Signal Private Messenger vs WhatsApp Messenger

Published 15 January 2026 · Updated 22 August 2026

Signal and WhatsApp both use the Signal Protocol for end-to-end encryption, so the messages themselves get similar protection. The differences are in who runs the service, what data is collected around your messages, and how many of your contacts use each app.

Key differences

Topic	Signal Private Messenger	WhatsApp Messenger
Who runs it	Signal Messenger LLC, backed by a nonprofit foundation	WhatsApp LLC, owned by Meta Platforms
Encryption default	All chats, groups and calls	Personal chats, groups and calls
Source code	Public	Not public
Business model	Donations	Part of Meta; business messaging and ads in some features
Usernames instead of phone number	Yes, after sign-up	Phone number shown to contacts
Backups	Stored by you, encrypted	Google Drive, optional encryption

App details side by side

	Signal Private Messenger	WhatsApp Messenger
Developer	Signal Messenger LLC	Meta Platforms, Inc.
Price	Free	Free
License	Free, open source (AGPL-3.0)	Free
Ads	No ads	Not confirmed
Offline use	Needs a data connection to send messages	Needs a data connection to send messages
User rating here	4.6 (2.9M)	4.3 (185.4M)
Current version	7.15.2	2.24.19.82
File size	42.4 MB	46.2 MB
Requires Android	5.0+	5.0+
Permissions recorded	Yes	Yes
Official source	Website	Website
APK availability	Hosted here (authorised)	Hosted here (authorised)
Version updated	25 September 2026	19 September 2026

"Not available" means we haven't confirmed that detail yet. We don't guess version numbers or sizes.

Main features

Signal Private Messenger

End-to-end encryption for all chats and calls by default
Usernames so you can avoid sharing your phone number
Disappearing messages with adjustable timers
Group voice and video calls
Linked desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux

WhatsApp Messenger

End-to-end encrypted personal chats and calls
Groups, Communities and Channels
Status updates that expire after 24 hours
Linked devices including desktop and web
Optional encrypted backups to Google Drive

Which one fits you

If privacy around metadata matters most, Signal collects less. If reaching people quickly matters most, WhatsApp is more likely to already be on their phones. Many people use both.