Signal or Telegram: Which is a better alternative messaging app?

Signal and Telegram app gained the highest user migration amidst other messaging apps like WeChat, hangout. Signal attracted a lot of subscribers after a tweet made by the CEO of Tesla Company – Elon Musk. The case is different with Telegram app that gained massive users a few years after its launch.

Despite providing the same service – encrypted messaging, Signal and Telegram have different features which will likely benefit a different type of user. Let’s see how they stack up. 

PRIVACY AND SECURITY

The main reason why most WhatsApp users are seeking an alternative is mainly due to possible breach in data. Before you consider choosing another app, you need to consider how secure the app is.

Privacy

All Signal messages are encrypted end-to-end by default, which means that no one but you and the people you’re chatting with can access your messages.

In contrast, only some of Telegram’s messages and voice calls have end-to-end encryption. The rest are potentially visible to Telegram employees, law enforcement and others.

Also, Signal collects far less data on its users than Telegram does. Signal generally stores only the date on which you created your account and when you last connected. Telegram collects more data which may include your contacts, IP address (and as a result, your location) as well as who you are talking to and when.

Considering the owner, Signal is owned by a non-profit foundation while Telegram is founded by two Russian billionaires – Pavel and Nikolai Durov, the creator of the country’s most popular social network -VK. 

This has been a factor for those who are concerned about big tech snooping on private conversations.

The bottom line: Signal is a clear Winner, one point for Signal app.

Features

• Messaging:

There is a slight difference in the way the two apps present their messaging services. Signal’s messages and group chat are encrypted end-to-end by default, while Telegram’s basic one-on-one chats are not. For you to protect your communications in Telegram from Telegram itself, you’ll have to start a Secret Chat (There’s no Secret Chat equivalent for groups.). 

But when it comes to the number of group members each app can contain, telegram takes the lead with up to 20,000 group members while Signal groups can include up to 1,000 users.

Also, Signal messages in any individual or group chat can be set to disappear within anywhere from five seconds to one week. Telegram has a similar self-destruct option, but it’s only for Secret Chats, not regular chats. 

• Voice and video calls:

Both platforms have voice and video calling features. Signal’s encrypted calls can be made individually or contain up to five users in a group. 

Telegram has end-to-end encrypted, one-on-one video calling as well as a voice-chat feature that allows large groups to hold conversations in which members can come and go. Telegram’s group voice chats are encrypted from the client device (i.e., a phone or desktop) to the server, but not from one end to the other.

• User experience

Telegram has a lot more options to customize your experience, so in that sense, it’s the frontrunner in this category. There are a ton of settings you can adjust around font size and colour themes; emojis and animations; and notifications.

The app will create playlists if you send multiple song files at once and launch them in its built-in media player. You can run polls and quizzes, edit photos and videos, and view other users who happen to be physically near you with People Nearby (not a privacy-friendly feature). 

There’s an image-blur tool that allows you to hide faces in photos and videos — handy if you’re sending media from protests. There’s also a screen-lock setting that requires your password or biometric access to open the app. 

The signal is a much simpler app in which the focus is on sending basic text, media and voice messages securely, although it recently introduced animated stickers and added to its available emojis. Overall, Signal is easy to navigate and doesn’t require a lot of customization to get the most out of your experience. 

• Device support

Both apps are supported across all major operating systems which include but not limited to iOS, macOS, Android, Windows and Linux.

In this case, Telegram has a slight edge in this category, with support for Windows Phone as well as a Chrome browser extension and a fully web-based option. 

• Installation 

The installation process for both apps is relatively simple: Download the software for your preferred platform, register using your phone number, and enter the verification code received via SMS. (In some cases, Telegram will call you with the code instead.) 

Signal vs. Telegram: Verdict

Ultimately, the choice between Signal and Telegram depends on your priorities. If security and encryption are at the top of your list, Signal is the best option no matter which other features you use.

If you want to be able to send encrypted messages only on occasion and make use of social-network-style features, then Telegram may be a better fit. Just keep in mind that you must actively select Telegram’s Secret Chat option if you want your communications to be encrypted end-to-end.