Can I use Signal without giving my phone number?

Signal requires a phone number for registration. However, Signal has introduced username support, allowing you to share a username instead of your phone number for new contacts. Your phone number remains private from people who only have your username.

Does Signal have group video calls?

Yes. Signal supports group voice and video calls with up to 40 participants, all end-to-end encrypted. While not as feature-rich as Zoom or FaceTime, Signal's encrypted group calls provide secure video communication.

Can Telegram bots access my messages?

Bots in Telegram groups can only see messages directed to them (via commands or mentions) unless specifically configured by group admins to see all messages. Bots in channels have access to channel content. In private chats with bots, the bot sees your messages to it.

Which app has a better Mac desktop experience?

Telegram's Mac app is more polished and feature-complete, with full support for channels, bots, stickers, and themes. Signal's Mac app is functional for messaging and calls but lacks some mobile features. Both sync reliably with mobile devices.

Can I migrate from Telegram to Signal?

There's no automated migration. Install Signal, set it up with your phone number, and invite your Telegram contacts. Message history doesn't transfer. Many users keep both apps—Signal for private conversations and Telegram for communities.

Is Signal really used by journalists and activists?

Yes. Signal is the standard communication tool for journalists, activists, human rights workers, and government officials who need secure communications. Organizations like the New York Times, Washington Post, and many NGOs recommend Signal for confidential communications.

Can I create public groups or channels on Signal?

No. Signal does not support public groups, channels, or any form of broadcasting. All Signal groups are private—members must be invited and the group is only visible to its members. This is by design: Signal prioritizes private communication over public broadcasting. If you need public channels, community management, or one-to-many communication, Telegram is the right tool. Signal is specifically designed for private conversations where all parties know each other.

What happens to my messages if I lose my phone?

Signal stores messages locally on your device by default, not on servers. If you lose your phone without a backup, your message history is lost. Signal offers encrypted local backups on Android and iCloud backups on iOS (though iCloud backups may not be end-to-end encrypted). Telegram, being cloud-based, stores all non-Secret Chat messages on its servers—so losing your phone means nothing; log in on any device and your complete history is there. This is the core trade-off: Signal prioritizes security (no server-side storage) while Telegram prioritizes convenience (full cloud backup). For Signal users, regular encrypted backups are essential.

Can I use both Signal and Telegram at the same time?

Absolutely. Many privacy-conscious users run both apps simultaneously—Signal for sensitive one-on-one conversations and Telegram for large group chats, channels, and casual messaging. Both apps coexist without conflicts on macOS, iOS, and Android, and you can register them with the same phone number.

Which app has better Mac desktop integration?

Telegram's native macOS app (built in Swift) provides noticeably better system integration with native notifications, share extensions, and a smaller memory footprint. Signal's Mac app is Electron-based, which works fine but feels slightly less polished. Both support notification badges, dark mode, and keyboard shortcuts on macOS.

Signal vs Telegram

Q: Why do privacy experts recommend Signal over Telegram?

Privacy experts recommend Signal because it provides verifiable, comprehensive encryption. The Signal Protocol is open-source and has been independently audited by security researchers worldwide. Signal collects virtually zero metadata—it doesn't know who you're messaging, when you're messaging, or how often. The Signal Foundation is a nonprofit with no advertising business model. Telegram, by contrast, stores unencrypted messages on its servers, collects metadata including contacts, IP addresses, and usage patterns, and is operated by a for-profit company. Telegram's server-side code is closed-source, meaning the security community cannot verify what happens to messages on Telegram's servers. For genuine privacy that can be independently verified, Signal is objectively and measurably stronger. This is why organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Access Now, and the Committee to Protect Journalists recommend Signal for sensitive communications.

Which is the better messaging for Mac in 2026?

We compared Signal and Telegram across 5 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. For most users in 2026, Signal is the better choice because it's open source. Read our full breakdown below.

Signal

Private encrypted messaging

FreeOpen Source

Cloud-based messaging app

Free

Visual Comparison

Telegram screenshot — Telegram — Official Website

Our Verdict

For most users in 2026, Signal is the better choice because it's open source. However, Telegram remains a solid option for users who prefer its unique features.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Signal	Telegram
Price	Free	Free
Open Source	Yes	No
Monthly Installs	N/A	N/A
GitHub Stars	N/A	N/A
Category	Communication	Communication

Quick Install

Signal

brew install --cask signal

brew install --cask telegram

Learn More

Signal Details

Full review, features, and FAQs

Telegram Details

Full review, features, and FAQs

In-Depth Overview

What is Signal?

Signal is a free, open-source, encrypted messaging application developed by the Signal Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton (co-founder of WhatsApp). Signal uses the Signal Protocol for end-to-end encryption—the same protocol adopted by WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Google Messages for their encrypted modes. What distinguishes Signal is that encryption is always on, for every message, call, and group chat, with no way to disable it. Signal collects virtually no user data—it doesn't store message contents, contact lists, group memberships, or usage patterns. The only data Signal retains is your phone number and the date you registered. Signal's feature set includes text messaging, voice and video calls, group chats (up to 1,000 members), disappearing messages, stories, reactions, and media sharing. The Mac desktop app syncs with the mobile app for cross-device messaging with the phone acting as the primary device. Signal has been recommended by Edward Snowden, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and privacy organizations worldwide as the gold standard for secure communication. In 2026, Signal has added usernames for contact sharing without phone numbers, improved group calling for up to 40 participants, and enhanced the desktop app with better notification management and media handling. Signal's development is funded entirely by donations and grants—there are no ads, no data harvesting, and no venture capital investors driving decisions. The Signal Protocol itself is independently audited and has become the de facto standard for encrypted messaging across the industry.

What is Telegram?

Telegram is a cloud-based messaging platform founded by Pavel and Nikolai Durov in 2013, now headquartered in Dubai. With over 900 million monthly active users, Telegram has grown into a multifaceted communication platform that goes far beyond simple messaging. Telegram's feature set is enormous: groups up to 200,000 members, channels for one-to-many broadcasting with unlimited subscribers, bots that can automate tasks and provide services, file sharing up to 4GB per file, voice chats, video calls, stories, and a built-in media player. Telegram's cloud-based architecture means messages sync seamlessly across all devices—phone, tablet, desktop, and web—without a primary device requirement. Log in anywhere and access your complete message history instantly. The app offers 'Secret Chats' with end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages, but standard chats use client-server encryption only, meaning Telegram's servers can theoretically access message content. This architectural choice enables Telegram's seamless cloud sync and rich server-side features but represents a fundamental privacy trade-off compared to Signal. Telegram's open Bot API has spawned a massive ecosystem of third-party bots for payments, games, customer service, content delivery, and automation. The platform's open-source client libraries and API documentation encourage third-party development. In 2026, Telegram has added Telegram Premium ($4.99/month) for power users with increased limits, exclusive stickers, faster downloads, and additional features. Telegram Stories, Business accounts, and mini-apps within Telegram have expanded its functionality toward a super-app model. The Mac desktop app is polished with full feature parity including inline bots, sticker management, and theme customization.

Detailed Feature Comparison

End-to-End Encryption

Critical

SignalExcellent

All communications are end-to-end encrypted by default using the Signal Protocol. No messages are ever readable by Signal's servers. Zero metadata collection.

TelegramAverage

Only 'Secret Chats' (one-to-one) are end-to-end encrypted. Standard chats and groups use client-server encryption, meaning Telegram can access message content.

Verdict: Signal provides comprehensive E2E encryption by default. Telegram's standard chats are not end-to-end encrypted.

Group Features

High

SignalGood

Groups up to 1,000 members with full E2E encryption, admin controls, and mention notifications. Adequate for most group communication needs.

TelegramExcellent

Groups up to 200,000 members, supergroups with advanced admin tools, channels for unlimited broadcasting, topics for organized discussion, and polls/quizzes.

Verdict: Telegram's group capabilities are orders of magnitude more powerful than Signal's.

Bot Ecosystem

High

SignalPoor

Signal does not support bots. The platform is focused purely on human-to-human communication.

TelegramExcellent

Telegram's Bot API supports thousands of bots for automation, games, payments, content delivery, customer service, and more. Bots are a core platform feature.

Verdict: Telegram's bot ecosystem is one of its strongest differentiators.

File Sharing

Medium

SignalGood

Shares files up to 100MB. Supports images, videos, documents, and voice messages with E2E encryption.

TelegramExcellent

Shares files up to 4GB per file with unlimited cloud storage. Telegram functions as a personal cloud drive for large file transfers.

Verdict: Telegram's 4GB file limit and cloud storage make it superior for file sharing.

Privacy & Metadata

Critical

SignalExcellent

Signal collects almost zero metadata. It doesn't know who you're messaging, when, or how often. The app is open-source and independently audited.

TelegramAverage

Telegram stores messages on its servers, collects metadata including contacts, IP addresses, and usage patterns. Privacy policy allows data sharing with authorities in terrorism cases.

Verdict: Signal's minimal data collection and open-source architecture provide unmatched privacy guarantees.

Cross-Device Sync

Medium

SignalGood

Desktop app syncs with mobile, but the phone is the primary device. Message history doesn't transfer when adding new devices.

TelegramExcellent

Full cloud sync across unlimited devices. Log in anywhere and access complete message history instantly. No primary device requirement.

Verdict: Telegram's cloud-based sync is more flexible and convenient than Signal's device-linked approach.

Mac Desktop App

Medium

SignalGood

Native Mac app that syncs with phone. Supports messaging, calls, and reactions. Functional but less feature-rich than mobile.

TelegramExcellent

Polished Mac app with full feature parity including channels, bots, themes, and sticker management. Available as native app and web client.

Verdict: Telegram's Mac app is more feature-complete and polished.

Who Should Choose Which?

1The Journalist Protecting Sources

Signal

When source protection is critical, Signal's E2E encryption, disappearing messages, and minimal metadata collection provide the strongest available protection for confidential communications.

2The Community Manager

Managing a large community requires Telegram's massive group capacity, channels for announcements, bots for moderation, and topic-based discussions.

3The Privacy-Conscious Family

Signal

For family group chats where privacy matters, Signal provides encrypted messaging that's simple enough for all ages to use.

4The Content Creator

Channels for broadcasting to subscribers, bots for automation, and file sharing up to 4GB make Telegram ideal for content distribution.

5The Security Researcher

Signal

Security professionals recommend Signal because its open-source code has been independently audited, and the Signal Protocol is the gold standard in encrypted messaging.

6The Family Group Chat Organizer

Telegram's large group capacity (up to 200,000 members), fun sticker packs, polls, and media sharing make it ideal for sprawling family groups. Features like message pinning and admin controls keep conversations organized, while the cloud sync ensures grandparents on older devices can access everything.

7The Open Source Developer

Signal

Signal's fully open-source codebase (client and server) allows developers to audit the entire stack for security vulnerabilities. For a developer who values transparency and wants to verify that their messaging app does what it claims, Signal provides complete code visibility on GitHub.

8The Content Creator with a Large Audience

Telegram Channels support unlimited subscribers with broadcasting capabilities, making it a powerful distribution tool for newsletters, podcasts, and community updates. Built-in bots, scheduled posts, and analytics give creators the tools they need to manage and grow their audience directly within the platform.

Migration Guide

Signal → Telegram

Switching is simple—install Telegram and invite contacts. Message history from Signal cannot be exported or transferred. Contacts who are on both platforms can be messaged immediately.

Telegram → Signal

Install Signal and invite contacts. Telegram message history doesn't transfer. Some contacts may not be on Signal—you'll need to convince them to install it.

Pro Tips

Many users run both: Signal for private conversations and Telegram for communities and channels. The apps serve different purposes and complement each other.

Final Verdict

Overall Winner

Depends on use case

9.0/10

Winner

8.5/10

Runner-up

Signal and Telegram excel at fundamentally different things. Signal is the undisputed leader in private, secure messaging—everything is encrypted, metadata is minimal, and the nonprofit structure aligns incentives with user privacy. Telegram is a powerful communication platform with features that dwarf every competitor—massive groups, channels, bots, and seamless cloud sync. The right choice depends on your priority: privacy (Signal) or features (Telegram). Most informed users keep both.

Bottom Line: Choose Signal for private, encrypted communication. Choose Telegram for feature-rich messaging and community platforms. Use both for the best of both worlds.

Video Tutorials

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Frequently Asked Questions

Standard Telegram chats are NOT end-to-end encrypted. They use client-server encryption (MTProto protocol), meaning messages are encrypted between your device and Telegram's servers, and between the servers and the recipient—but Telegram's servers decrypt and re-encrypt during transit, meaning Telegram can theoretically access message content. Only 'Secret Chats' (one-to-one only, not available for groups) are end-to-end encrypted. Group chats, channels, and standard one-to-one chats are never E2E encrypted on Telegram. This is a fundamental architectural difference from Signal, where everything—every message, every call, every group chat—is end-to-end encrypted by default with the Signal Protocol. Telegram argues their architecture enables features like cloud sync and server-side search, but the privacy trade-off is real.

About the Author

Alex Chen

Senior Developer Tools Specialist

Code Editors & IDEsTerminal EmulatorsVersion Control Tools

12+ years in software development · Former senior engineer at tech startups

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Related Technologies & Concepts

Signal ProtocolSignal FoundationPavel DurovMoxie MarlinspikeWhatsAppEdward SnowdenTelegram Bot APIMatrix

Sources & References

Fact-Checked

Last verified: Feb 15, 2026

Key Verified Facts

Signal uses the Signal Protocol for end-to-end encryption, which has been adopted by WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Google Messages.[cite-signal-protocol]
Telegram supports groups of up to 200,000 members.[cite-telegram-official]
Telegram has over 900 million monthly active users.[cite-telegram-users]
Signal collects only the user's phone number and registration date.[cite-signal-privacy]

1
Signal Protocol - Signal Foundation
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
2
Signal Privacy Policy
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
3
Telegram Features
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
4
Telegram User Statistics
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
5
Signal Foundation
Accessed Feb 15, 2026

Research queries: Signal vs Telegram comparison 2026; Signal end-to-end encryption privacy; Telegram features groups channels bots

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Feature

Signal

Price

Free

Open Source

Yes

Monthly Installs

N/A

GitHub Stars

N/A