Many users are undecided about which messaging app is best for them. In particular, which one is the most secure. If you are one of those users and want to know the advantages and disadvantages of using Telegram vs WhatsApp vs Signal, read our comparison.
Why these three messaging apps? Because there has been a recent transition from WhatsApp to Telegram or Signal, which was mainly generated by privacy issues. In this post, we will shed light on the diversity of these messaging apps and help you choose the best one for your needs.
We will provide relevant context for each tool and present some key information: a list of key features, advantages and disadvantages, and customization options. Most importantly, we will focus on security and privacy.
Let’s get started!
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Telegram vs WhatsApp vs Signal: how do they differ?
In this post, expect several insights into security and data privacy, as this is the main reason why most people choose to use one app at the expense of the others.
Let us briefly clarify why many users have switched from WhatsApp to other messaging apps. Recently, there was a notification on WhatsApp asking for users’ consent to share their personal information with Facebook . The news sparked a heated virtual debate about the privacy issues of WhatsApp, an app owned by Facebook.
Therefore, more than 25 percent of WhatsApp users said they would switch to other apps that provide better privacy (such as Telegram or Signal). “Privacy” means not sharing data with other companies that track your online activity for marketing purposes.
If you are not even sure which messaging app you should use, regardless of your reasons, read on to learn about the pros and cons of Telegram vs. WhatsApp vs. Signal.
WhatsApp has been the most popular messaging app in the world in recent years. If we look at the numbers, it does not look like it will cede much of its market share to its competitors. WhatsApp belongs to the company Facebook, which acquired it in 2014.
The app also offers a business alternative, created specifically for companies that need an instant messaging tool for their teams. WhatsApp Business offers company profiles, chat/contact labels, automated messages, and quick replies to respond promptly to your customers.
If you use WhatsApp, you should not expect privacy. Although it encrypts your messages and group chats, the company collects almost all necessary data about you for use in advertising and marketing. There is no transparency about WhatsApp’s privacy policy and where your personal information is used.
Other than that, it is an interesting app to use when chatting with family and friends and is definitely a good contender for the best instant messaging app, in terms of functionality.
Features
- Available on Android, iPhone, Windows and Mac
- Free messaging, audio calls and video calls
- Group chats of more than 250 users
- Alternative web and desktop apps
- Document sharing
- Integrated camera
- Voice messaging
- End-to-end encryption
How customizable it is
When it comes to interface customization in WhatsApp, you only have a few options. You can customize your chats by changing the backgrounds to preloaded images, solid colors, patterns or personal images. You can also customize the way you appear online to your contacts.
What user data does WhatsApp collect?
Phone number, location, contacts, habits, browsing history, purchase history, advertising data, user and device ID, email address, payment information, performance data, and other user content.
Pro
- Being the most popular app, you will find most of your contacts here, which is very convenient
Fingerprint unlocking when you open the app
End-to-end encryption (only you and users in a chat can read messages)
Cons - Compared to the other two apps, WhatsApp has fewer privacy settings
WhatsApp supposedly collects data about you and your online activity for marketing purposes
Cloud-based backups that are not encrypted
Use WhatsApp if you need the most convenient app for finding contacts and quickly initiating conversations. If you need a way to contact many people on a regular basis, chances are you will find them on WhatsApp.
Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging app whose main focus is security and speed . It provides passcode and two-factor authentication to access the app, along with some other security settings. You can also set the app to delete your account if you don’t use it for a certain period of time.
The interface is modern, friendly and easy to use. One great thing about Telegram is that it allows you to share files of any size because it stores the content on the cloud. You literally have no limits to what you can send through Telegram.
On Telegram, you can pin messages to the top of the chat if you want to check them later or use them for different purposes. It also allows you to add up to 200,000 people to a group, while in WhatsApp and Signal you can add up to 250+ and 1,000, respectively.
As far as privacy is concerned, this app raises some questions. Although it offers end-to-end encryption for secret chats, this feature does not exist for individual messages and predefined group chats. This is problematic because it breaks one of the fundamental principles that a messaging app should stand for.
Features
- Available on Android, iPhone , iPad, Windows, Linux and Mac
- Web and desktop app
- Group chats of up to 200,000 members
- Self-destructing messages
- No limit on media and chat size
- Fast message delivery
- Security against hacker attacks
- Customizable messenger
How customizable it is
Telegram is also flexible when it comes to customization. It is even more flexible than WhatsApp in the sense that you can also change the size of the text, the shape of the message balloon, the color, and almost every aspect of the design of your chats. It also has several more security and privacy options.
What user data does Telegram collect?
IP address, devices, username history, and contacts.
Pro
- Secret chats protected by passcode
- No limit on the size of files you share
- Automatic data deletion from bots and websites you access via Telegram
- Automatic deletion of your Telegram account
Cons
- A huge drawback is the lack of end-to-end encryption for one-to-one messages and group chats. This means that third parties may be able to read your messages
- Another disadvantage is cloud chats that use client-server encryption. This means that the company has access to your messages.
- It has a GPS-enabled feature that allows you to find people near you, which can be a security weakness
Use Telegram if you want to share unlimited files, create large groups of people, and benefit from good privacy and security. However, for maximum privacy, you must always create secret chats
Signal
Signal is an independent non-profit team that has no affiliations with any major technology company. Therefore, it does not sell their users’ private data for marketing purposes. Signal exists and receives updates through user donations and grants.
If you look at the testimonials on the site, you will notice famous names who trust this app as the most secure and private of all. Signal is also used by many large companies for the same reason.
It is completely open-source, community-supported, and the most transparent app of the Telegram vs. Whatsapp vs. Signal trio. Signal is an app that offers better privacy for your chats by providing detailed setting options. At the same time, you have a modern interface that is easy to use and customize.
It also allows you to create widgets for conversations. If you have a chat that you want instant access to, you can create a widget with that particular chat and place it on the home screen.
Features
- Free messaging, video calls and audio calls
- End-to-end encryption
- Multimedia and document sharing support
- Voice messages
- Group chats
- Personalized stickers
- No advertising, tracking cookies or affiliate marketing
- Available on Android, iPhone/iPad, Windows, Mac and Linux
How customizable it is
In Signal, you can customize chat colors, shades, and backgrounds. You can use a unique background for each chat or a global one for all chats. You can also choose to keep your information private to your contacts.
What user data does Signal collect?
The only information you introduce into the app is your phone number, and the developers are currently working on eliminating this requirement as well in the near future.
Pro
- Screen lock and fingerprint access to apps
- Disappearing messages. You can set the app to delete messages in a chat after a period of time
- Typing indicators. You can choose not to allow people to see when you are typing
- End-to-end encryption
Cons
- You cannot send files larger than 100 MB
- Because the app is not yet as popular worldwide, it will be difficult to find all your contacts there
Use Signal if you are specifically looking for the most secure and private instant messaging app out there.
WhatsApp vs. Telegram vs. Signal: the verdict
While WhatsApp may not be without protection when it comes to privacy, it offers the comfort of end-to-end encryption. This means that no one has access to your chats except you and your recipients.
On the other hand being a subsidiary of Facebook, the reputation of using people’s information for advertising is nothing new. If you have a Facebook account, the company already has all your data, so the argument about WhatsApp sharing your data is fragile.
If you are a security/privacy fanatic who values these aspects more in life, then Signal is most appropriate for you. It is open-source, independent and unaffiliated with third parties. It allows you to remain as discreet and secure as possible while using the app.
Last but not least, Telegram which has good security and comes with many great privacy settings, does not provide end-to-end encryption by default. You have to create secret chats if you want your messages to remain private. If this small detail does not bother you, then Telegram is a good alternative.
To conclude:
Choose Signal if you want complete privacy as much as possible.
Use WhatsApp if you don’t mind that your data is likely to be used for marketing. The app is secure and encrypted.
Try Telegram if you need unlimited file sharing and the ability to chat with sizable groups of people at the same time. However, keep in mind that third parties can read your messages because it does not provide end-to-end encryption by default.