Signal is a secure messaging app that prioritizes privacy with strong encryption and minimal data collection. While technically US-based, Signal’s design ensures that even this jurisdiction has minimal privacy implications.

Why Choose Signal

Signal is widely regarded as one of the most secure messaging platforms available. All messages, calls, and media are end-to-end encrypted by default, meaning only the communicating users can read them. The app is designed to collect as little metadata as possible.

Signal is developed by the Signal Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to open source privacy technology. Its protocol is so respected that it’s been adopted by many other messaging services.

Data Residency and Privacy

While Signal’s parent organization is based in the US, its architecture ensures that almost no meaningful data is stored on its servers:

• Messages and calls are never stored on Signal’s servers
• The only data stored is your phone number, when you registered, and when you last connected
• Signal implements innovative techniques to encrypt even the metadata of your communications
• No data is sold to advertisers or third parties

Security Features

• State-of-the-art end-to-end encryption (Signal Protocol)
• Disappearing messages with customizable timeframes
• Screen security features to prevent screenshots
• Safety numbers to verify contact identity
• Local data encryption
• Call relay options to hide IP addresses

Limitations

• Requires a phone number to register
• Smaller user base than WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger
• More privacy-oriented than feature-rich compared to some mainstream alternatives