Signal

Nonprofit, open-source messenger with end-to-end encryption on every chat and call.

Verified facts: 5 of 5
Alternatives ranked: 6
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Signal

Signal is the messenger privacy experts usually recommend first. Every message, voice note, file and call is end-to-end encrypted with the Signal Protocol, which WhatsApp and others also license, and Signal goes further by collecting almost no metadata: it can't see who your contacts are, what your groups are called or who is in them. It covers the everyday basics well, with group chats, voice and video calls, stories, stickers and disappearing messages, and usernames let you chat without sharing your phone number, though you still need one to register. It is run by the Signal Foundation, a US nonprofit funded by donations, so there are no ads, no tracking and no paid tier. The apps are open source. It runs on Android and iPhone, with desktop apps for Windows, Mac and Linux that link to your phone. Its main weakness is network size: you may need to persuade friends to install it.

Best for: Anyone who wants the strongest mainstream privacy without giving up a familiar chat app.

What works

Everything end-to-end encrypted by default, including groups
Collects almost no metadata
No ads, tracking or paid tier; open source

Why people leave

Needs a phone number to register
Desktop app only works linked to a phone
Smaller network than WhatsApp in most countries

Top Signal alternatives

See all 6

1
WhatsApp
The same encryption protocol on a far bigger network, if reaching people matters more than metadata.
66.5
2
Molly
A hardened Signal fork for Android with database encryption, Tor support and no Google services.
62.6
3
Threema
Similar privacy without needing a phone number, from a Swiss company that charges once.
59.6
4
Session
No phone number and onion-routed delivery, for people who want Signal-level privacy without an account.
57.2
5
SimpleX Chat
Removes user identifiers entirely, going a step beyond Signal on metadata protection.
55.3

Why people left Signal

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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Signal: common questions

Is Signal free?

Yes, Signal is free to use.

Is Signal open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at signalapp/Signal-Android.

What platforms does Signal run on?

Signal is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.

What are the best alternatives to Signal?

The highest-ranked Signal alternatives right now are WhatsApp, Molly and Threema. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 Signal alternatives

Signal facts

5 of 5 verified

License: AGPL-3.0; Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: AGPL-3.0 (GNU Affero General Public License v3.0).”
Organisation: Independent nonprofit; Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab); “Free for Everyone Signal is an independent nonprofit.”
Ads and tracking: None; Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab); “There are no ads, no affiliate marketers, and no creepy tracking in Signal.”
End-to-end encryption: Always on; Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab); “Privacy isn’t an optional mode — it’s just the way that Signal works.”
Desktop app: Requires Signal on your phone; Checked Oct 25, 2026signal.org(opens source in a new tab); “To use the Signal desktop app, Signal must first be installed on your phone.”