WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal - Which is best?
Have you wondered why?
Whenever we think of communicating with others, we usually think of Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.
However, both of the apps were not as safe as they appear.
According to WhatsApps new policy update, the company will now share user data with other Facebook Companies.
Before the new policy update, every chat on WhatsApp used to be protected with end-to-end encryption.
There are quite a few WhatsApp alternatives that offer similar features and better privacy options.
We will compare the security protocol and features of three leading apps Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal.
Over the years, WhatsApp has been known for its end-to-end encryption.
What more important is that WhatsApp enables end-to-end encryption on every mode of communication that the app has.
Its also worth noting that Open Whisper System originally develops the end-to-end encryption protocol used by WhatsApp.
For those who dont know, Open Whisper System is also a developer of the Signal messaging app.
The only downside of WhatsApp is that it doesnt encrypt any form of backups.
Also, it doesnt encrypt the metadata used to carry the communication between the two endpoints.
WhatsApp is right now the leading messaging app available for Android & iOS.
The app uses your phones internet connection to exchange text messages, make voice & video calls, etc.
Apart from regular instant messaging features, WhatsApp also has Disappearing Messages, WhatsApp Payment, etc.
If we talk about the group chats, the app supports group chat with up to 256 members.
The group video calls were restricted to 8 users at a time.
Along with communication features, WhatsApp also has a feature known as Status, similar to Instagram Stories.
Signal
When it comes to security & privacy, no other instant messaging app can compete with Signal.
Signal is a messaging app that takes the users privacy & security very seriously.
To protect users, it uses the open-source Signal Protocol to implement end-to-end encryption.
Whats more important is that it enforces end-to-end encryption on every form of communication thats available within the app.
What makes the signal more capable than WhatsApp is its Sealed Sender protocol.
Yes, signal also lets you create encrypted local backups as well.
It doesnt have features like Status, Payments, etc., but it does have all the necessary features.
you’re free to exchange text messages, make voice & video calls on the platform.
The latest version of the app also got the group calling feature as well.
It also supports emojis and privacy stickers, but they are very limited in numbers.
Overall, Signal is the right choice.
Telegram
Over the years, we have wondered that Telegram is the best choice for security & privacy.
However, this section will change your thinking.
Actually, Telegrams security is questionable, and it comes nowhere close to what WhatsApp and Signal offer.
Telegram does support end-to-end encryption, but its limited to only secret chats.
Also, theres one thing important to note here.
As of now, the company has shared no data with third-parties and the government.
In the secret chats feature, Telegram uses its own encryption protocol, MTProto.
The protocol is acceptable, but its a closed-source protocol.
So, security researchers cant verify the protocol used to encrypt the chats.
While both Signal and WhatsApp offers features that users would really need, Telegram is overloaded with features.
Some of the app features were really useful, but others were just there for no reason.
Yes, you get basic features such as text chats, group chats, and channels.
Telegram is focused more on groups rather than individual chats.
In fact, you or your friends might be using Telegram just for using the Channels to download things.
The platform is also best for file sharing because it doesnt compress your files.
So, this is a detailed comparison between Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp.
In our opinion, Signal is the best choice as it stands out in every section.
If you love to communicate in groups, then Telegram might be the best pick for you.
I hope this article helped you!
c’mon share it with your friends also.
Also, let us know which messaging app you will use after reading this article.
