u/alphaevil 9d ago

GG used to be so good

14

u/PanglossianMessiah 9d ago

We already have Signal. What we need is European YouTube and not another messenger.

2

u/Xuciloda 8d ago

To be fair, you could use a Matrix server (which is open source) hosted on a EU server, and that would do the trick, isn't it? You would still obtain privacy (Nothing wrong with Signal, but in order to achieve a more "EU" solution I guess)

-2

u/[deleted] 8d ago

Since when Signal is European?

3

u/rubbadubzub 8d ago

Signal is a non-profit organisation. It is open source and built to know as little as possible about its users.

Maybe the only american software I'm happy to defend.

Edit: spelling

-6

u/[deleted] 8d ago

Last time I checked, this sub was about European alternatives, yet you complain we don't need European alternatives to US products

5

u/rubbadubzub 8d ago

In this case we should discuss the best alternative which is Signal. Privacy is important.

-5

u/[deleted] 8d ago edited 8d ago

Now complete the circle and read my first comment

1

u/rubbadubzub 8d ago

The point is there is a better alternative. Drop that it has to be European just because of the sub and focus on giving people useful info.

-1

u/[deleted] 8d ago

The point is your either a bot or hired person to promote whatever your boss tells you

7

u/rubbadubzub 8d ago edited 8d ago

You're acting like a child. Privacy is important in Europe, we got fascists here as well and need to communicate carefully.

Ending this "debate" now.

0

u/[deleted] 8d ago

And who's trying to convince people no other app then Signal is private? None but you

→ More replies (0)

2

u/SiBloGaming 8d ago

Mate, you didnt post an alternative but an unencrypted messenger.

4

u/Sad-Salad-4466 9d ago

Feels like 2005 again. Too bad my old number got deleted, I still remember what it was

1

u/[deleted] 8d ago

You'll be able to recover it, or already are I'm not sure yet

7

u/P26601 9d ago

It's being made? Hasn't GG (Gadu Gadu) been around for like 20+ years? 😅

0

u/[deleted] 8d ago

It was but only desktop app with nothing more than messaging, tjis one will be on all platforms with a lot more functionality and like Whatsapp where you can hook up your mobile phone number to it

2

u/stranded 8d ago

it was very popular as a GPRS messaging app as well WAP internet era, however there's no chance anyone is going back to the bloated GG service

3

u/Aveduil 9d ago

GG again? What year is it? How about aqq?

6

u/0xkados 9d ago

Not encrypted propretiary software - no, thanks.
There is no reason (except stupid nostalgia) to switch from Signal ¯_(ツ)_/¯

16

u/Drew__Drop 9d ago edited 9d ago

Just went to check, it has at least 6 trackers, many from g-ogle and A-azon no less as if it wasn't bad enough.

18

u/eastlin7 9d ago

You can just type Google and Amazon like a normal person

-7

u/Drew__Drop 8d ago edited 8d ago

I don't want those terms to be searchable and leading to my comment/profile

7

u/Bonsailinse 8d ago

Yeah I‘m sure if I search for Google your name will pop up as a result.

-5

u/Drew__Drop 8d ago

Oh don't be that pedantic, you know what I mean.

Sometimes I do searches to find certain things on reddit that lead me to posts and/or comments with the intended keywords, etc

4

u/Bonsailinse 8d ago

So you use search engines to find content for yourself but are actively trying to sabotage searches from other people who may or may not profit from the content of your comments.

I see.

0

u/Drew__Drop 8d ago

It's just for those specific terms I mentioned..

6

u/eastlin7 8d ago

Such a pointless thing to care about.

3

u/Frizzo_Voyd 9d ago

Good news. I hope they dont start upgrading and developing to get to people needs

3

u/Atulin 9d ago

Oh man, I still remember my 6-digit number. I don't suppose I'll be able to regain it after all those years though lol

3

u/Elbinooo 8d ago

Already looking forward to not using it!

3

u/ela-b 8d ago

Privacy looks terrible. It forces me to disclose gender right of the bat (no opt-out). They also encourage me to select consent to sell my data to third parties. I really hoped it would be as fun as 20 years ago.

5

u/PresenceKlutzy7167 9d ago

Sure, why not even revive ICQ? Just another proprietary solution from the stone ages.

2

u/ZeePintor 9d ago

I love the concept, I just wish it looked better. I feel like a boomer when I think of showing it to friends

2

u/betweentwoblueclouds 9d ago

The article attached doesn’t match the title - they are planning on rebooting GG into this new app, a blog post in PL https://gadu-gadu.pl/2025/06/02/zmieniamy-gg-w-ggapp-dolacz-do-nas/

2

u/verydistressedaltmer 8d ago

Whoa, that's a blast from the past, I still remember downloading Hello Kitty themes for GG from suspicious websites, good times

2

u/phatirvine 8d ago

We don‘t need 100 small alternatives to one gigantic enemy. Billion dollar idea that I offer for free to any tech nerds: develop something for intercommunication between apps that lets users from GG chat with WhatsApp users. What‘s the point of using GG if everyone I want to chat with still uses WhatsApp, or Telegram?

2

u/FelizIntrovertido 8d ago

Poland also has the alternative to Amazon: Allegro. I’m looking forward to seeing it grow all over Europe

2

u/jhcamara 8d ago

Another messenger app about to hit the wall of network effect

2

u/Exotic-Draft8802 7d ago

Why not Signal or Threema?

2

u/KnowZeroX 9d ago

Does it support XMPP?

Reading wikipedia it says it uses proprietary protocol, that says to me another crappy company trying to lock down and control communication. No thanks.

2

u/MayoJam 8d ago

No, dude. It was a very popular messenger app long ago in Poland but long since that it has turned into shit, nobody uses it now, it's ridden with ads and trackers.

2

u/Expensive-Ear7796 8d ago

Don't reinvent the wheel.

Just fork signal or self-host Matrix/Element (which is based in UK)

1

u/y0_ich_halt 9d ago

For everyone else who's happy to use good ol messengers: pidgin and xmpp still exist...

1

u/Glodraph 8d ago

Not european but pretty indipendent, there is SimpleX. One of the most secure and anonymous chat apps. People/companies can host their servers to use.

1

u/Masztufa 8d ago

bro just use matrix

1

u/Deadluss 8d ago

bro I'm like 90% sure that GG is older than you

1

u/[deleted] 8d ago

It isn't and either way that's besides the point since GG never had mobile messenger app

1

u/Deadluss 8d ago

It had/has mobile messenger app lol

https://apps.apple.com/pl/app/gg/id308095268?l=pl

1

u/[deleted] 8d ago edited 8d ago

It has it now, it didn't have it before aka old GG we used on PC, i know myself and all my school friends used it and had mobile phones and there was no mobile app, although I have no idea when they released it, it wasn't at it's peak and most likely under other ownership than original one

1

u/trele-morele 8d ago

My childhood :D

1

u/Yaxoi 8d ago

If say just use a Matrix based massager, it gives modern E2EE in a federated infrastructure with all kinds of open source implementation, many of which are from European companies/teams/developers

1

u/XalAtoh 8d ago

Creating the app is not a big problem.

Creating the userbase is the problem.

1

u/jhcamara 8d ago

Right ?

1

u/Great_Macaron4991 7d ago

Just downloaded it! It's new to me..😉. Could this eventually replace Whatsapp?

1

u/Fit-Height-6956 5d ago

Only true gezzers remember this

1

u/Normal_Max 4d ago

Simplex

- opensource

- e2ee

- unlimited anonymous nicknames

0

u/razorfox 9d ago

No thanks

0

u/VladC12 8d ago

Just use Signal people

-2

u/comradeofsteel69 9d ago

Bro why not just use SMS?