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Messaging

Signal

EU-Friendly

Send messages, make calls, and share files knowing nobody can listen in. Not even Signal.

US (non-profit)Free planFrom Free
Signal
Recommended
by Switch-to.eu

Signal vs WhatsApp

How does Signal compare to WhatsApp? Here is a side-by-side look at the key differences.

Feature
Signal
WhatsApp
Based in
US (non-profit)
United States
Free plan
Yes
Yes
Starting price
Free
Free
GDPR
GDPR Compliant
Partially Compliant
Open source
Yes
No
Data storage
United States (AWS infrastructure), Messages stored locally on user devices only
United States, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Singapore, Germany (EU local storage option)

Known concerns about WhatsApp

  • Shares messaging metadata with Meta for ad targeting across platforms
  • Fined EUR 230.5 million by Ireland's DPC for GDPR transparency and legal basis violations
  • Uploads your entire contact list to Meta servers during registration
  • Requires phone number to sign up, preventing anonymous use
  • Meta AI integrated in 2025 without user consent, no opt-out available in EU
  • Zero-click spyware exploit (CVE-2025-55177) discovered in 2025
  • Primary data storage in the United States, subject to US surveillance laws

Worth knowing

Features in WhatsApp that Signal doesn't have:

  • Cloud backup limitations: Unlike WhatsApp, Signal does not offer cloud backups to Google Drive or iCloud
  • Polls: Signal does not have a poll feature
  • Contact discovery: Signal requires both users to have the app installed before they can communicate with each other

Ready to try Signal?

Try it free or follow our step-by-step migration guide to make the switch.

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