Signal vs. WhatsApp
Moving between Signal & WhatsApp. I start using Signal for private communication, and started viewing WhatsApp as public social media.
I recently delved into Signal, the well-known WhatsApp competitor, and initially thought it was mainly a moral choice—something people use to signal their commitment to privacy.
However, after deeper research, I realized that Signal is not just about virtue signaling; it's technically superior in several ways and it really benefits your privacy.
Signal vs. WhatsApp: Encryption & Metadata Collection
Both Signal and WhatsApp use the Signal Protocol for end-to-end encryption (E2EE), meaning messages and calls are protected from interception. However, privacy goes beyond encryption—metadata (who you talk to, when, and how often) is just as valuable.
Signal collects almost no metadata. It doesn’t log who you communicate with or when. Even the last time you used the app is only stored in a vague way ("within the last week").
WhatsApp (Meta) collects a lot of metadata, including phone numbers, contact interactions, and device information. Even though messages are encrypted, metadata can be used for profiling and tracking.
This difference exists because WhatsApp runs on Meta’s servers, where data collection is part of their business model. Signal is run by a non-profit focused purely on privacy.
Features and Limitations
While Signal excels in privacy and security, it lacks certain features that make WhatsApp appealing, especially for businesses and social interactions:
Business and API Support
- WhatsApp Business API: WhatsApp allows businesses to programmatically engage with customers, making it an essential tool for marketing and customer support.
- Signal has no business API, meaning companies cannot scale communication via automation.
Groups and Communities
- WhatsApp offers both groups and communities, which allow large-scale discussions and interactions.
- Signal supports groups but lacks communities, making it less ideal for larger organizations or structured group discussions.
- Polls are missing in Signal, a small but noticeable feature that adds to WhatsApp’s engagement tools.
Audio and Video Call Quality: Signal vs. WhatsApp
When it comes to call quality, WhatsApp generally outperforms Signal, particularly in variable network conditions.
Audio Calls: WhatsApp uses variable bitrate (VBR), which dynamically adjusts call quality based on available bandwidth. This results in clearer and more consistent audio, even in weaker connections. Signal, on the other hand, relies on constant bitrate (CBR) for privacy reasons, which can lead to choppier audio when bandwidth is limited.
Video Calls: WhatsApp’s video calls tend to be smoother and more stable, thanks to its adaptive technology. Signal, while secure, can struggle with stuttering or lag, even on strong devices.
For users who rely heavily on voice and video calls, WhatsApp currently has a clear edge in quality.
Rob Hoeijmakers
I checked Signal before but if there is no network there is no use. The network is growing.
My personal approach
How I personally use Signal is to switch existing and long standing personal conversations and smaller groups to Signal when possible. Use it as a personal channel so to speak and give it more visibility and priority in my notifications. As letters.
And use WhatsApp as an exchange for open notes. I stopped backing the messages up and delete them on a regular basis.
I recently did a poll and to my surprise 50% of the people see WhatsApp as communication and the other 50% as social media.
I viewed it as communication but now also treat it as social media. That approach works really well for me. It is a minor change to my routines but stops giving away useless (but priceless) information to a company.
