Signal Private Messenger is a secure messaging app designed to help you communicate privately with end-to-end encryption. It's the go-to app for people who want their texts, calls, and video chats to stay truly private. Signal was officially launched back in 2014 by Open Whisper Systems, which later evolved into the non-profit Signal Foundation. You can download it for free on both Google Play for Android devices and the App Store for iPhones. It has been installed over 100 million times on Google Play alone, which shows how many people trust it for their private conversations. The app is completely free to download and use, with no hidden fees. You don't need to pay for any core features. To get started, you just need to register with your phone number for verification—it's a quick process. One of the best parts is that Signal has no ads and no in-app purchases. The Signal Foundation runs on donations, so they don't need to sell your data or show you ads. This makes the whole experience clean and focused on privacy.

Using Signal is pretty straightforward, just like any other messenger. After you download and install the app, you verify your number, and it can even import your existing contacts if they use Signal too. You then see a simple list of conversations. I use it daily to message my family and have group chats with friends. The tips from a real user are simple: make sure to enable the screen lock for extra security in the app's settings. Also, use the disappearing messages feature for sensitive info—you can set a timer so messages vanish after being read. For voice and video calls, just tap the call button in a chat; the quality is usually great, even on slower connections. One handy thing is that you can use it as your default SMS app on Android too, so all your texts are in one place, but only the Signal-to-Signal chats are encrypted. It's become my main app for anything private.

Compared to other apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, I choose Signal because it feels more trustworthy. WhatsApp is owned by Meta (Facebook), and even though it uses Signal's encryption protocol, I don't fully trust their data practices with metadata. Telegram stores messages on its cloud by default without end-to-end encryption unless you use a "Secret Chat." Signal is different because it's run by a non-profit with a clear, single mission: privacy. It collects almost no data on you. The interface is simpler and less cluttered than others, which I prefer. For anyone serious about keeping their chats away from prying eyes, Signal is the obvious pick. It might not have all the flashy features of some apps, but for secure communication, it's the gold standard that others try to follow.

• 🔒 End-to-end encryption by default for all chats and calls, unlike Telegram where you must start a separate "Secret Chat."
• 🔒 Open-source software that anyone can inspect, which builds more trust than closed systems like WhatsApp.
• 🔒 Minimal data collection—it only stores your phone number and the last time you connected, unlike other apps that harvest metadata.
• 🔒 Features like disappearing messages and screen lock add extra layers of privacy on the device itself.

• ✅ Unmatched privacy focus with a non-profit model, setting it apart from ad-supported or corporate-owned competitors.
• ✅ Simplicity and ease of use—clean interface without confusing settings or bloated features.
• ✅ Free and no ads—complete peace of mind without hidden costs or distractions.
• ✅ Strong reputation—trusted by security experts and journalists worldwide.

• ⚠️ Smaller user base than WhatsApp, so not all contacts may have it installed.
• ⚠️ Fewer fun features like extensive stickers or channels compared to Telegram.