Signal is an encrypted messenger, reviewed for end-to-end encryption, minimal metadata, sharing, retention, and user controls.
95
Excellent
95
Excellent
Signal stays one of the cleanest messaging tools available, with privacy risk driven more by device choices than by the service itself.
Signal is strongest where end-to-end encryption, minimal data collection, and no ad or AI-training business model keep the core service unusually private.
Its weakest area is not broad surveillance but the smaller control surface around backups, device security, and how much metadata your phone already exposes.
95
Excellent
Signal says messages and calls cannot be accessed by Signal or third parties because they are end-to-end encrypted.
Signal says it is designed to never collect or store sensitive information beyond what is needed to deliver the service.
The service keeps message content on user devices rather than inside a broad vendor-readable cloud archive.
95
Excellent
95
Excellent
90
Excellent
90
Excellent
Privacy Policy
Open: signal.orgLatest Finding
Open: support.signal.org1. Encryption
Signal says messages and calls cannot be accessed by Signal or third parties because they are end-to-end encrypted.
2. Signal Designed
Signal says it is designed to never collect or store sensitive information beyond what is needed to deliver the service.
3. Sharing
The service keeps message content on user devices rather than inside a broad vendor-readable cloud archive.
4. Retention
Signal cannot stop message content from being exposed after export, screenshots, unlocked devices, or user-managed backups.
Founded
Unknown
Founder
Unknown
Parent Company
Signal
Lifecycle
Active
Category
Communication & Meetings
CEO
Unknown
Security Team
In house
Date Added
05-18-2026
Once you delete a chat, you cannot recover it. Deleting a chat removes it both from your visible chat history and the system after the retention window.
Signal cannot stop message content from being exposed after export, screenshots, unlocked devices, or user-managed backups.
95
Excellent
Signal says it cannot sell, rent, or monetize user data or content in any way.
End-to-end encryption keeps message and call content out of ordinary sharing paths.
Signal says it uses only the minimum information needed to deliver the service.
Phone-number registration, contact discovery, and user devices remain practical privacy considerations outside encrypted message content.
95
Excellent
Signal says it is designed to never collect or store sensitive information for ordinary service use.
Signal says it does not track users, profile them for ads, or monetize their content.
Core message content stays out of any server-side behavioral advertising model.
Local device data, optional backups, and contact/address-book behavior are still outside Signal's server-side protection model.
90
Excellent
Signal message content is stored locally on the user's device and not accessible to the service.
Users can permanently disable registration and remove their number from being recognized as a Signal user.
Deleting Signal and discontinuing use ends the service relationship without leaving a large readable cloud archive behind.
Device backups and user-managed local storage still determine how long some content survives outside Signal's servers.
90
Excellent
Users control disappearing messages, registration lock, and device-level protections.
Signal says users can manage personal information in the app's settings.
Users can choose whether and how to handle local backups and contact discovery.
Privacy still depends on endpoint security and the behavior of other conversation participants.
