Signal vs Marco Polo
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Signal is the better app overall, scoring 9.2 to 8.5. Signal wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Marco Polo on 0.
Anyone who wants private chats and calls without trading data for convenience
Families and long-distance friends who want face-to-face moments without calls
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Signal | Marco Polo |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Messaging & Calls | Messaging & Calls |
| Category rank | #1 of 10 | #6 of 10 |
| Developer | Signal Foundation | Joya Communications |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
| Linux | ✓ | — |
Common questions
Is Signal better than Marco Polo?
Signal is the better app overall, scoring 9.2 to 8.5. Signal wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Marco Polo on 0.
Which is cheaper, Signal or Marco Polo?
Signal: Free with no ads; optional Secure Backups plan for full media history is $1.99/month. Marco Polo: Free; Marco Polo Plus is $79.99 a year, or $159.99 for a six-person family plan. On value for money, Signal scores higher.
Do Signal and Marco Polo work on the same devices?
Only Signal runs on Mac, Windows, Linux.
Which is more private, Signal or Marco Polo?
Signal scores higher on privacy (9.9/10). The App Store label lists only your phone number, which is not linked to your identity. No ads or tracking. Messages, calls and backups are end-to-end encrypted, with post-quantum protection.
Strengths and weaknesses
Signal
- Strongest privacy of any mainstream messenger
- Free, with no ads, and run by a nonprofit
- Clean, fast apps on phone, tablet and desktop
- Fewer of your contacts are likely to use it
- No channels, bots or large community features
- Backing up media older than 45 days costs extra
Signal is the messenger to pick when privacy matters. Every message, call and group chat is end-to-end encrypted by default, and the nonprofit behind it collects almost nothing. The past year filled real gaps with encrypted backups, polls, pinned messages and easier device linking. The catch is still reach, since fewer of your friends use it, and there are no channels or bots. Use it for anything sensitive.
Full Signal review
Marco Polo
- Feels more personal than texting
- Free, ad-free and unlimited chats
- Works across time zones and busy schedules
- Unlimited storage and HD need Plus
- Video replies take longer than a text
Marco Polo is a video walkie-talkie for the people you love. Record a quick video and they watch live if they're free or reply later if they're not, so grandparents, far-flung friends and busy families stay close without scheduling calls. There are no likes, feeds or ads. The free app covers unlimited chats, while Plus adds HD, playback speed controls and unlimited storage. In September 2026 it launched Circles, which matches women into small friendship groups.
Full Marco Polo review
