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WhatsApp vs Signal

Based on our analysis, Signal is the more privacy-respecting choice overall.

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CategoryWhatsAppSignal
OverallD · 35/100A · 87/100
What they collectConcern (30)Positive (88)
Who they share it withConcern (22)Positive (88)
What you can doConcern (38)Mixed (78)
What they promiseMixed (42)Positive (86)
In plain English — WhatsApp

WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption genuinely protects your message content, but everything around it — who you talk to, when, how often, your contacts, your device — flows to Meta and is used to build ad profiles across Facebook and Instagram. You can't opt out of the Meta data sharing and still use the app.

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In plain English — Signal

Signal is a nonprofit that genuinely cannot read your messages or listen to your calls — the encryption is architectural, not a promise — but it requires a real phone number to register, is subject to US law, and its privacy policy is conspicuously sparse: it hasn't been substantively updated since 2018 and lacks the specific retention periods, GDPR rights, or DPO contact that more thorough policies provide.

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Privacy policies decoded, for free.

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