Signal
An open-source messaging app emphasizing privacy with encrypted communication. Share texts, calls, photos, and videos without ads or trackers, available across major platforms. Developed by Signal Technology Foundation and praised globally for security measures.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source (GPL-3.0)
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- iPad
- Snapcraft
- Flathub
- Ubuntu
- Debian
- Android Auto
Features
Properties
- Privacy focused
- Security-focused
- Lightweight
Features
- End-to-End Encryption
- Encrypted Chat
- Ad-free
- Video Calling
- Self Destructing Messages
- Private messaging
- No Tracking
- Encrypted Connection
- Mobile friendly
- Secure Chat
- Dark Mode
- Desktop Application
- Stickers
- Based on phone number
- GPLv3
- Client side encryption
- Protected by Password
- Encrypted VoIP calls
- Cross-Platform
- VoiP Calls
- Encrypted calls
- Forward Secrecy
- Voice messages
- Usernames
- Share Videos
- Multiple languages
- Expiring Stories
- Support for @mentions
- Support for MarkDown
- Picture in Picture
- Works Offline
- Non profit
- International Numbers
- Over the shoulder view
- Built-in Photo editor
- Voice Chat
- Centralized model repository
- File Sending
- Voting
- Source code history
- Quantum-Safe Encryption
- Animated stickers
- Electron based
- Team Messaging
- Text messaging
- Support ZRTP
- Private Chat
- Integrated File Sharing
- Color coding
Tags
- Security & Privacy
- Video Chat
- Signal Protocol
- Data-encryption
- Encryption
- Encrypted
- messenger-app
- send-links-to-phone
- secure-messaging
- contacts-integration
- Privacy Protection
- text-encryption
- send-links
- Smartphone Messaging
- strong-encryption
- typing-indicator
- File Sharing
- always-running
- Chat
- Messaging
- encrypt-voice
- poll
- create-video-stories
- video-chat-encrypted
- schedule-message
Signal News & Activities
Recent News
- POX published news article about Signal
Signal introduces group member labels, allowing you to specify your role or responsibilitySignal has introduced group member labels in its latest updates, now available on Android, desktop,...
- POX published news article about Signal
Signal now lets users pin messages in one-on-one and group chats, with time limitsSignal has added message pinning to its end-to-end encrypted messaging platform, allowing users to ...
- POX published news article about Signal
Signal launches secure backups with encrypted message & media history on iOSSignal's encrypted message backup feature, previously launched for Android, is now available to iOS...
Recent activities
- c17s5qhu updated Signal
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What is Signal?
Signal is a communication platform that ensures privacy and security. It supports various communication modes like video calls (up to 8 participants), messages, images, videos, documents, voice recordings, GIFs, contact and location sharing, and group chats. Signal's servers do not access or store user data. The platform's features include text and voice messaging, photo, video, GIF, and file sharing, all free of charge. It uses your phone's data connection, eliminating SMS or MMS, and offers high-quality voice and video calls. Users can also enhance conversations with encrypted stickers and custom sticker packs. Signal is ad-free, with no affiliate marketers or tracking. Push notifications inform users of new messages, even in case of battery drain or service loss. Signal's source code is available on GitHub, showcasing its transparency. The technology, developed by Open Whisper Systems, is used by millions globally.
Signal Videos
Signal information
Developed by
Signal Technology Foundation Licensing
Open Source (GPL-3.0) and Free product.Rating
Average rating of 4.5Alternatives
234 alternatives listedNews
25 news article related to SignalSupported Languages
- English
- Afrikaans
- Albanian
- Arabic
- Azerbaijani
- Basque
- Bengali
- Bosnian
- Bulgarian
- Burmese
- Khmer
- Catalan; Valencian
- Croatian
- Czech
- Danish
- Dutch
- Estonian
- Finnish
- French
- Galician
- German
- Greek
- Gujarati
- Hausa
- Hebrew
- Hindi
- Hungarian
- Icelandic
- Indonesian
- Irish
- Italian
- Japanese
- Javanese
- Kannada
- Kazakh
- Korean
- Latvian
- Lithuanian
- Macedonian
- Malay
- Malayalam
- Marathi
- Norwegian Bokmål
- Pashto, Pushto
- Persian
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Panjabi, Punjabi
- Romanian
- Russian
- Serbian
- Shona
- Slovak
- Slovene
- Spanish
- Swahili
- Swedish
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Thai
- Chinese
- Turkish
- Turkmen
- Uighur, Uyghur
- Ukrainian
- Urdu
- Vietnamese
- Welsh
AlternativeTo Categories
Social & Communications, Security & Privacy, File Sharing, Video & MoviesApple AppStore
- Updated
- 4.75 avg rating
Comments and Reviews
I love Signal because of the automatic end-to-end encryption. Even though Whatsapp now has that, too, I still prefer Signal because it's more transparent about key handling. I would love them to add an opportunity to use it without a phone number. This is the only thing I don't like because you can't stay anonymous when using Signal.
I have never heard about it! But i'm gonna try it
Regardless of who endorses him, Moxie is hostile to anyone that threatens his control over the project. He also has a very high opinion of the Google Play store despite that coming with Google's ToS and Google Play Services. He does everything he can to shutdown alternative modes of distribution. I would read this before installing and contributing to Signal's userbase, especially if open source and/or F-Droid are things you care about.
I am not an expert but i appreciate the thought that you put into your criticism. Most importantly i appreciate the alternatives that you listed. I'm checking into Tox right now.
Technically, F-droid is less secure than Google Play. The most secure way to download would be from the source at Github.
If someone is worried about Google Play, just load GrapheneOS or CalyxOS on their Android.
F-Droid is not a binary distribution, like Google Play. It builts releases from sources - from GitHub, GitLab etc etc. So it is much safer than Google Play.
Cannot recommend Signal more - wish more people would switch over from Whatsapp!
Signal delivers exactly what it promises: secure, private communication without compromise. For individuals or businesses that care about data protection and confidentiality, it’s arguably the gold standard in messaging apps.
Positives:
Negatives:
It's hard not to like this app. Signal provides all the essentials for an instant-messaging app that replaces SMS with E2EE by default.
The biggest downside would be the requirement of a phone number for registration. Hence the four star review.
Some users express a desire for a completely anonymous platform without a phone number requirement. While Signal already surpasses WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, and other major messaging apps in terms of security and privacy, I believe individuals seeking absolute anonymity might consider alternative options. Personally, I appreciate Signal’s requirement for a phone number, as it effectively reduces potential abuse and spam while providing the vast majority of users with the best secure communication platform for private conversations with friends and family.
Notably, Signal’s non-profit foundation prioritizes user needs over profit, unlike Meta’s WhatsApp, Apple iMessages, or Telegram (or any other app from a business or corporation), which prioritize business interests over user interests.