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
