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App comparison

Compare Signal with WhatsApp, Telegram, Meta Messenger, Apple Messages, Google Messages, KakaoTalk, and Line!

Many messaging apps use end-to-end encryption and claim to care about your privacy. However, when we compare these apps, there turn out to be significant differences in what is actually end-to-end encrypted and how your privacy is handled. In Signal, everything you exchange is end-to-end encrypted, with a complete focus on your privacy. In most other apps, this is usually not the case.

In the tables below, you can compare Signal to WhatsApp, Telegram, Meta Messenger, Apple Messages, Google Messages, KakaoTalk, and Line. That way, you can decide for yourself which one is better — for you, and for your friends and family!

What is end-to-end encrypted?

Signal
WhatsApp
Telegram
Apple
Messages
Meta
Messenger
Google
Messages
Line
KakaoTalk
Some conversations, sometimes
Every conversation, always
Quantum resistance
One-on-one conversations
Not by default
Sometimes
Only text and location
Not by default
Group conversations
Sometimes
Only in small groups (<50)
Not by default
One-on-one voice calls
Sometimes
N/A
One-on-one video calls
Sometimes
N/A
Group voice calls
Sometimes
N/A
Group video calls
Sometimes
N/A
Group names
Group descriptions
N/A
N/A
Group avatars and icons
Group permissions
N/A
N/A
Group membership
Profile pictures
Profile names
Voice notes
Not by default
Sometimes
Not by default
File attachments
Not by default
Sometimes
Not by default
Media (Photos, Videos, etc.)
Not by default
Sometimes
Not by default
Stories
N/A
N/A
Sticker Packs
Reactions
Sometimes
Not by default
Multi-device synchronization
Not by default
Sometimes
Not by default
Device migration and backups
Not by default
Not by default
Experimental
Broadcast lists
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Channels
N/A
N/A
N/A
End-to-end
encrypted?
Signal
WhatsApp
Telegram
Apple
Messages
Meta
Messenger
Google
Messages
Line
KakaoTalk
Some conversations, sometimes
End-to-end
encrypted?
Every conversation, always
End-to-end
encrypted?
Quantum resistance
End-to-end
encrypted?
One-on-one conversations
End-to-end
encrypted?
Not by default
Sometimes
Only text and location
Not by default
Group conversations
End-to-end
encrypted?
Sometimes
Only in small groups (<50)
Not by default
One-on-one voice calls
End-to-end
encrypted?
Sometimes
N/A
One-on-one video calls
End-to-end
encrypted?
Sometimes
N/A
Group voice calls
End-to-end
encrypted?
Sometimes
N/A
Group video calls
End-to-end
encrypted?
Sometimes
N/A
Group names
End-to-end
encrypted?
Group descriptions
End-to-end
encrypted?
N/A
N/A
Group avatars and icons
End-to-end
encrypted?
Group permissions
End-to-end
encrypted?
N/A
N/A
Group membership
End-to-end
encrypted?
Profile pictures
End-to-end
encrypted?
Profile names
End-to-end
encrypted?
Voice notes
End-to-end
encrypted?
Not by default
Sometimes
Not by default
File attachments
End-to-end
encrypted?
Not by default
Sometimes
Not by default
Media (Photos, Videos, etc.)
End-to-end
encrypted?
Not by default
Sometimes
Not by default
Stories
End-to-end
encrypted?
N/A
N/A
Sticker Packs
End-to-end
encrypted?
Reactions
End-to-end
encrypted?
Sometimes
Not by default
Multi-device synchronization
End-to-end
encrypted?
Not by default
Sometimes
Not by default
Device migration and backups
End-to-end
encrypted?
Not by default
Not by default
Experimental
Broadcast lists
End-to-end
encrypted?
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Channels
N/A
N/A
N/A
Download Signal

Privacy

Signal
WhatsApp
Telegram
Apple
Messages
Meta
Messenger
Google
Messages
Line
KakaoTalk
Contact privacy
Metadata privacy
Username privacy
N/A
N/A
N/A
Privacy-preserving animated GIF search
Disappearing messages
Private link previews
Image privacy
View-once media
Code open for validation
No in-app analytics
No in-app advertising
No trackers on the application website
Mission-focused, not profit-focused
501c3 Nonprofit
Signal
WhatsApp
Telegram
Apple
Messages
Meta
Messenger
Google
Messages
Line
KakaoTalk
Contact privacy
Metadata privacy
Username privacy
N/A
N/A
N/A
Privacy-preserving animated GIF search
Disappearing messages
Private link previews
Image privacy
View-once media
Code open for validation
No in-app analytics
No in-app advertising
No trackers on the application website
Mission-focused, not profit-focused
501c3 Nonprofit
Download Signal
Last updated: May 14, 2025.

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