Signal is widely regarded as the gold standard when it comes to messaging privacy. Backed by a nonprofit foundation and funded through grants and donations, Signal doesn’t rely on user data for profit. It collects minimal information—just your phone number—and offers strong on-device privacy controls, like disappearing messages and call relays to mask IP addresses. Being open-source, Signal allows independent audits of its code, ensuring transparency. Even when subpoenaed, the app could only provide limited data like account creation date and last connection, making it a favorite among journalists, whistleblowers, and privacy advocates.
Telegram offers a broader range of features but falls short on privacy. While it supports end-to-end encryption, this is limited only to its “secret chats,” and not enabled by default in regular messages or public channels. Telegram also stores metadata, such as IP addresses and contact info, and recently updated its privacy policy to allow data sharing with authorities under legal requests. Despite this, it remains popular for public content sharing and large group chats, thanks to its forum-like structure and optional paid features.
WhatsApp, with over 2 billion users, is the most widely used encrypted messaging app. It employs the same encryption protocol as Signal, ensuring end-to-end protection for chats and calls. However, as a Meta-owned platform, it collects significant user data—including device information, usage logs, and location data. Even people not using WhatsApp can have their data collected via synced contacts. While messages remain encrypted, the amount of metadata stored makes it less privacy-friendly compared to Signal.
All three apps offer some level of encrypted messaging, but Signal stands out for its minimal data collection, open-source transparency, and commitment to privacy. Telegram provides a flexible chat experience with weaker privacy controls, while WhatsApp delivers strong encryption within a data-heavy ecosystem. Choosing the best encrypted messaging app depends on what you prioritize more: security, features, or convenience.
