Signal vs Telegram Debate

Cluster centers on debates comparing Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, and other messaging apps, emphasizing security, end-to-end encryption, privacy features like phone number requirements, usability, and user preferences.

📉 Falling 0.4x Security
4,304
Comments
15
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#8435
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2012
8
2013
62
2014
101
2015
161
2016
359
2017
285
2018
332
2019
342
2020
476
2021
878
2022
472
2023
280
2024
260
2025
274
2026
14

Keywords

DX E2EE E2E MB UX ID i.e TextSecure WhatsApp Matrix.org signal telegram whatsapp protocol encryption encrypted phone e2e secure app

Sample Comments

parliament32 • Jan 31, 2020 • View on HN

Telegram and WhatsApp are both pretending to be secure when they're really not. Signal is the only sane choice at this point.

literalAardvark • Aug 25, 2024 • View on HN

We do have Signal. People prefer not encrypted Telegram to it.

fastball • Apr 17, 2018 • View on HN

If you actually care about security/privacy, why not just use Signal?

why would anyone use this over something like signal?

newman314 • Sep 23, 2015 • View on HN

I would use Signal but the UX isn't great.

oblio • Dec 2, 2020 • View on HN

Telegram, I think Signal, too. There are alternatives, they're just not as popular now.

7v3x3n3sem9vv • Mar 16, 2021 • View on HN

Why do you trust Telegram more than Signal?

firesteelrain • Aug 25, 2024 • View on HN

I prefer Signal and it provides encryption.

FabHK • Mar 22, 2018 • View on HN

Have you tried Wire? (Similar protocol as Signal, more polished apps)

jxi • Aug 25, 2024 • View on HN

Signal has probably the worst UX of any messaging app. It also used to require sharing phone numbers to add contacts, which imo is already a privacy violation.Telegram is fast, responsive, gets frequent updates, has great group chat, tons of animated emojis, works flawlessly on all desktop and mobile platforms, has great support for media, bots, and a great API, allows edits and deleting messages for all users, and I really like the sync despite it not being e2e.