Signal vs. WhatsApp: Which Protects Your Privacy More?

Though WhatsApp may be more popular, Signal is the more secure app. Signal has a stronger privacy policy, protects yours metdata, provides more flexibility for privacy-focused notifications, and more.

If you’re looking to increase your security by switching to a private messaging app, look no further than our article detailing the similarities, differences, and everything else you need to know about Signal and WhatsApp (including the best VPNs to keep your data secure).

What’s the difference between Signal and WhatsApp?

Both Signal and WhatsApp use the same encryption protocol from Open Whisper Systems and use end-to-end encryption, which means that only the sender and receiver can read the messages between them. The companies themselves cannot access any of these messages.

However, metadata is still created, and that is not protected by end-to-end encryption. This kind of data includes information about when the message was delivered and who it was sent to. Signal does have software that protects metadata, though, called Sealed Sender; it hides this data from Signal itself.

WhatsApp can see your metadata, and it shares account registration information (like your phone number), transaction data, service-related information, mobile device information, IP addresses, and more with Meta and third parties. It does not share conversations, call/messaging history, location, or contacts.

WhatsApp has had some security breaches in the past. In recent years, there was a security vulnerability that allowed a hacker to install malware on users’ phones. Though WhatsApp was able to fix these vulnerabilities and there were no indications that anyone was hacked, it did raise questions about WhatsApp’s security. 

In fact, WhatsApp's security and data collection issues caused Elon Musk to Tweet "Use Signal" in response. This led some to believe that Musk owns Signal, but it's actually owned by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton through Signal Messenger LLC.

Signal vs. WhatsApp security features compared

Feature	Signal	WhatsApp
Company headquarters	Denver, Colorado, United States	Menlo Park, California, United States (Meta)
End-to-end encryption
Self-destructing messages
Hide your phone number
Two-factor authentication
Open-source code
Chat history cloud storage	No, messages are saved on device	No, messages are saved on device
Screen lock
Compatibility	iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android, plus macOS, Windows, and Linux (Debian) desktop apps	iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android, macOS desktop app

Does Signal or WhatsApp collect your data?

Signal’s privacy policy says it does not sell, rent, or monetize personal data or content in any way. Calls and messages are always encrypted, and it only collects data provided by the user, such as the phone number used to register the account, profile name, a profile picture, messages, and contacts. However, this information is end-to-end encrypted.

The WhatsApp privacy policy notes it also collects data provided by users, such as the phone number used to register the account and a profile name. It states in its privacy policy that it uses its data for some third parties’ and Meta’s research on the app and its users.

How does Signal use your data?

Signal states in its privacy policy that it shares some data with third parties. For example, a third party will send a verification code to your phone number when you register with Signal. 

The privacy policy also explains that Signal may share data under certain circumstances:

• To comply with law enforcement and government requests
• To look into any potential violations
• To address security issues or fraud
• To protect the safety of Signal users

How does WhatsApp use your data?

WhatsApp states in its privacy policy that it uses data to understand how people use its services and how to improve them, to respond when a user contacts customer service, to verify accounts, and to provide users’ marketing from Meta Companies. 

WhatsApp does not allow third-party advertisements.

How to secure your messages with a VPN

One way to keep your private messages secure is by using a virtual private network (VPN). Although both WhatsApp and Signal use end-to-end encryption, this won't hide the fact that you're using these messaging apps. With a VPN, you can add additional encryption to your device and hide your online activities from unauthorized third parties. 

Here are some recommendations for VPNs to protect your messaging apps:

Signal vs. WhatsApp features

Signal and WhatsApp have similar messaging features that include voice, video, and text chats with both one-to-one and group messaging. However, when it comes to extra privacy settings, Signal has more options and customizations.

Verify new contacts

Both apps have built-in safety features that help verify new contacts.

Signal verifies new contacts with a unique safety number for each contact. This allows users to verify the privacy of their communication, and it helps protect against security attacks. 

This feature is most commonly used when a contact gets a new phone or re-installs Signal. If a safety number is marked as verified, any change must be manually approved before sending a new message.

WhatsApp has a security code feature that allows a user and a contact to verify that calls and messages are end-to-end encrypted. This code is found in the contact information screen as a QR code and a 60-digit number. 

This feature is only available in one-on-one chats. Users can enable security notifications to receive a notice when a security code changes.

Privacy-focused notifications

You can adjust the privacy of your WhatsApp notifications in two ways. You can turn off notifications entirely, or you can turn off message previews. However, you cannot modify the information shown on notifications beyond that.

For private notifications on Signal, the app takes these settings to the next level. Users can select what information notifications display – name and message, name only, and no name or message. You can also choose to hide notifications entirely.

Signal has more options to customize how much users want to show than WhatsApp.

Call relay

Call relay is a safety feature that puts calls through the messaging app's servers to avoid revealing the user’s IP address to the contact. This is important for your privacy because people can use IP addresses to determine your location. 

Both WhatsApp and Singall have call relay. When a call is relayed, the contact can only see Signal or WhatApp’s IP address, not the caller’s. Users can turn on a feature that will automatically relay all calls in their privacy settings.

Call relay is especially important in this day and age where anyone could be monitoring your digital presence. For example, the 5, 9, and 14 Eyes Alliances are groups of countries that have intelligence-sharing agreements and have come under scrutiny due to their impact on collecting and/or sharing what could be private data.

Self-destructing messages

Both Signal and WhatsApp offer disappearing or self-destructing message functionality.

In Signal, you can set a timer for messages to for a duration of up to four weeks. Timed Signal messages have a timer icon at the bottom of the message.

The timer for a sent disappearing message will start after the user has sent it. If the user receives a disappearing message, the timer will start once the user has read it.

WhatsApp users can set messages to disappear after 24 hours, seven days, or 90 days. In an individual chat, either user can turn disappearing messages on and off. In a group chat, any of the members can turn disappearing messages on or off, or a group admin can control settings to allow only admins to do this feature.

Signal allows users to set disappearing messages for any amount of time, meaning more flexibility and customization for the users.

Signal vs. WhatsApp FAQs

Bottom line: Is Signal better than WhatsApp?

When it comes to privacy, data protection, and customization of settings, Signal clearly offers more than WhatsApp. With its layers of added security and its allowance for users to truly customize what others see, Signal is the top private messaging app.

However, a secure messaging app isn’t the only thing you need to stay safe online. You can use a VPN like NordVPN to encrypt your entire internet connection.