Alternative tools can be Telegram / Signal / WhatsApp which provide for desktop software:
Pro:
–easy searchable data, self-destructing messages, or infinite message history;
–viewable on any device which allows running any of these apps
Con:
–3rd party + cloud dependency
Local:
An other option is using Simple Log app.
Logs are visible in the App configure page, but much more convenient, they can be made visible as HTML page, all local!
