# Signal Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Private encrypted messaging Category: Communication · Free · Open source · Replaces WhatsApp (data concerns) · [Official website](https://signal.org) ## Install with Homebrew `brew install --cask signal` ## Quick take Signal is the gold standard for private messaging. It does one thing and does it extraordinarily well: lets you communicate without anyone, not the company, not advertisers, not governments, reading your conversations. The tradeoff is a smaller user base and fewer features than WhatsApp or Telegram. But if privacy is a requirement rather than a nice-to-have, Signal is the only mainstream messenger that delivers on that promise without qualification. Best for: Privacy-Conscious Users, Developers Sharing Credentials, Journalists and Legal Professionals ## What is Signal? Signal is a messaging app built entirely around the idea that private conversations should be the default, not a premium feature. Developed by the Signal Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, it provides end-to-end encrypted text messaging, voice calls, video calls, group chats, and file sharing across iOS, Android, and desktop. The encryption protocol Signal uses (the Signal Protocol) is so well-designed that WhatsApp, Google Messages, and Facebook Messenger adopted it for their own encrypted modes. The difference is that Signal doesn't collect metadata, doesn't serve ads, doesn't build user profiles, and can't read your messages even if served with a court order. The organization has publicly demonstrated this: when subpoenaed by a grand jury, Signal could only produce the date an account was created and the date it last connected. No message content, no contact lists, no group memberships. The macOS desktop app syncs with your phone via an encrypted link. Messages are stored locally on your devices, not on Signal's servers. The desktop client supports everything the mobile app does: individual and group messages, voice messages, disappearing messages, reactions, stickers, stories, polls, pinned messages, and username-based contact (so you can message people without sharing your phone number). It's an Electron app with proper macOS notifications, system dark mode support, and keyboard shortcuts. For developers and privacy-conscious professionals, Signal is the messaging app that respects you enough to not monetize your conversations. ## Features - **End-to-End Encryption by Default.** Every message, call, and file sent through Signal is end-to-end encrypted using the Signal Protocol. There's no option to send unencrypted messages, privacy isn't a setting you toggle on, it's the foundation. The protocol uses the Double Ratchet Algorithm with AES-256, HMAC-SHA256, and Curve25519 primitives. Signal has also implemented post-quantum cryptography with PQXDH and SPQR to protect against future quantum computing threats. Even Signal's own servers can't decrypt your messages. - **Sealed Sender.** Signal's Sealed Sender feature encrypts the sender's identity so that Signal's servers don't know who is sending a message to whom. Traditional messaging services log sender-receiver pairs as metadata even when message content is encrypted. Signal eliminates this metadata linkage, making traffic analysis significantly harder. - **Disappearing Messages.** Set messages to auto-delete after a configurable time period (from 30 seconds to 4 weeks) on a per-conversation basis. Both parties see the timer, and messages are deleted from both devices when it expires. Useful for sharing sensitive information that shouldn't persist, credentials, addresses, financial details. - **Username-Based Contact.** Signal supports usernames that let you message people without revealing your phone number. You create a unique username, share it or a QR code, and others can message you without either party knowing the other's phone number. This is particularly valuable for public-facing professionals, open-source maintainers, and journalists who need private communication channels. - **Group Chats with Admin Controls.** Signal groups support up to 1,000 members with admin controls, mentions, reply threading, and the same end-to-end encryption as individual chats. Group membership is invisible to Signal's servers, they can't see who's in your groups. Admins can control who can add members, edit group info, and send messages. Group member labels let you identify roles (like 'Coach' or 'Captain') within groups. - **Pinned Messages and Polls.** Pin important messages to the top of 1-to-1 and group chats for easy reference, keep frequently asked questions, addresses, or itineraries visible without scrolling. Signal also supports polls for quick group decision-making: ask where to meet for dinner, which movie to watch, or get consensus on team decisions. - **Desktop App with Full Feature Parity.** The macOS desktop app links to your phone and syncs messages locally. It supports text, voice messages, file sharing, reactions, stickers, disappearing messages, pinned messages, polls, and chat folders. Notifications integrate with macOS notification center. The app runs independently once linked, your phone doesn't need to be online for the desktop client to send and receive messages. ## How to Install Signal on Mac Signal Desktop is available via Homebrew Cask and requires a phone (iOS or Android) for initial setup. 1. **Install via Homebrew.** Run `brew install --cask signal` in your terminal. This downloads the official macOS application from Signal's servers. 2. **Link to Your Phone.** Open Signal Desktop. It shows a QR code. On your phone, go to Signal Settings → Linked Devices → Link New Device, and scan the QR code. Your message history syncs locally. 3. **Verify Safety Numbers.** For critical contacts, verify Safety Numbers by comparing the code displayed in the conversation info panel. This confirms that no man-in-the-middle has intercepted your encryption keys. 4. **Configure Privacy Settings.** Set a default disappearing message timer for new conversations in Settings → Privacy → Default Timer. Enable Screen Security to prevent Signal content from appearing in screenshots or the macOS app switcher. ## Pros - End-to-end encryption for all messages, calls, and files by default - Non-profit with no incentive to monetize user data - Sealed Sender hides metadata from Signal's own servers - Username-based contact without sharing phone numbers - Open-source protocol audited by independent security researchers - Desktop app works independently once linked - Disappearing messages with configurable timers ## Cons - Requires a phone number for initial registration (despite username support) - Smaller user base than WhatsApp or Telegram makes adoption harder - Desktop app is Electron-based (higher memory usage than native apps) - Limited bot/integration ecosystem compared to Telegram or Slack - Secure backups are opt-in and still rolling out across platforms ## FAQ ### Is Signal really more private than WhatsApp? Yes. While WhatsApp uses the Signal Protocol for message encryption, Meta (WhatsApp's owner) collects extensive metadata: who you message, when, how often, your IP address, device info, and location data. This metadata is shared with other Meta companies for ad targeting. Signal collects almost nothing, only your registration date and last connection date. ### Can Signal read my messages? No. Messages are end-to-end encrypted with keys that only exist on your devices. Signal's servers relay encrypted blobs they can't decrypt. This has been proven in court: when subpoenaed, Signal could only produce two timestamps per account. ### Why does Signal need my phone number? Signal uses phone numbers as account identifiers to bootstrap the contact discovery process. However, you can create a username and share that instead of your phone number. Your phone number is not visible to people who find you via username. ### Does Signal Desktop work without my phone? Yes, once initially linked. The desktop app operates independently, it has its own encryption keys and can send and receive messages even when your phone is off, out of battery, or on a different network. ### What happens if I lose my phone? If you haven't enabled Secure Backups, your message history on that phone is lost. You can re-register your phone number on a new device, and your desktop app will continue working. If you enabled Registration Lock, no one else can re-register your number without your PIN. With Signal's new Secure Backups feature (rolling out in 2025), you can opt in to back up text conversations for free and restore them on a new device. ### Is Signal good for teams? For small teams sharing sensitive information, yes. For full team communication with channels, threads, integrations, and search, use Slack or similar. Signal is a secure messenger, not a collaboration platform. ### Who funds Signal? The Signal Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit funded by donations and grants. WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton provided initial funding of $50 million. Ongoing costs are covered by user donations. There is no venture capital, no ads, and no data monetization. ## Sources - [Signal Foundation](https://signalfoundation.org/) - [Signal Messenger](https://signal.org/) - [Download Signal for Mac](https://signal.org/download/macos/) - [Signal Blog](https://signal.org/blog/) - [GitHub - signalapp/Signal-Desktop: A private messenger for Windows, macOS, and Linux](https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop) - [GitHub - signalapp/libsignal: Home to the Signal Protocol cryptography library](https://github.com/signalapp/libsignal) - [Forget Apple vs. the FBI: WhatsApp Just Switched on Encryption for a Billion People](https://www.wired.com/2016/04/forget-apple-vs-fbi-whatsapp-just-switched-encryption-billion-people/) - [Google is rolling out end-to-end encryption for RCS in Android Messages](https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/19/21574451/android-rcs-encryption-message-end-to-end-beta) - [Signal introduces free and paid backup plans for your chats](https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/08/signal-introduces-free-and-paid-backup-plans-for-your-chats/) - [Signal Protocol and Post-Quantum Ratchets](https://signal.org/blog/spqr/) ## Related - [Slack](https://bundl.run/apps/slack) - [Discord](https://bundl.run/apps/discord) - [Zoom](https://bundl.run/apps/zoom) - [WhatsApp](https://bundl.run/apps/whatsapp) - [Telegram](https://bundl.run/apps/telegram) - [Thunderbird](https://bundl.run/apps/thunderbird) - [Signal vs Telegram](https://bundl.run/compare/signal-vs-telegram) - [Signal vs WhatsApp](https://bundl.run/compare/signal-vs-whatsapp) - [Signal vs Element](https://bundl.run/compare/element-vs-signal) - [Free alternative to WhatsApp](https://bundl.run/https:/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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