Signal vs Telegram vs WhatsApp

TLDR:

Signal is the best choice

TLDR explanation:

With the recent backslash on Facebook on updating WhatsApp's privacy policy a lot of people (especially Indians) are leaving WhatsApp and moving to Signal and Telegram.

I'll compare their merits and demerits point-by-point:

#1 Privacy

• All Signal, Telegram and WhatsApp use End2End Encryption but Telegram's doesn't have E2E enabled by default and is not available for group chats.
• WhatsApp and Signal use the Signal protocol and is completely E2E. Neither of then can read your texts but WhatsApp does collect your meta-data and monetizes it.
• Signal doesn't store your meta-data or other information such has who you text with and your profile picture.

Verdict: Signal wins

#2 Encryption backdoors

• Telegram holds your encryption keys which essentially gives them a backdoor access to your data and meta data.
• Signal and WhatsApp don't hold your encryption keys but WhatsApp cannot be verified. Though governments have been trying to setup backdoors in WhatsApp.

Verdict: Signal wins

#3 Verifiability (Open Source)

• WhatsApp is completely proprietary and both the app and back-end are closed source. None of the claims by Facebook/WhatsApp can be verified.
• Telegram's app is open-source and can be verified but their back-end is still closed source.
• Signal's both app and back-end are open-source.

Verdict: Signal wins

#4 Features

• All WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram are feature-rich and can do everything you'll find useful.
• WhatsApp have stories and payments.
• Telegram has the ability to create bots which increases use-cases.
• You can add up to 200,000 members in a group in Telegram.

Verdict: Telegram wins

#5 Platform's Future

• Signal is a non-profit and runs completely on generous donations.
• Telegram plans to injects ads in their app.
• WhatsApp is a for-profit and monetizes your personal lives.

Verdict: Signal wins

#6 Reputation

• Signal is recommended by privacy advocates such as Edward Snowden, WhatsApp's co-founder and Elon Musk
• Telegram is very popular among crypto communities
• WhatsApp is owned by Facebook so it has a very bad reputation.

Verdict: Signal wins

#6 Disadvantages

• WhatsApp:
  - Not private
  - Owned by Facebook
  - Shares data with Facebook
• Telegram:
  - Telegram holds your encryption keys
  - Planned Ads
• Signal:
  - Less features compared to Telegram.

Final verdict: Signal is the best choice. Privacy is a fundamental human right and Signal truly respects that.

Notable source:

• Telegram is not secure: https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/49782/is-telegram-secure