Signal vs WhatsApp: Which Messaging App Is Better for You

Signal vs WhatsApp

Signal , once a niche message service for the privacy - disposed , is currently themost downloaded appin the United States , unseating perennially popular social media and gaming apps . In many way , it ’s like to WhatsApp with secrecy and security department at warmness . If you are planning to switch from WhatsApp to Signal and not sure about the new experience then you have come to the correct place .

In this postal service , we will liken Signal to WhatsApp and see which IM app makes dependable sensation for you . Let ’s get initiate .

User Interface and Theming Engine

Both WhatsApp and Signal follow a clean User Interface to navigate users . On WhatsApp , you will note a nicely laid out bottom bar boast Chat , Calls , Stories , and preferences tab . The implementation draw it comfortable for users to navigate through them without stretching hand .

Signal has all the options at the top . You will have to reach the top every time to open preferences or draw up a new chat . My major gripe with Signal is the lack of a dedicated Calls tabloid . There is no mode to peek at the Voice / Video call history in the app .

As for the theming alternative , both WhatsApp and Signal living iOS / Android saturnine stem . WhatsApp expire a step ahead and let you to alter the chat background as well . Signal only tolerate chat theme while keep the nonpayment background the same oil production in unvarnished white-hot / calamitous .

Privacy and Security

The basic chat experience with textual matter , emoji , GIF , stickers , and media files remains more or less the same between Signal and WhatsApp . The major difference smasher when it come to handling user data . Let ’s start up with WhatsApp ’s take on drug user privacy .

WhatsApp offers end - to - end encryption to protect textual matter , voice calls , and picture cry among drug user . It ’s base on the open - germ Signal protocol . The company close hold its computer code , and while there has been no evidence that WhatsApp ’s encoding has been crack , the truth is , its applied science can not be examined so easy .

Signal uses Open Whisper System to E2E encrypt all conversation by default . It ’s an open - source encoding algorithmic program . The encoding key are stash away on users ’ phones and computing gadget and not on any waiter , thus eliminating any potential endeavor of spoofing .

Signal home

Signal allows you to verify each other ’s profile by verifying Safety Numbers or scan QR codes that contain a singular set of numbers and mark the visibility as verify .

As for voice calls , Signal offer an pick to ‘ Always relay calls ’ so that all yell go through the Signal waiter to keep off revealing your IP address to your contact .

As you’re able to see , Signal well wins this round . We can see why Signal gets an easy good word from the ilk of Edward Snowden , Jack Dorsey , and Elon Musk .

Also Read : Best Windows 10 Privacy Tools

Features List

Both WhatsApp andSignal are take with featuresto enhance the experience for all character of users .

Chat Backup

WhatsApp use third - party cloud services such as Google Drive or iCloud to backup / restore confabulation data . Do keep in mind that these backup are n’t protected by ending - to - end encoding . you could also generate an offline backup file cabinet to put in on the gimmick . However , there is no direct way to transpose visit story from Android to iPhone or vice versa .

Signal on iOS uses QR code to transfer user data from one gadget to another . On Android , you’re able to manually move the backup data file from your one-time twist to the new one and restore the data . If you have fall behind your quondam earpiece then there is no direction to restore Signal datum on the unexampled machine .

Popularity

We ca n’t end the compare without mentioning WhatsApp ’s mystery and most deadly weapon – popularity . The service is used by over two billion users around the world . There is a honorable chance that the majority on your contact list is already using WhatsApp . It becomes very convenient for an ordinary user to start using the service with friends and family . After all , what ’s the use of all the privacy and surety features if only a small portion of your contacts are using it in the first place .

Signal is relatively unexampled in the IM space . We do n’t have the official user base form but it ’s very svelte compared to WhatsApp . You will have to put in some effort and convince your close circle to give Signal a endeavour .

Pricing and Platform

Both WhatsApp and Signal are absolutely free with no ads or endorsements and are available on all major computing machine and mobile operating systems . But Signal is a non - profit organization running on donations and WhatsApp is possess by Facebook which sell data to advertisers to generate revenue .

Closing Words: Signal vs WhatsApp

It all churn down to personal predilection . If you are fine with WhatsApp ’s policy changes and do n’t desire to go through the worry of convert your striking to join the Signal chopine then stupefy with Facebook ’s political platform . Signal has far superior surety MBD - ons but you might have to wait or even convince your friend and family fellow member to conjoin Signal messenger .

On the other bridge player , secrecy is degenerate becoming a luxury and we need open root apps like Signal more than ever .

Signal vs WhatsApp: Which Messaging App Is Better for You