Signal Messaging App Review, More Than a WhatsApp Alternative

WhatsApp recent privacy policy changes has made quite a lot of waves. One of those waves is full of users who are now migrating to more privacy focused messaging apps. One of those messaging apps that has been in the focus of users is Signal and for good reason. When it comes to privacy focused messaging apps, Signal app has the competition beat by a long shot. So much so that on the app's website you can see the reviews it has received from Edward Snowden, Jack Dorsey, Laura Poitras, and Bruce Schneier to name a few.

So it begs the question, what makes Signal app so popular among users who value privacy. Well, for starters Signal app offers State-of-the-art end-to-end encryption running on the open source Signal Protocol. Without getting into the nitty-gritty of it the Signal protocol is a non-federated cryptographic protocol that can be used to provide end-to-end encryption for voice calls, video calls, and instant messaging conversations. For users who are moving over from WhatsApp, this means that not even the people at Signal can know who you're chatting with or what you're chatting about.

Why Signal App Is the One for You?

A simpler way to explain the difference between WhatsApp and Signal would be to look at how they use encryption. WhatsApp is a social messaging app that is owned by Facebook. Inherently there is nothing wrong with the way WhatsApp operates, but the fact remains that being with Facebook comes at a cost of privacy. The Facebook model is based on serving users advertisements and personalized content to make users spend more time on the platform. Same is the case for Instagram but neither Facebook nor Instagram are messaging apps. Rather they are social networking platforms.

We just raised the group call limit from 5 to 8, so now you can call it even.

— Signal (@signalapp) January 11, 2021

WhatsApp is not a social networking platform, rather it is just a messaging app. At best, it is an extension of the long forgotten text messages. None of the users on the platform are there for content or to find new friends. So it makes sense for WhatsApp to focus on the privacy of user's data, but the issue becomes that Facebook can't serve advertisements on the app. Which brings us back to why people are moving to Signal. Unlike WhatsApp, Signal is an independent nonprofit. Which means that instead of earning revenue using advertisements they use donations.

Here's a sneak peek at some new Signal features that will start rolling out in a few days:

• Chat wallpapers!
• About field for your Signal profile
• Animated stickers
• For iOS: Media auto-download settings and full-screen profile photos (to match Android)

Good morning 🇮🇳! pic.twitter.com/KEAbhMswRI

— Signal (@signalapp) January 12, 2021

It makes complete sense for many users who care about their privacy to switch from WhatsApp to Signal now. With the recent changes that WhatsApp has made it is clear that users' privacy is no longer its primary focus.