WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users globally. However, in recent years, privacy and security concerns have been raised about the app, owned by Meta (formerly Facebook). Users are increasingly looking for safer and more private alternatives to WhatsApp. In this article, we will examine if there are indeed safer messaging options available and do an in-depth comparison of some of the top alternatives.
WhatsApp’s privacy issues
While WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption for messages between users, there are still some privacy concerns:
- Metadata like phone numbers, contact lists, etc. are not encrypted and can be accessed
- Backups on Google Drive or iCloud are not encrypted
- Metaparent company Facebook can use WhatsApp data for ad targeting and other purposes
There have also been security vulnerabilities found in WhatsApp in the past that allowed spyware to be installed on phones. Overall, many privacy advocates are not fully convinced about WhatsApp’s privacy protections.
Top alternative messaging apps
Here are some of the top alternative secure messaging apps to WhatsApp:
Signal
Signal is widely considered one of the most secure messaging apps available. Here are some key features:
- Open-source end-to-end encryption protocol
- Minimal metadata collection
- Disappearing messages option
- No third-party backups
- Non-profit organization behind it
Telegram
Telegram has gained popularity worldwide as a messaging app focused on speed and security:
- Cloud-based messaging app
- End-to-end encrypted chats, voice calls
- Self-destructing messages
- Syncs across devices
- Open API and third-party apps
Threema
Threema is a privacy-focused Swiss app that offers strong end-to-end encryption:
- Anonymous IDs instead of phone numbers
- End-to-end encrypted groups
- Video and voice calls encrypted
- Minimal metadata collection
- Paid app with no ads or trackers
Wickr
Wickr is a secure ephemerial messaging app built for privacy:
- End-to-end encryption
- Message shredding
- No metadata collection
- Perfect forward secrecy
- Built-in secure cloud storage
In-Depth Comparison
Let’s do an in-depth comparison of these alternatives across some key metrics:
Encryption
| App | Encryption |
|---|---|
| End-to-end encrypted messages and calls | |
| Signal | Open source end-to-end encryption protocol |
| Telegram | End-to-end encrypted chats, voice calls |
| Threema | Full end-to-end encryption |
| Wickr | End-to-end encrypted messages and calls |
All the alternative apps provide full end-to-end encryption like WhatsApp. Signal and Threema are widely regarded to have the most secure encryption protocols.
Metadata Collection
| App | Metadata Collection |
|---|---|
| Collects significant metadata | |
| Signal | Minimal metadata collection |
| Telegram | Collects contact and usage data |
| Threema | Minimal metadata collection |
| Wickr | No metadata collection |
Signal and Threema collect very little metadata beyond what’s needed to operate the service. Wickr collects no metadata at all. Telegram and WhatsApp collect more data like contacts and usage information.
Backups
| App | Backups |
|---|---|
| Unencrypted Google Drive & iCloud backups | |
| Signal | No backups offered |
| Telegram | Cloud-based messaging allows sync |
| Threema | Backup & restore chat history |
| Wickr | Secure cloud storage built-in |
WhatsApp backups on third-party clouds are not encrypted. Signal does not offer backups. Telegram and Threema offer more secure cloud syncing and storage. Wickr has encrypted cloud storage built into the app.
Self-destructing messages
| App | Disappearing messages |
|---|---|
| Yes | |
| Signal | Yes |
| Telegram | Yes |
| Threema | No |
| Wickr | Yes |
Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Wickr allow sending disappearing messages that are deleted automatically after a set time. Threema does not have this ephemeral messaging feature.
Group messaging
| App | Group messaging |
|---|---|
| End-to-end encrypted groups | |
| Signal | Encrypted group messaging |
| Telegram | Supergroups with up to 100K users |
| Threema | End-to-end encrypted groups |
| Wickr | Fully encrypted group messaging |
All apps provide secure end-to-end encrypted group messaging. Telegram enables very large groups with up to 100,000 members.
Multimedia messaging
| App | Multimedia messaging |
|---|---|
| Share photos, videos, documents | |
| Signal | Share photos, videos |
| Telegram | Share all types of media |
| Threema | Share photos, videos, audio |
| Wickr | Share images, video, audio |
All the apps support sharing multimedia messages like photos, videos, audio clips, and documents. Telegram has the widest support for different file formats.
User base
| App | User base |
|---|---|
| Over 2 billion users | |
| Signal | Over 20 million users |
| Telegram | Over 500 million users |
| Threema | 8 million users |
| Wickr | Hundreds of millions of users |
WhatsApp has the largest global user base followed by Telegram. Signal and Threema have much smaller but growing user bases. Wickr also claims hundreds of millions of users worldwide.
Pricing
| App | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Free | |
| Signal | Free |
| Telegram | Free |
| Threema | One-time fee ($2-4) |
| Wickr | Free personal use, paid plans |
Most messaging apps are free to use except Threema which charges a small one-time fee. Wickr offers free personal usage but has paid plans for business use.
Ad tracking
| App | Ad tracking |
|---|---|
| Owned by Meta/Facebook | |
| Signal | No ad tracking |
| Telegram | No ad tracking |
| Threema | No ad tracking |
| Wickr | No ad tracking |
Since WhatsApp is owned by Meta/Facebook, user data may be utilized for ad targeting and tracking. The alternative apps have no ads or ad trackers.
Conclusion
Based on this in-depth comparison, apps like Signal, Threema and Telegram do seem to offer enhanced security, privacy and anonymity compared to WhatsApp. They have encrypted messaging with minimal metadata collection, secure backup systems, and no ad tracking.
However, WhatsApp still remains the most convenient option for most people due to its huge 2 billion+ user base. But for those prioritizing privacy, the alternatives provide secure encrypted messaging while collecting less personal data. For maximum security, Signal and Threema are the best options; Telegram also offers robust encryption but collects more metadata.
So in summary – yes, there are safer and more private alternatives available now to WhatsApp. While no messaging app can provide 100% guaranteed security, options like Signal and Threema go much further in encrypting messages end-to-end, minimizing metadata collection, and not including any ad trackers. For the privacy conscious, using these apps would provide an encrypted alternative to communicate away from Meta/Facebook’s servers.