Both Telegram and Signal offer significantly better options that WhatsApp, with full iPad and desktop apps. But a messaging platform is only as useful as its userbase, that may continue due to its default end-to-end encryption on offer—a must for any messaging service.”
Probably the best Messaging Secure app today
Signal is a cross-platform centralized encrypted messaging service developed by the Signal Technology Foundation and Signal Messenger LLC. It uses the Internet to send one-to-one and group messages, which can include files, voice notes, images and videos. It can also be used to make one-to-one and group voice and video calls, and the Android version can optionally function as an SMS app.
Signal uses standard cellular telephone numbers as identifiers and secures all communications to other Signal users with end-to-end encryption. The apps include mechanisms by which users can independently verify the identity of their contacts and the integrity of the data channel.
Signal’s software is free and open-source. Its clients are published under the GPLv3 license, while the server code is published under the AGPLv3 license. The official Android app generally uses the proprietary Google Play Services (installed on most Android devices) for functions such as push notifications. Signal also has an official client app for iOS and desktop apps for Windows, MacOS and Linux.
The non-profit Signal Foundation was launched in February 2018 with initial funding of $50 million from Brian Acton. As of June 2020, Signal had more than 32.4 million total downloads, and the app had approximately 20 million monthly active users as of December 2020. Wikipedia
Telegram is a freeware, cross-platform, cloud-based instant messaging (IM) software and application service. The service also provides end-to-end encrypted video calling, VoIP, file sharing and several other features. It was initially launched for iOS on 14 August 2013 and Android in October 2013. The application servers of Telegram are distributed worldwide to decrease data load, while the operational center is currently based in Dubai. Various Telegram client apps are available for desktop and mobile platforms including official apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux, as well as for the now-discontinued Windows Phone. There is also an official web interface and numerous unofficial clients that make use of Telegram’s protocol. All of Telegram’s official apps are open source.
Telegram provides end-to-end encrypted calls and optional end-to-end encrypted “secret” chats between two online users on smartphone clients, whereas cloud chats use client-server/server-client encryption where the server is in possession of the decryption key. Users can send text and voice messages, animated stickers, make voice and video calls, and share an unlimited number of images, documents (2 GB per file), user locations, contacts, and music. In January 2021, Telegram surpassed 500 million monthly active users. It was the 8th most downloaded app worldwide in 2020. Wikipedia
“Respect for Users”: The Reason Why Many Are Switching From WhatsApp to Telegram
What is Telegram and how different it is from other messaging apps?
