Check out https://pyre.chat (pre-alpha) and signal-weechat for a non-electron based desktop client that won't nom all your ram.

https://github.com/thefinn93/signal-weechat

Signal makes for a decent SMS replacement, IMO they have put little effort into being a group chat competitor. Some bots like https://git.callpipe.com/yosl/repost4privacy can make groups more user friendly, but group management is still poor.

Edit: added last paragraph about groups.