Signal is the better app overall, scoring 9.2 to 9.0. Signal wins on 2 of the 5 scores, WhatsApp on 3.
Anyone who wants private chats and calls without trading data for convenience
Anyone who wants one free app to reach family, friends and local businesses
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Signal | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Messaging & Calls | Messaging & Calls |
| Category rank | #1 of 8 | #2 of 8 |
| Developer | Signal Foundation | Meta |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linux | ✓ | — |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Strengths and weaknesses
Signal
- Strongest privacy of any mainstream messenger
- Free, with no ads, and run by a nonprofit
- Clean, fast apps on phone and desktop
- Fewer of your contacts are likely to use it
- No channels, bots or large community features
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 no data. Usernames let you chat without sharing your phone number. The catch is reach: fewer of your friends may use it, and it lacks extras like channels and bots. Use it for anything sensitive.
Full Signal review
WhatsApp
- Almost everyone you know is already on it
- Messages and calls are encrypted by default
- Reliable on weak connections and older phones
- Meta collects metadata like who you talk to and when
- Ads and promoted channels now appear in the Updates tab
WhatsApp is the messenger most of your contacts already use, and that alone makes it hard to beat. Chats and calls are end-to-end encrypted, the apps are fast and reliable, and communities, channels and business chats cover nearly everything. The catch is Meta: it collects metadata, and the Updates tab now shows ads. Use it for everyday chats and keep Signal for anything sensitive.
Full WhatsApp review
