Signal review
A free, private messaging app with broad calling, sharing, and platform support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Signal is a nonprofit messaging application for individuals, families, groups, and organizations. It provides end-to-end encrypted text and voice messages, photos, videos, GIFs, files, voice calls, video calls, group chats, stickers, and disappearing messages. Signal-to-Signal communications are encrypted by default over an internet connection. Official clients are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, making it suitable for people who want private communication across desktop and mobile devices.
The core service is free. The Free plan includes text messages, recent media backups, and end-to-end encrypted messaging and calls. Secure Backups costs $1.99 per month and adds an end-to-end encrypted backup archive, storage for up to 100 GB of media, and media history beyond 45 days. This keeps the main messaging experience free while making longer media history an optional paid feature. The app also supports one-to-one and group voice and video calls, group chats with up to 1,000 members, configurable disappearing-message timers, custom sticker packs, and file sharing.
Signal’s platform fit is a major strength: accounts can link desktop, tablet, and phone devices, with an official limit of five linked devices per account. Its open-source code and default encryption model suit people who want privacy to be part of the standard messaging experience rather than an extra setting. Choose Signal for private everyday messaging with broad device coverage and optional encrypted backups. It is less suited to users who need media history beyond 45 days without a subscription or groups larger than 1,000 members.
Signal pros and cons
- Where it wins
- End-to-end encryption is enabled by default for messages and calls
- Supports messaging, calls, file sharing, groups, stickers, and disappearing messages
- Official apps cover Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android
- Where it doesn't
- Secure Backups costs $1.99 per month
- Free backups cover recent media, while older media needs Secure Backups
- Group chats support up to 1,000 members
Signal fact sheet, pricing and score →
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