Updated on: June 25, 2024
Both Signal and Telegram are great messaging apps. I’ve been using them regularly over the past 3 years, so I’m really familiar with how each messaging service works and what each app’s strengths and weaknesses are.
I often see people complaining that they don’t know which app to use, which is understandable. At their core, both Signal and Telegram provide excellent messaging services — so if you’ve never used a messaging app before, it can be really tough telling which one is right for you. And it really doesn’t help that many online sources provide vague information about each app, only highlighting that they’re both secure and easy to use.
So, I put my experience to good use and wrote this in-depth comparison between the two apps. When comparing Signal and Telegram, I used numerous metrics that I think are relevant to messaging app users — including encryption and privacy, messaging features, customization options, platform availability and ease of use, popularity, and more.
If you’re in a hurry, here’s the bottom line — both apps are equally good for messaging and audio and video calls. But Signal is better suited for people who are very focused on privacy and security, whereas Telegram is a better pick for users who want high-end customization options, and are also interested in using a messaging app with a very large user base.
Also, I strongly recommend using a VPN with either Signal or Telegram — just to provide an additional layer of privacy and security. My favorite VPN to use with both apps is ExpressVPN since it maintains the fastest speeds on the market, it has industry-leading security and privacy features, and it’s super easy to use. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
TRY EXPRESSVPN WITH SIGNAL OR TELEGRAM NOW
Signal vs. Telegram — Quick Comparison
Encryption — Signal Is the Better Choice
Both apps provide strong encryption, as they both use the 256-bit AES encryption cipher to secure user data. This is the same cipher that’s used by banks and the military.
That said, I personally prefer Signal over Telegram when it comes to encryption. That’s because Signal provides end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default in all conversations. This means that only the intended recipient can read the messages you send — Signal can’t decrypt the messages to read them because it doesn’t have access to the encryption key.
Telegram also supports E2EE encryption for messaging, but only via its Secret Chats feature — these are one-on-one conversations which you need to start via your profile settings. So you don’t get E2EE encryption by default like you do with Signal. On the plus side, all voice and video calls are secured with E2EE by default (this is the same with Signal).
This means that while regular conversations on Telegram are encrypted, the messaging provider still has access to your unencrypted messages — that’s because the messages are decrypted by Telegram’s servers before they’re forwarded to the intended recipient.
Signal, on the other hand, uses its proprietary Signal protocol, which in addition to providing E2EE is open-source (so anyone can inspect the code for security issues). Telegram’s proprietary MTProto protocol isn’t open-source.
It’s great that Signal’s protocol is available to the public — and what’s more, other popular messaging apps (like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype) have implemented the Signal protocol within their services. So, there’s really no reason why Telegram couldn’t do the same.
If you’d like to read more about how secure each messaging app is, we have two articles covering each service. Here’s the one discussing how safe Telegram is, and here’s the one discussing how safe Signal is.
Winner (Encryption): Signal
I simply like Signal better because it uses the open-source and industry-standard Signal protocol that provides E2EE for all messages. Telegram, on the other hand, uses its own protocol, which only provides E2EE for Secret Chats (and also isn’t open-source). Telegram still provides strong encryption, but if you’re very focused on security, Signal is the best bet.
Privacy — Signal Collects Less Data, Is 100% Open-Source & Undergoes Regular Audits
Both Signal and Telegram provide good privacy, but Signal definitely goes the extra mile. If you mainly care about using a messaging service that protects your privacy, I recommend getting Signal since it collects less data than Telegram, and it’s also fully open-source. I’ll cover how each messaging service handles privacy in-depth below.
Collected Data
Signal barely collects any information. It doesn’t log your IP address, and it also can’t see any profile-related data, like your profile name or picture — since this information is encrypted end-to-end. The service only collects your phone number, which is required on sign-up. Optionally, it also collects information about the contacts in your address book if you allow it to do so. Other than that, it only collects technical data that can’t compromise your privacy.
Telegram, on the other hand, logs your IP address and also collects profile data. Plus, it logs your phone number and potentially your email address if you choose to receive login codes over email. The app can also collect data about your contacts, if you allow it to do so. Other than that, Telegram stores device and performance data, which it claims it’s legally required to do — and the service provider also says it will share said data with the authorities if asked to.
If you want to use Telegram but are worried about your privacy, I recommend using a VPN with it. A VPN is an online service that makes your internet traffic unreadable and also hides your IP address — so Telegram won’t be able to collect and use it. I personally recommend using ExpressVPN, as it’s the best VPN on the market right now.
Open-Source Code
Only Signal is 100% open-source. Its apps are open-source, and so is its protocol and server-side code. This provides complete transparency, as anyone can inspect the messaging app’s code at any moment. And this would also theoretically make it easier for developers and security experts to continuously improve Signal by quickly spotting bugs and security holes.
Telegram, on the other hand, only open-sources its apps. This provides good transparency, but I’d honestly like to see the messaging app also open-source its server-side code. The company claims that doing that doesn’t really help, as it could theoretically use server code that’s different from the code it publishes. That’s true, but it doesn’t change the fact that open-sourcing the server code would still make it easier for people to trust Telegram.
At the very least, I think the messaging app should open-source its proprietary MTPro protocol. Many people already don’t like that Telegram doesn’t use the Signal protocol, which many other messaging apps use. Open-sourcing its MTPro protocol might help alleviate some fears people have about it not being as secure as the Signal protocol.
Background & Security Incidents
Signal is owned by the Signal Foundation, which is a non-profit organization. The Signal Foundation was founded by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton. Moxie Marlinspike is an established cryptographer who contributed to the development of the Signal protocol, and Brian Acton is the co-founder of WhatsApp, who left the company over privacy-related conflicts with the parent company (Facebook).
Signal was involved in a security incident in 2022, when one of its service providers suffered a data breach that compromised around 1,900 accounts. It’s important to note that Signal itself wasn’t targeted in the data breach, and that the only data that was compromised was users’ phone numbers — hackers didn’t gain access to data like user messages and contact lists.
Also, security researchers have uncovered a potential vulnerability with Signal that would allow attackers to track a user’s location based on message delivery times. But I need to mention that this attack is very difficult to pull off, and using a VPN would protect against this type of attack (because the VPN encryption adds extra latency, increasing message delivery times).
Telegram was founded by Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov, who previously founded VK (one of the biggest social media platforms in Russia). The two brothers cut ties with VK due to conflicts with the Russian government over the company’s refusal to censor anti-government accounts and share user data with the government.
Telegram has experienced several security incidents over the past years. In both 2016 and 2024, the company suffered data breaches that exposed user account data, such as email addresses, phone numbers, user IDs, and contact lists. In addition, the provider has experienced several Distributed-Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, which temporarily shut down its services.
Security Audits
Out of the two, only Signal has undergone regular security audits. Over the years, the provider has had security firms audits its protocol, encryption ciphers, apps, features (like its group chats), and more.
Telegram hasn’t published any third-party audits of its services yet. I find it pretty surprising that its apps haven’t been audited, as they’re open-source. Telegram’s developers have a bug bounty program that encourages third parties to audit its apps, but I haven’t seen any published audits as of now. I’d at least like to see Telegram’s MTPro protocol undergo a security audit to confirm it’s truly secure and that it’s a safe alternative to the industry-standard Signal protocol.
Winner (Privacy): Signal
Both apps handle privacy well, but Signal just does it better in my opinion. It doesn’t collect any data (except your phone number), it’s fully open-source, and it’s owned by a non-profit organization. It was only involved in one notable security incident that wasn’t even its fault, and it also undergoes regular third-party security audits.
Telegram, on the other hand, logs your IP address and profile data, only open-sourced its apps (and not its server-side code), has been involved in several data breaches, and hasn’t undergone any security audits.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Features — Both Are Excellent Choices
Both messaging services come with tons of features, so I decided to only focus on the most important ones. In addition, I decided to split the features into 2 different sections — one that focuses on features used to send messages and make calls and one that focuses on security features.
Messaging & Calling Features
Both Signal and Telegram provide access to industry-standard app messaging features, including one-on-one chats, group chats, audio and video calls, and file sharing. They both make it extremely simple to exchange messages with just one recipient. Really, the only thing I can highlight here is related to security — Signal uses E2EE for all individual chats, whereas Telegram requires you to use the Secret Chats feature to secure your conversations with E2EE.
You can set up group chats with both Signal and Telegram. People looking to just set up a group chat with friends and family will be happy with either of the two. However, if you need to manage a very large group chat (for example, if you’re offering support for a product or managing an online community), Telegram is the better option. That’s because Telegram allows you to add up to 200,000 users to a group chat, whereas Signal only lets you add up to 1,000 users.
Another thing that makes Telegram ideal for managing online communities or a company’s brand is its Channels feature. Telegram Channels allow you to broadcast public messages (like product announcements or news alerts) to very large audiences — a Telegram Channel can have an unlimited number of subscribers. Also, only the admins are allowed to post in the Channel.
Both apps allow audio and video calls. I also like how both Signal and Telegram secure voice and video calls with E2EE. Plus, in addition to one-on-one calls, both messaging services support group audio and video calls. Each app makes it easy to set up group calls, and they both have similar limits for group video calls — Telegram allows 30 participants, whereas Signal allows 40 participants. But only Telegram allows an unlimited number of participants in an audio call. With Signal, only 40 people can join a voice call.
And while both messaging apps allow file sharing, Telegram is better suited for sending large files — it allows you to share files that are up to 2 GB in size. Signal, on the other hand, only supports sharing files that are up to 100 MB in size.
One last thing I want to highlight is that both services allow you to post stories — these are ephemeral text, photo, or video posts that automatically expire after a certain period. Signal sets stories to expire after 24 hours, while Telegram allows you to choose from several time frames: 6, 12, 24, or 48 hours.
Security Features
Both Signal and Telegram provide access to useful security features that keep your conversations safe and private and also secure your account.
I’ll start by quickly mentioning Telegram’s Secret Chats, which I already covered above. These are one-on-one chats that secure your messages with E2EE. I don’t find this to be a standout feature though, as Signal secures all types of messages with E2EE.
Moving on, both messaging apps support disappearing messages (also called self-destruct messages). Basically, each app allows you to set a specific timer for how long messages will stay in a conversation — after the timer expires, the messages are deleted. Signal and Telegram both have varied time frames, like one day or one week. And they both let you set custom time frames.
Signal and Telegram both provide disappearing media features. Basically, this means you can set media files to disappear or no longer be viewable after the recipient interacts with them. Telegram allows you to set a countdown timer that starts up after the recipient opens the media file you send them. And Signal allows you to set the media files you share as view-once — after the recipient views the files, they will be automatically deleted.
In addition, both apps come with login security features. Signal and Telegram both allow you to configure the messaging app to automatically lock after a certain period. And both messaging services let you add an additional layer of security to the login process — Signal supports your phone’s screen lock settings (like a PIN number or a passphrase) and biometric authentication, and Telegram lets you use a passcode or biometric authentication.
I also like how both apps have security settings in place to prevent malicious actors from trying to log into your accounts on different devices and impersonate you (if they get their hands on your phone number). Signal has Registration Lock, which lets you set up a PIN that will be required when trying to register on a different device using your phone number. And Telegram has Two-Step Verification, which lets you set up a password that will be required to log in on a new device in addition to the code you receive via SMS.
Signal also comes with Screen Security, which is a useful feature that hides previews of the Signal app. Basically, the app switcher on your phone will only display a blank preview of the Signal app — so people can’t see your Signal conversations if they try to glance at your screen.
Finally, Signal also lets you verify the identity of the person you’re chatting with via Safety Numbers — when you start a new chat with someone, both of you get assigned a unique Safety Number that you can each use to verify each other’s identity. On top of that, Signal also allows you to relay calls through its servers to prevent your contact from seeing your real IP address. Just keep in mind that relaying calls through Signal could reduce the call quality.
Winner (Features): It’s a tie
Both Signal and Telegram have their particular use cases. They both offer industry-standard messaging features, though Telegram is better suited for people who want to manage or be part of very large online communities. Signal, on the other hand, is best suited for people who are very focused on securing their messaging data, as it comes with tons of security features.
Prices & Ads — Both Apps Are Great
Both Signal and Telegram come with free versions, and I really like how the free versions provide access to pretty much all messaging features you need. The free versions also don’t come with inconvenient limitations.
Out of the two, only Telegram uses ads — Signal relies on donations. But I like how Telegram’s ads don’t feel intrusive, as they only show up in Telegram Channels. What’s more, Telegram doesn’t use personalized ads. Instead, they’re based on the Channel you’re in.
Only Telegram comes with a paid version, which is called Telegram Premium — it has a monthly and an annual plan. The premium version adds tons of perks, but I first want to highlight how the messaging service doesn’t pressure you into upgrading to the paid version. It doesn’t send you annoying pop-up notifications or anything like that. The only way you’ll read about the premium version is by accessing it in the settings menu.
Telegram’s premium version removes ads, and also provides other advantages, like unlimited cloud storage, voice-to-text conversion, faster download speeds, real-time translations, animated emojis, emoji statuses, profile badges, animated profile pictures, and more.
Winner (Prices & Ads): It’s a tie
I can’t recommend one app over the other since both of them have free versions that provide full access to all messaging features. And while Telegram’s free version uses ads, they’re not intrusive or personalized. Also, Telegram doesn’t pressure users into upgrading to its paid version (which by the way provides access to tons of extra perks, including advanced customization tools).
Platform Availability — Both Work on All Major Platforms
Signal and Telegram both have apps for all major platforms — iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux. Telegram also has a web app you can access via different browsers, and a browser extension that only works on Chrome OS.
The only difference I should highlight is that Signal’s desktop apps require you to also have the mobile app installed on your device. That’s because, to log in, you’ll need to use the mobile app to scan a QR code on your desktop device. Telegram also has you log into the desktop apps by scanning a QR code, but it allows you to log in with just your phone number too (it sends you a verification code via SMS).
Winner (Platform Availability): It’s a tie
Both apps provide excellent cross-platform support, as they’re available on all major mobile and desktop devices. Telegram also has a web app and a browser extension for Chrome OS. Also, with Signal, you’ll need the mobile app to log into its desktop apps.
Installation & Ease of Use — Both Are Super Intuitive
I found it very easy to install both messaging apps. Both Signal and Telegram have iOS and Android apps, and the installation process is similar for both services — you need to download and install the apps from the app store, give the app certain permissions, sign up with a phone number and verify it, and create a user profile.
On desktop, you just need to download the appropriate app for your device from the messaging service’s site. After that, you’ll need to sign in by scanning a QR code with the mobile app (Telegram also lets you sign in via your phone number and a verification code sent over SMS).
What’s more, both Signal and Telegram are extremely simple to use. Their interfaces are intuitive, and it only takes a few seconds to add contacts to your list and start messaging people. Also, I like how there are quick explanations for all settings and features, so you never feel lost while using these messaging apps.
Winner (Installation & Ease of Use): It’s a tie
Both messaging apps are extremely easy to install (on both mobile and desktop), and they’re also very simple to use — even if you’ve never used a messaging service before.
Customization — Telegram Is Way More Customizable
Both messaging apps provide great customization options, but Telegram is way more customizable than Signal by default — and upgrading to its paid version provides access to even more customization settings.
Signal provides decent customization, as it lets you personalize message bubble colors (pick from 20+ colors or create your own custom color), and it also lets you set a chat wallpaper. For wallpapers, you can pick from 20+ presets, or just upload photos from your device’s gallery. You can also pick the chat theme, though you only have 2 options — light or dark.
Signal also provides access to tons of emojis — it’s basically the same list of emojis you get with any messaging app. In addition, you can send GIFs and stickers in your conversations. Signal has a few built-in sticker packs, but it also lets you create your own sticker packs and install sticker packs that you receive from other people.
I also like how Signal lets you customize the app icon that shows up on your home screen. You get 10+ options, some of which are good for protecting your privacy — for example, you can make Signal’s app icon look like a weather or notes app to stop anyone from seeing that you have Signal installed on your phone.
However, Telegram provides a higher level of customization than Signal. It also lets you set a chat wallpaper, but provides way more options — 30+ colors to choose from, 60+ wallpapers to choose from, and the ability to use an image from your device’s gallery as a wallpaper.
You can also select from 5+ themes and can even build your own theme — you just pick from 5 presets and 20+ chat colors. What’s more, if you use a preset Telegram theme, you’re able to personalize it with custom colors. On top of that, you can also customize the app icon, though the free version comes with limited options (and there’s no option to completely mask the app icon like you get with Signal).
You also get access to tons of emojis, including standard and popular categories like Emoji & People, Animals and nature, Objects, and Travel and places. In addition, you can use GIFs and stickers in your conversations. And Telegram provides a huge variety of stickers — it has around 150+ built-in sticker packs, and each pack contains around 19–35 stickers on average.
Upgrading to the paid version of Telegram provides access to even more customization settings. You get access to premium stickers that feature additional effects, animated emojis, the ability to change the color of your profile and name, profile badges, and animated profile pictures.
Winner (Customization): Telegram
While Signal provides good levels of customization, there’s just no way it can compete with Telegram. With Telegram, you get tons of wallpaper options, you can create your own chat theme, and you also get a huge variety of built-in stickers — and that’s just with the free version. The paid version has heaps of extra customization settings, like animated profile images, animated emojis, profile badges, and more.
Popularity & Active Users — Telegram Has More Users
Both apps can be considered popular, but Telegram is definitely more well-known than Signal. Recent data puts Telegram’s total number of active monthly users at around 800 million — and that number is expected to increase to around 1.5 billion in the near future. For comparison, Signal only has around 40 million active users.
So basically your friends and family are more likely to use Telegram. And if they already are, it might be pretty difficult to get them to switch to Signal — unless they’re actually looking for a more private and secure alternative to Telegram.
Winner (Popularity & Active Users): Telegram
Telegram simply has way more active monthly users than Signal, and its user base is expected to increase exponentially in the near future. This doesn’t mean that Signal is unpopular, since it still has a pretty big user base — but unless your friends and family are already using Signal, it’s unlikely that they’ll switch from Telegram to this messaging service.
Bottom Line — Which Messaging App Should I Use?
Both apps are really good, so it ultimately depends on what you’re mainly interested in. If your main goal is to enjoy high-end security and privacy when talking with your friends and family, then Signal is the best pick — it uses E2EE by default for all conversations, it doesn’t log personal data (like your IP address), and it also provides access to more security features than Telegram.
But that’s not to say that Telegram isn’t secure. It is, but I think it’s better suited for people whose main concerns aren’t security and privacy — that’s because it only uses E2EE in certain conversations, and it also logs your IP address and profile data. That said, it’s an excellent pick for users who are looking for a really popular messaging app, as Telegram has significantly more active users than Signal. What’s more, Telegram provides more advanced customization options, and also has messaging features that are ideal for being part of or managing an online community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is safer — Signal or Telegram?
Both messaging apps are safe to use, but if security and privacy come first for you, I recommend going with Signal. First of all, it protects all conversations with end-to-end encryption (E2EE), whereas Telegram only provides E2EE for Secret Chats and voice and video calls. Also, unlike Telegram, Signal doesn’t collect your profile data and IP address, which reveal your location.
Does Telegram provide more customization options than Signal?
Yes, Telegram comes with way more customization options than Signal. Both apps allow you to customize chat colors and chat wallpapers and choose different themes, and they also have built-in emojis, stickers, and access to GIFs. But Telegram simply provides significantly better variety in terms of colors, themes, and stickers. What’s more, Telegram’s paid version comes with even more customization settings — animated profile pictures, animated emojis, profile badges, and profile name colors, just to name a few.
What devices can I use Signal and Telegram on?
Both Signal and Telegram have apps for all major devices — iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux. Telegram also has a web app for most browsers, and it has a browser extension for Chrome OS. Both messaging apps are very easy to install, and they’re extremely intuitive to use as well.
Does Signal collect less data than Telegram?
Yes — for example, Signal doesn’t collect any profile information, and it also doesn’t collect your IP address (which reveals your location). The only thing Signal collects is your phone number, which is required on sign-up. Telegram, on the other hand, logs your IP address and profile information, and it also collects device and performance data, which it says it’s legally required to do. So, overall, Signal is a much better choice if privacy is very important for you. That said, you can always use a VPN to mask your IP address.
Do Signal and Telegram display in-app ads?
Only Telegram shows-in app ads, but they’re not that bad. First of all, they’re not intrusive — they only show up in Telegram Channels, which are groups used to broadcast public messages to online communities. In addition, the ads are not personalized. The text you see is based on the Channel you’re in, not on your private conversations. Plus, you can get rid of ads by upgrading to Telegram’s paid version, which is pretty affordable.