Signal vs WhatsApp

Signal

Pros
• Stronger privacy and security 👍
• End-to-end encryption (like WhatsApp), but Signal is open source and fully transparent.
• No metadata storage; minimal data collection (just your phone number).
• Independent, nonprofit organization 🤗
• No ads, no data monetization, no ties to big tech companies 🤗
• Extra privacy features
• Disappearing messages.
• Stories now available
• Screenshot blocking.
• Registration lock PIN.
• New features, active updates
• Strong community

Cons
• Smaller user base
• Fewer friends and contacts using it, so may be harder to fully switch.
• Fewer features (although lots of new options anticipated)
• Fewer backup options (big update in beta for cloud backup and sync)
• Restoring on a new phone requires manual steps (for now.)

WhatsApp

Pros
• Huge global user base
• More ‘features’
• Status updates, large group chats, broadcast lists, integrated payments in some regions.
• Cloud backups
• Convenient to restore chats when changing devices.

Cons
• Owned by Meta (Facebook/Zuckerberg) 🤑
• Collects more metadata (contacts, usage patterns, device info) 😡
• Privacy concerns re: future data sharing with Facebook ecosystem 👎
• Limited transparency
• Ads recently announced (coming soon) 😬
• Not open source.

Tips for switching from WhatsApp to Signal

1. Tell your contacts first
• Let people know you’re moving, so they install Signal too.
• You can set a WhatsApp status or send a broadcast message to explain.
• App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/signal-private-messenger/id874139669
• Play Store Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thoughtcrime.securesms&pcampaignid=web_share

2. Download and set up Signal
• Install Signal from App Store or Google Play.
• Register with your phone number.
• Set a PIN for extra security.

3. Check privacy settings
• Enable Registration Lock to prevent account hijacking.
• Set disappearing messages if you want extra privacy by default.

4. Export important WhatsApp data (if needed)
• You can export chats from WhatsApp as text files or PDFs for personal records (not directly imported into Signal).
• Go to a WhatsApp chat → More → Export Chat → Save to email or files.

5. Recreate groups manually
• Signal doesn’t import WhatsApp groups automatically.
• Create new groups in Signal and invite contacts.

6. Turn off WhatsApp notifications
• Temporarily mute or disable to help you transition.

7. Keep WhatsApp installed (optional)
• You can keep it for legacy chats while encouraging new chats on Signal.
• Over time, use Signal as your default.

 Now is the time to make the switch to Signal, protect your data and stop supporting the billionaire class 👍