Both Telegram and Signal are being considered the best Whatsapp alternatives given the security features offered. Should you switch?
WhatsApp's new policy update has sparked concerns among netizens with most users saying that they would prefer switching to a different chatting app. The Facebook-owned messenger app updated its Privacy policy which allows other Facebook-owned companies to access WhatsApp user data.
The message elaborates for users the ways WhatsApp handles data and how it partners with Facebook to allow integrations across multiple apps.
While Facebook has always been doubted with misusing user data, the new Whatsapp privacy policies throw at ton of questions over its security and data privacy.
Both Telegram and Signal (endorsed by world's richest man, Elon Musk) are being considered the best Whatsapp alternatives given the security features offered. Should you switch?
1. Features
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Telegram app is quite similar to WhatsApp when it comes to basic features such as chats, group chats, and channels. However, unlike WhatsApp's 256 member limit, Telegram brings support for groups with up to 200,000 members. The app also offers a unique feature, self-destructing messages which is great if you’re sending messages that you don’t want to remain on the recipient's device.
The size limit for sharing files on Telegram is a whopping 1.5 GB. The app now has both voice and video call on Android and iOS devices.
Signal has a feature similar to the self-destructing messages of Telegram. The best feature of Signal is 'Note to Self'. Unlike WhatsApp, you don't have to create a single-member group to send notes to yourself. On Signal, the feature is available natively. Signal also offers its users secure messaging and all communications are end-to-end encrypted.
2. Audio, video and group calls
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Telegram allows more than 200,000 users in a group. It also supports audio and video calls as well. All video calls are end-to-end encrypted.
Signal supports group features with a maximum of 150 members. It has recently added group video calls. The app also supports regular video and audio calls, which are also end-to-end encrypted.
3. End to end encryption
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While Telegram supports E2E encryption, it’s not enabled by default. The only way to use E2E encryption on Telegram is to use its secret chats feature. Telegram groups are not encrypted because Secret Chats are only supported for single-user communication.
Signal is by far the best when it comes to security, be it on the back-end or the user-facing side of the service. Signal uses the open-source Signal Protocol to implement end-to-end encryption. And just like WhatsApp, the E2E encryption covers all forms of communication on Signal.
4. Advertisements: Free or paid?
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Telegram is an ad-free service for now. But it recently announced its monetisation plans and also confirmed that the advertisement interface will be user-friendly.
Signal is totally free. The app is run by a non-profit. It does not sell your data or monetise it and does not have advertisements.
5. Data collected
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The data collected by Telegram includes name, phone number, contacts and user ID, according to the privacy label on the Apple App Store.
The key priority of Signal is user privacy, which is why the app doesn't collect any user data, as per the privacy labels provided on the App Store.The app only stores your phone number or contact information.
When it comes to data collection, this is one of the most minimal apps out there.
