Telegram vs. Signal: What to Choose in 2025?

In today’s world, it is impossible to imagine life without messengers. They play a key role in everyday communication between friends, co-workers, or family members.

In the huge variety of convenient messaging apps, there are two clear leaders: Telegram vs. Signal. Both messengers, with its own characteristics, approach to security and user experience, break records for downloads and daily usage among users.

Nevertheless, there are differences between messengers: not only in terms of functionality but also in terms of positioning. If you want to find out which messenger is the best to use in 2025, then read this messaging app comparison and make the right choice based on your needs.

What is Telegram?

Telegram is a private chat app messenger created in 2013 by Pavel Durov, the founder of the VKontakte social network. Pavel founded Telegram (cloud based messaging app) together with his brother Nikolai. The main purpose of creating a messenger is to provide an authentic communication platform that would be impossible for third parties to access.

With the development of the secure messaging app and the addition of new functionality, the platform has gained popularity due to its speed, secure communication, ease of use, and flexibility.

The main features of Telegram are self-destructing messages, secret chat mode, support for large groups and public channels, convenient cloud storage, a powerful bot system, and the ability to send files, photos, and videos without loss of quality.

What is Signal?

Signal is a non-commercial, open-source protocol messenger created with a priority on privacy and security. Its developer is the independent community Signal Foundation. At the same time, the messenger is funded solely through donations, without advertising or data collection.

Signal is a privacy focused app. It began to gain popularity due to the active use of the messenger by journalists, human rights activists, and those who choose anonymity online. At the same time, Signal offers end-to-end encryption by default, a minimalistic interface, and maximum protection without unnecessary functions.

Privacy & Security

Let’s start comparing messengers with the privacy and security block. Let’s take a closer look at how each of the messengers solves the problem of network security, and what methods it offers for this.

Data Encryption

Telegram uses its own Telegram MTProto protocol, which encrypts all messages between the client and the server, and not between users. With this technology, there is a chance that Telegram can access the data on its servers, which means that anyone else can do it. At the same time, end-to-end encryption is used only in secret chats, on one device.

Signal uses the Signal Protocol, a reliable end-to-end encryption system that applies to all messages, calls, and transferred files. At the same time, the protocol is publicly available and anyone can check it for security, which indicates a high level of protection of such an encryption system, and the safety of all user correspondence in the messenger.

So far, Signal offers end-to-end encryption for all messages, while Telegram uses it only for secret chats.

Data collection & Storage

Concerning information collection and data storage, the situation is as follows.

Telegram stores all messages in cloud storage, allowing access to it for any device. However, this means that the contents of the chats are on Telegram servers (except for information from secret chats). In addition, Telegram collects metadata: IP address, device information, and login history, which could potentially pose a threat to privacy.

Signal collects a minimum of information about users — only the phone number. At the same time, all messages, calls, and transferred files are not stored on servers, and remain on the user’s device. In addition, Signal does not monitor user activity in any way, does not collect metadata, and does not use advertising, which makes it one of the most private messengers.

Thus, Signal offers maximum data protection, whereas Telegram sacrifices some privacy and provides it exclusively for specific chats.

Transparency & Audit

There are also some differences in the issue of transparency and auditing of the messenger. 

For example, Telegram provides open source code only for client applications, while the server part is kept secret from outsiders. This decision is criticized by cybersecurity experts, as they cannot conduct an independent audit of the security system and make a decision regarding bugs or problems in the application.

Signal, on the other hand, has a high degree of transparency. The messenger has made the source code of the platform, including the client and server parts, publicly available. This allows independent experts to regularly conduct security audits and identify various vulnerabilities that have a positive impact on the development and improvement of the messenger.

The main conclusion is that Signal is completely open for inspections and improvements, while Telegram is a partially closed community without a transparent and independent audit.

Ease of Use

The next point of comparison is the ease of use of each messenger.

Device support & Synchronization

Telegram is available on all platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. The app works perfectly on mobile and web devices. At the same time, the operation of the platform is not tied to a smartphone in any way. In addition, one user profile can be used on an unlimited number of devices — all data is automatically synchronized, providing quick and convenient access to correspondence from any device.

Signal also works on all of the above platforms. However, unlike Telegram, you need to link your profile to your mobile device to start using it on your PC. In addition, one profile can only be used in 5 connected devices, as synchronization is limited: messages are stored locally and not transmitted through the cloud, which ensures security but reduces convenience.

In this regard, Telegram wins, offering convenience and multiplatform, while Signal offers security and data control.

By the way, when it comes to usability and a variety of functionality, Nicegram, an alternative client based on the Telegram API, offers a wide variety of functionality that is not available in both messengers, which may be the best option:

• Built-in GPT-Powered AI Assistant.
• Advanced Cache.
• Telegram Spy.
• Nicegram Folders.
• Censored Groups & Channels Access.
• Image Generation, etc.

At the same time, if you have an active Telegram profile, you can use it through Nicegram and get more opportunities for convenient communication or pastime.

*Discover: How to Use Spy on Telegram Feature? Switch to Nicegram!

Transparency & Governance

The final point of comparison is the transparency of work and the management of messengers.

Ownership & Financing model

As mentioned earlier, Telegram is a private messenger that is fully controlled by its founder Pavel Durov. Telegram does not receive funding from outside, as it has already established a paid subscription system for various additional functions. For example, in 2021, it was appeared the Telegram Premium subscription, offering advanced features. Telegram can also use sponsored messages in public channels, which is partly due to the commercial monetization model.

Signal is managed entirely by the non-profit organization Signal Foundation. The main source of funding is donations and grants. At the same time, the messenger does not advertise or collect user data for monetization. This approach ensures independence from commercial interests and maximum privacy protection.

Thus, Telegram skillfully combines toll-free access with commercial elements, while Signal is not focused on profit, but only on user convenience.

Privacy Policy

Regarding the data privacy policy, Telegram offers a multi-level and complex document. The document reflects both data protection methods and information about storing the user’s IP address, device information, contact list, and even messages. At the same time, according to the court’s decision, Telegram provides the necessary data to law enforcement agencies.

Signal adheres to a clear and transparent privacy policy. Its document emphasizes the security of use and protection of all data, in addition, the lack of storage of user messages, their contact list, and any metadata. The only information that is saved is the phone number required for registration.

That is, Telegram can potentially allow outsiders to access the data, while Signal completely eliminates this scenario.

Messengers Usage Examples

So, for whom and for what purposes is Telegram suitable?

Telegram is a universal messenger suitable for any audience and its request. There are functions for creating and moderating groups (group chat size is up to 200,000 participants), public channels, built-in bots, as well as many tools not only for communication but also for promoting news, communities, and even business.

*Discover: How to Disable Filtering Telegram Function and Get Access to All Sensitive Content?

Who can use Signal?

Signal is more suitable for those who value data privacy and anonymity. This messenger is perfect for journalists, human rights defenders, activists, as well as ordinary users who want to protect data from their correspondence from outsiders. Signal is often used in settings where privacy is a security issue, for example, when communicating in countries with limited freedom of speech or during investigations.

The main conclusion: Telegram is a messenger for communication, information, and work in a public environment. Signal is for those who want to make sure that their messages don’t fall into the wrong hands.

Final Word

Based on the comparison, let’s summarize the following indisputable facts about each messenger. Telegram offers a wide range of functionality: groups, channels, bots, secret chats, cloud storage, and convenient synchronization. However, privacy is not in the first place here — end-to-end encryption is only available in secret chats, and some of the data is stored on servers.

Signal, on the contrary, offers maximum privacy: end-to-end encryption by default, minimal data collection, and open source make it one of the most secure messengers. But the functionality is limited, and the convenience may be inferior to Telegram.

Which one should you choose? Depends on your usage goals. However, choosing one option or another, you definitely will not lose, in any case.