In recent years, there has been a growing trend of people switching from using WhatsApp to using the encrypted messaging app Signal. WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, is still the most popular messaging app globally with around 2 billion monthly active users. However, Signal has seen a surge in new users thanks in part to people’s concerns over privacy and security.
What is Signal?
Signal is a cross-platform encrypted messaging service developed by the Signal Foundation and Signal Messenger LLC. It uses end-to-end encryption to secure all communications so that messages can only be read by the sender and intended recipient. Signal’s encryption protocol is open source and has been well received by cryptography experts. In addition to messages, Signal allows users to make encrypted voice and video calls. The nonprofit Signal Foundation was launched in 2018 to develop Signal and promote online privacy, security, and free expression.
Why are people switching to Signal?
There are several key reasons why many former WhatsApp users are now switching to Signal:
Privacy and security
Signal’s end-to-end encryption provides greater privacy and security compared to WhatsApp. While WhatsApp uses the same Signal Protocol for encryption, there have been concerns about Facebook’s ability to access certain metadata from WhatsApp conversations. With Signal, not even Signal employees can access user data or messages. Signal does not collect any user data beyond what is needed to operate the app. In 2021, when WhatsApp updated its terms of service to share more data with Facebook, millions of users flocked to Signal to avoid Facebook’s data collection.
Open source protocols
As an open source application, Signal’s encryption protocols can be inspected and verified by independent experts. WhatsApp’s implementation of the Signal Protocol cannot be audited due to its closed source code. The open source nature of Signal lends greater credibility and trustworthiness to its privacy-focused model.
Non-profit model
Signal is developed by a non-profit foundation rather than a private company like WhatsApp and Facebook. This aligns Signal’s financial incentives with user privacy rather than profits or advertising. The nonprofit model has helped Signal gain status as a trusted technology among privacy advocates.
Minimal metadata collection
Signal collects very little metadata from its users compared to WhatsApp. Signal does not access or store the contact lists or social graphs of its users. The app is designed to minimize any extraneous data that is not required strictly for delivering messages. WhatsApp collects more metadata about its users and their messaging patterns.
Disappearing messages
Signal allows users to set messages, photos, and videos to automatically disappear from the recipient’s device after a certain period of time. This can help prevent unwanted accumulation of communication records. While WhatsApp also offers disappearing messages now, this feature originated with Signal.
No ads or user tracking
There are no advertisements in Signal, and it does not track its users for marketing or ad targeting purposes. WhatsApp remains ad-free too, but there are concerns about future advertising given Facebook’s business model. Signal has pledged to never show ads or employ user tracking.
Seamless multi-device support
Signal allows users to seamlessly sync conversations across multiple devices. Messages are synchronized in real-time across a user’s phone, tablet, and desktop without needing a companion app. WhatsApp requires a companion app for multi-device support.
Growth of Signal users
Here are some key stats about Signal’s recent growth:
- From January 6 to January 10, 2021, Signal saw 7.5 million installs globally – a 4,200% increase from just 314,000 installs the previous week according to data from Sensor Tower.
- Signal became the #1 free app on both the App Store and Google Play during the week of January 10, 2021.
- By February 2021, Signal reported having over 40 million monthly active users globally.
- In April 2021, Signal passed 100 million installs on the Google Play Store.
- As of October 2022, Sensor Tower estimates Signal has been installed approximately 150 million times on Android and iOS.
This dramatic surge in Signal downloads occurred in the wake of WhatsApp’s privacy policy changes that drove millions of users to seek out alternative messaging apps. Privacy scandals involving Facebook have also directed more scrutiny towards Facebook-owned WhatsApp.
Differences between Signal and WhatsApp
| Feature | Signal | |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | Uses Signal Protocol | Uses Signal Protocol |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Metadata collection | Minimal | More extensive |
| App size | 21MB | 118MB |
| Company | Non-profit Signal Foundation | Facebook, Inc. |
| Advertising | None | None currently |
While WhatsApp and Signal share similarities in their encryption protocols, Signal aims to minimize metadata collection and take a non-commercial approach aligned with user privacy preferences rather than monetization.
Risks and downsides of switching to Signal
However, there are some potential risks and downsides to keep in mind when switching from WhatsApp to Signal:
Smaller user base
WhatsApp has over 2 billion monthly active users globally while Signal has under 200 million installs. Many users may find fewer of their contacts are on Signal, limiting its utility.
Missing features
Signal has fewer features compared to WhatsApp. WhatsApp supports video calls for up to 8 people, Business API, and integrated Facebook services. Signal focuses more on core messaging.
Multi-device limitations
While Signal allows multi-device support across 5 devices, incoming calls will only ring on one device. WhatsApp rings on all a user’s devices.
No cloud backups
Signal does not backup messages to the cloud unlike WhatsApp. Users have to manually backup conversations locally.
Contacts discovery
Signal makes it difficult to discover which of your contacts are already using Signal without uploading your phone’s contact list. WhatsApp easily shows which contacts are on the platform.
Learning curve
Switching apps always involves some learning curve to get accustomed to new menus and settings. WhatsApp benefits from familiarity built over many years.
Conclusion
Switching from WhatsApp to Signal requires weighing advantages like greater privacy and security against losing some usability, features, and user base. While Signal makes compromises in the name of privacy, WhatsApp balances privacy with strong usability. However, Signal’s nonprofit approach and principles have appealed to many former WhatsApp users concerned about Facebook’s data practices. The revelations of the Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen seem likely to fuel further adoption of privacy-first apps like Signal. But network effects and habits give WhatsApp an advantage that may be difficult for any competitor to overcome quickly.