{
  "slug": "signal",
  "category": "messengers",
  "name": "Signal",
  "description": "End-to-end encrypted messenger for text, voice and video calls, and groups, built on the Signal Protocol. Run by the non-profit Signal Foundation.",
  "website": "https://signal.org",
  "source": "https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Server",
  "license": "AGPL-3.0",
  "platforms": [],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "US",
    "name": "United States",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": "provider"
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "B",
  "score": 78,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Signal scores 78 out of 100 (grade B) on the messengers criteria. It meets 5 of 8 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, end-to-end encrypted by default and metadata protection. It partly meets no phone number needed. It does not meet independent audit and decentralized. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/messengers/signal/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/messengers/signal/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Server/blob/main/LICENSE",
      "note": "AGPL-3.0."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/org.thoughtcrime.securesms/latest/",
      "note": "Exodus finds no trackers in the Android app, and the privacy policy lists no analytics."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://signal.org/donate/",
      "note": "Funded by donations to the non-profit Signal Foundation; the terms state it never sells or monetizes personal data."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published; only academic analyses of the Signal Protocol exist."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "e2ee_default": {
      "title": "End-to-end encrypted by default",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://signal.org/docs/",
      "note": "All messages and calls, including groups, use the Signal Protocol end to end."
    },
    "no_phone_number": {
      "title": "No phone number needed",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/6712070553754-Phone-Number-Privacy-and-Usernames",
      "note": "A phone number is required to register, but it is hidden by default and contacts can be reached by username."
    },
    "metadata_protection": {
      "title": "Metadata protection",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://signal.org/blog/sealed-sender/",
      "note": "Sealed sender hides the sender from the server, and contact discovery runs in secure enclaves."
    },
    "decentralized": {
      "title": "Decentralized",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "One central service; the published server code cannot federate with the Signal network."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T07:00:47.854Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T07:44:20Z"
}