Signal for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android

+	End-to-End Encryption	Encrypts text messages, voice calls, and video calls so that only the sender and the intended recipient can access the content
+	Disappearing Messages	Allows users to set a timer for messages so that they are automatically deleted after a defined period, helping manage conversation history
+	Group Chats	Enables creation of group conversations and supports multiple participants along with tools for group management
+	Screen Security	Includes a function that stops external programs from capturing what is displayed on the screen, reducing the chance of content being copied from the device’s display
+	Voice Calls	Provides the ability to make one-on-one or group voice calls, facilitating real-time audio communication between users
+	Video Calls	Offers one-on-one or group video calls to allow live visual interaction between participants
+	Message Reactions	Permits users to respond to a received message with a small visual icon, letting them acknowledge or indicate a response quickly
+	Note-to-Self Chat	Provides a private conversation where users can send messages to themselves to store reminders or personal notes
+	Reply to Specific Message	Allows users to reply directly to an individual message within a conversation to maintain context in discussions
+	Message Scheduling	Lets users set a future time for sending a message, supporting planned communication without immediate delivery
+	Edit Message	Enables users to modify a message after it has been sent, which assists in correcting errors or updating information
+	Archiving Chats	Offers the option to move conversations into an archive, helping to organize the main chat list without deleting data
+	Pinning Chats	Permits users to fix selected conversations at the top of the chat list for easier and faster access
+	Incognito Keyboard	Supports a mode that helps prevent a keyboard’s suggestion data from being logged during messaging sessions
+	Screen Sharing Desktop	Allows users to share their entire screen during a call through the desktop client, which aids in collaborative work
+	Phone Number Privacy	Offers controls to manage the visibility of a user’s phone number within the app, which helps in protecting personal information
+	User Mentions in Group Chats	Supports the ability to tag or mention specific group members, which helps direct messages within a group conversation
+	Group Administration Controls	Provides tools for group administrators to add or remove participants and adjust group settings for better management
-	Restricted User Base	Has fewer registered users compared to other messaging platforms restricting the ability of users to connect with all their contacts on a single app
-	Fewer Supplementary Functions	Does not include functions such as status updates or integrated chatbots that are available on several competing messaging apps, which some users may prefer
-	Phone Number Requirement	Requires a phone number for account registration. This requirement restricts users who wish to maintain a separate digital identity or communicate anonymously without linking the app to their personal phone number.
-	Local Backup Only	Offers only local backup options that require manual file management by the user. This backup method restricts users from automatically restoring their chat history when switching to a new device.
-	Mobile Activation Dependency	Activation for desktop or tablet versions depends on the mobile application, which prevents users from initiating a new session solely on non-mobile devices

End-to-End Encryption

Encrypts text messages, voice calls, and video calls so that only the sender and the intended recipient can access the content

Disappearing Messages

Allows users to set a timer for messages so that they are automatically deleted after a defined period, helping manage conversation history

Group Chats

Enables creation of group conversations and supports multiple participants along with tools for group management

Screen Security

Includes a function that stops external programs from capturing what is displayed on the screen, reducing the chance of content being copied from the device’s display

Voice Calls

Provides the ability to make one-on-one or group voice calls, facilitating real-time audio communication between users

Video Calls

Offers one-on-one or group video calls to allow live visual interaction between participants

Message Reactions

Permits users to respond to a received message with a small visual icon, letting them acknowledge or indicate a response quickly

Note-to-Self Chat

Provides a private conversation where users can send messages to themselves to store reminders or personal notes

Reply to Specific Message

Allows users to reply directly to an individual message within a conversation to maintain context in discussions

Message Scheduling

Lets users set a future time for sending a message, supporting planned communication without immediate delivery

Edit Message

Enables users to modify a message after it has been sent, which assists in correcting errors or updating information

Archiving Chats

Offers the option to move conversations into an archive, helping to organize the main chat list without deleting data

Pinning Chats

Permits users to fix selected conversations at the top of the chat list for easier and faster access

Incognito Keyboard

Supports a mode that helps prevent a keyboard’s suggestion data from being logged during messaging sessions

Screen Sharing

Desktop

Allows users to share their entire screen during a call through the desktop client, which aids in collaborative work

Phone Number Privacy

Offers controls to manage the visibility of a user’s phone number within the app, which helps in protecting personal information

User Mentions in Group Chats

Supports the ability to tag or mention specific group members, which helps direct messages within a group conversation

Group Administration Controls

Provides tools for group administrators to add or remove participants and adjust group settings for better management

Restricted User Base

Has fewer registered users compared to other messaging platforms restricting the ability of users to connect with all their contacts on a single app

Fewer Supplementary Functions

Does not include functions such as status updates or integrated chatbots that are available on several competing messaging apps, which some users may prefer

Phone Number Requirement

Requires a phone number for account registration. This requirement restricts users who wish to maintain a separate digital identity or communicate anonymously without linking the app to their personal phone number.

Local Backup Only

Offers only local backup options that require manual file management by the user. This backup method restricts users from automatically restoring their chat history when switching to a new device.

Mobile Activation Dependency

Activation for desktop or tablet versions depends on the mobile application, which prevents users from initiating a new session solely on non-mobile devices

#	Minimum
1	Android 5.0 or later
2	Android tablets are not supported.

Minimum

#	Minimum
1	iOS 15 or later

#	Minimum
1	iPadOS 15 or later
2	You can link the iPad to your phone Chat history is not transferred from the phone iPad can be used as a separate device, if you can receive SMS (not iMessage) or phone calls to that number

#	Minimum
1	Windows 10 and 11 macOS 11 (Big Sur) and above Linux 64-bit distributions supporting APT, like Ubuntu or Debian
2	You need a mobile device to use Signal. Signal Desktop must be linked with either Signal Android or Signal iOS to send and receive messages.

Minimum

Apple App Store	4.8 5 based on 881500 reviews
Google Play	4.5 5 based on 2680000 reviews
PCMag	4.5 5 based on 41500 reviews

Apple App Store

4.8

based on 881500 reviews

Google Play

4.5

based on 2680000 reviews

PCMag

4.5

based on 41500 reviews

Signal

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