Signal vs Telegram: Which Messaging App Fits You?

Signal suits people who want private one-to-one and small group chats with end-to-end encryption on by default, from a nonprofit whose client apps are open source. Telegram suits people who run large groups, public channels or bots, and who want chats to sync to every device, with end-to-end encryption only in its Secret Chats mode. The Signal vs Telegram comparison sets the two side by side, and the sections below cover what each does better and what each gives up.

Quick comparison

Both apps appear in the best messaging apps ranking. The table uses only the two listings and the ranking's own attributes and best-for lines.

	Signal	Telegram
Made by	A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, according to its listing	Not stated
Price model and free plan	Free for everyone, funded by donations	Free for private messaging, with no ads or subscription fees
Platforms	Android, iPhone and iPad, Windows, macOS, Linux	Android, iPhone and iPad, Windows, macOS, Linux, web
Open source	Yes. Client apps are AGPL-3.0	Yes. Client code is published, and the Android client is GPL-2.0
Where data is stored	End-to-end encrypted chats and calls by default	Regular chats stored in the cloud and synced to every device. End-to-end encryption only in Secret Chats
Best for	Private one-to-one and group messaging	Large groups, channels and cross-device sync

The ranking's overview describes privacy-first apps, mass-reach apps and platform apps as three separate groups. Signal sits in the first group and Telegram in the second, which is the main reason they are compared here. The how the rankings work page explains how the scores are set.

Pricing and free plans

Signal is free for everyone, and its listing says the nonprofit is funded by donations. The same listing says it has no ads and no business model built on user data.

Telegram's listing describes its private messaging as free, with no ads and no subscription fees. The listing limits that statement to private messaging, so check the app's own terms before assuming that every feature is free.

Both apps are free to use, so the decision turns on encryption, reach and features rather than price. How to choose a messaging app covers the questions to ask about cost, reach and encryption together.

Platforms and sync

Signal's phone apps are the base. Its desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux work only after the phone app is set up, which its listing names as a drawback. Signal runs over the phone's data connection, which its listing says avoids SMS and MMS fees.

Telegram syncs chats across phone, desktop and web, and its web app is one of its listed platforms. Its listing says chats sync to every device, so the same conversations appear on each one.

Features that set them apart

• Group size and channels. Telegram groups can hold up to 200,000 members, and its public channels broadcast to an audience. Signal's listing describes group chats with voice and video calls, without a comparable member figure.
• Bots and mini apps. Telegram lists bots and mini apps as a highlight, and its listing says bots and communities link groups and channels together. Signal's listing does not mention a bot platform.
• Media size. The ranking notes that Telegram has no limit on media size, which matters for people who share large video or archives.
• Encryption by default. Signal's chats and calls are end-to-end encrypted by default. Telegram's Secret Chats use end-to-end encryption too, but they are a separate mode with fewer features.

Privacy, openness and data ownership

Signal's default encryption is the main reason to choose it for private talk. Its listing says messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted by default using the Signal Protocol, and that the company cannot read them. Its client apps are open source under AGPL-3.0, and it is a nonprofit that accepts donations rather than selling ads.

Telegram's regular chats are stored in the cloud and sync to every device, so they are not end-to-end encrypted by default. Its Secret Chats use end-to-end encryption, but that is a separate mode. Telegram says its API and code are open, and its Android client is published under GPL-2.0.

Open code and default encryption answer different questions. Telegram's open client lets anyone read the app, but it does not change where a regular chat is stored. For the encryption background, see what end-to-end encryption means. For the open-source question, see what is open source software.

Who should choose Signal

• Someone who wants private one-to-one and small group chats with encryption on by default.
• A reader who values open-source client apps and a nonprofit that takes no ad money.
• A user whose contacts are willing to install it, since the ranking notes that its reach is smaller than WhatsApp's.
• A desktop user who accepts that the desktop apps need the phone app set up first.

Who should choose Telegram

• An organizer who runs large groups, up to 200,000 members, or public channels for an audience.
• Someone who wants chats on phone, desktop and web without an extra setup step.
• A community that uses bots and mini apps.
• A user who accepts that regular chats are cloud-stored, and who moves sensitive conversations into Secret Chats.

Other options worth a look

The Signal alternatives and Telegram alternatives pages list more products. From the same ranking:

• WhatsApp: encrypts personal chats and calls by default and has the broadest contact reach in the ranking. Its client is closed source.
• Threema: encrypts chats and calls by default and can be used without personal data. Its Private app is a one-time purchase, and its Android code is under AGPL-3.0.
• Element: an open, self-hostable messenger on the Matrix network, with a free personal app and paid plans for organizations.
• Session: an open-source messenger that routes traffic through onion-routed paths on a decentralized network. Most contacts are not on it yet.
• Apple Messages: built into iPhone, iPad and Mac at no cost, with end-to-end encrypted iMessages. It reaches other Apple users in iMessage form.

Several of these have head-to-head pages with Signal or Telegram, including Signal vs WhatsApp, Signal vs Threema and Element vs Signal.

Related rankings and guides

• Best messaging apps: the ranking both apps come from, with the criteria behind each score.
• Signal vs Telegram: the full side-by-side comparison page for these two apps.
• How to choose a messaging app: the questions to answer about reach, encryption and cost.
• Best privacy-focused apps: a wider look at tools that put privacy first.