Comparison: WhatsApp, Signal, Messenger or Telegram, which one is for you?

We take a look at the differences and similarities between the major messaging services. Here you will discover a great comparison of WhatsApp, Signal, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram.

Messaging services compared

The Facebook apps WhatsApp and Messenger are by far the largest messaging services in the world. In addition, you also have big challengers with Signal and Telegram. Both apps have recently come to the fore as a result of WhatsApp’s new privacy statement that has bugged users. Telegram and Signal are already focusing on two secure and privacy-friendly alternatives.

Inspired by a recent project by designer and UI designer Patrick Loonstra, we compared these messaging apps on a number of points. In addition to the privacy and security aspect, we also look at other important aspects such as: the supported functions, the user numbers, and supported platforms. In this way, you will discover which service is most suitable for you based on your personal expectations.

From left to right WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, Signal

General

WhatsApp is the oldest messaging service of the four and the app was bought by Facebook in 2014. You can still find most of your friends and relatives on WhatsApp.

Telegram and Signal saw their user numbers rise sharply in recent days after the announcement of WhatsApp’s new privacy statement. Telegram gained 2.2 million downloads in two days and Signal reached 100,000, according to market research firm Sensor Tower (via Reuters).

Telegram and Signal are also the only ones to make their source code public in order to gain users’ trust. Although Telegram has not yet made everything transparent. This way you can take a look at the code of the app, but you will not get a view of the operation of the entire underlying system, i.e. the backend. Although the app has in their own words plans to make everything public in due course.

WhatsApp’s disappearing messaging feature

Functions

The different messaging services each emphasize different possibilities. Messenger has a goal that allows developers to develop their own bots that can serve as chatbots for customer services, for example. Sharing files can be less convenient on Messenger, but you can reach a large group of people if you want to make a call.

Telegram focuses very much on organizing communities with its comprehensive suite of functions for groups and channels. The app also allows you to send large files, but the service still has limited options for video calling.

Telegram’s Instant View feature for reading articles

Signal is the only app that only allows local backups for privacy reasons, and there is also no option to share your profile with friends via a link. Furthermore, the app rather follows the line of WhatsApp in terms of functionalities.

Although WhatsApp allows you to call a larger group of people. By default it is possible with eight participants, but via the Messenger Rooms integration you can choose to call in groups of 50, just like with Messenger. WhatsApp and Signal are less well suited than Telegram for large groups, because they make users’ phone numbers visible at all times. In Telegram it is possible to hide your phone number in a group.

Supported platforms

The four messaging apps are available on most popular platforms. Signal is the only one that you can’t access from your browser, but the service does that for security reasons. It is remarkable that WhatsApp is making efforts to improve its web version by completely improving it off your phone to function. Telegram and Signal are the only apps that also work on Linux. You can also use all messaging services on Chromebook via the Android app.

The Signal app for macOS

Security

WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram support two-step verification (2FA), meaning an extra layer of security is provided when logging in. This often works with these messaging services in the form of a PIN that you enter to access the app.

Signal and WhatsApp also feature end-to-end encryption (E2EE), meaning that conversations between users are encrypted . If the messages are intercepted by a hacker, they are in principle unreadable. Telegram does encrypt its messages by default, but it is not end-to-end encryption between two users. On the other hand, you had to start a secret conversation in order to use E2EE.

However, there is an important difference between the security of WhatsApp and that of Telegram and Signal. WhatsApp does not make its source code public, so you can’t take a look at how the end-to-end encryption works. That transparency is built into Telegram and Signal.

Example of a WhatsApp security key

Messenger is a special case because the app is seamlessly integrated into the social network Facebook. If you want to use 2FA, this is also done via Facebook. Furthermore, as with Telegram, the app does not contain encrypted conversations by default unless you start a secret conversation.

Privacy

WhatsApp recently announced changes to its privacy statement in which the app announced that it will share data with parent company Facebook. In Europe, we are protected by the European GDPR regulations, so there are no immediate changes for us yet. But what is nothing may yet come.

Messenger is the only messaging app from the equation that shows advertising

Apple recently introduced privacy labels in the App Store that tell us more about the data that messaging apps collect about us and the purpose for which the app collects data. Of all the messaging apps, Messenger is clearly the one that collects the most about users and also uses that data to deliver targeted ads.

Signal is the only app that only processes data such as your phone number to make the app function. Your phone number is used, but it is not linked to your identity. Telegram is also one of the better learners, but it does collect information about your contacts.

Other alternatives

In addition to these four messaging services, you have many other interesting alternatives. An example is Google Messages, which recently started working for all users with Rich Communication Services, or RCS. This means that the app takes over advanced functions from the other messaging apps, while also being able to send regular text messages at the same time. Google wanted to make Messages more versatile, just like the popular iMessage for iOS. Messages also has a web app and video calling works through Google Duo. The app still lacks an important feature such as end-to-encryption and it doesn’t work on iOS.

Other well-known apps are Viber, which has been around since 2010, the Chinese WeChat, the privacy-friendly Threema and Jitsi Meet and the South Korean app LINE. Which messaging service do you prefer? Do any of these services have a particular feature that makes the difference for you? Let us know in the comments at the bottom of this article.