Whatsapp vs Signal vs Telegram – Comparison table

March 15, 2022

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This article compares Whatsapp vs Signal vs Telegram. You will notice that all these three are messaging apps. Amongst all the three, WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging app with over 1 billion users. WhatsApp is very easy-to-use and offers features such as location and file sharing, gifs, and even has a desktop version. It also uses a powerful encryption protocol developed for Signal by Open Whisper Systems, which is considered the industry standard.

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The basis on which we are comparing these three apps is in terms of security and other aspects. How secure are your messages while using them given that they all use end-to-end encryption? Let us look at each of them individually and compare all three in a table as you read on.

Contents

#1. Signal

Signal’s primary role is that it can send — to either an individual or a group — fully encrypted text, video, audio, and picture messages, after verifying your phone number and letting you individually verify other Signal users’ identity.

In terms of privacy, it is hard to beat Signal’s offer. It does not store your user data. And besides its encryption expertise, it gives you extended, onscreen privacy options, including app-specific locks, blank notification pop-ups, face-blurring antisurveillance tools, and disappearing messages.

Signal app – Unique FEATURES:

Firstly, does not collect data, only your phone number
Secondly, it is free, no ads, funded by nonprofit Signal Foundation
Thirdly, it is fully open-source
Fourthly, it uses Signal Protocol for its encryption

#2. Telegram

Telegram lies around the middle of the privacy range. It distinguishes itself from other messenger apps due to its efforts to create a social network-style environment. Although it does not collect as much data as WhatsApp, it also does not offer encrypted group calls like WhatsApp, nor as much user data privacy and company transparency as Signal. Data collected by Telegram that could be linked to you includes your name, phone number, contact list, and user ID.

Telegram App – Unique FEATURES:

Firstly, data is linked to you: Name, phone number, contacts, user ID
Secondly, it is free, forthcoming Ad Platform and premium features, funded mainly by founder
Thirdly, telegram is only partially open-source
Fourthly, it uses MTProto for its encryption

#3. WhatsApp

There is a very big distinction between security and privacy. Security is about safeguarding your data against unauthorized access, and privacy is about safeguarding your identity regardless of who has access to that data.

On the security front, WhatsApp’s encryption is the same as Signal’s, and that encryption is secure. But that encryption protocol is one of the few open-source parts of WhatsApp, so we are being asked to trust WhatsApp more than we are Signal. WhatsApp’s actual app and other infrastructure have also faced hacks, just as Telegram has. So, each of these messaging apps has its own drawbacks.

Whatsapp application – Unique FEATURES:

Firstly, data is linked to you: Too much to list
Secondly, WhatsApp is free; business versions available for free, funded by Facebook
Thirdly, it is not open-source, except for encryption
Fourthly, it uses Signal Protocol as its encryption