Communication · United States (US)
Signal
A simple, powerful, and secure messenger.
The switch
WhatsApp→Signalalso replaces Telegram, Facebook Messenger
About
Signal is a free, open-source, cross-platform centralized instant messaging service that uses end-to-end encryption. It is known for its strong privacy features.
Why we recommend it
- End-to-end encryption by default
- Open source
EU vs USA
Signal vs WhatsApp
Side-by-side on jurisdiction, data residency, and the rules that decide who can actually read your data.
Criteria
🇪🇺 Signal
🇺🇸 WhatsApp
Headquarters
United States
Menlo Park, USA
Jurisdiction
EU
USA
Data location
EU
Global
GDPR-native
Yes
No
CLOUD Act / FISA exposed
No
Yes
Ad tracking
No
Yes
End-to-end encryption
No
Yes
Open source
No
No
Ownership
—
Meta Platforms Inc.
Founded
2014
2009
Compare head-to-head