Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Signal vs Messenger

Signal 4.7★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Signal
Messenger 4.7★ · Free + IAP 60

Signal is the better choice for users prioritizing privacy and secure messaging, despite some usability quirks, while Messenger offers a broader feature set and better call quality for those integrated into the Facebook ecosystem.

Full reviews: Signal · Messenger

Signal excels in privacy and security, as highlighted by its dedicated user base, though it faces criticism for occasional bugs and limited features. Messenger, while widely used for its extensive features and integration with Facebook, struggles with frequent bugs, notification issues, and concerns about data privacy.

Head to head

Privacy and Security edge: SignalR5R11R14R17
Signal Signal is highly praised for its strong privacy features and end-to-end encryption, making users feel secure in their communications R5R11R14R17. Many users choose Signal specifically for its commitment to privacy over other apps R17R20.
Messenger Messenger faces significant criticism regarding privacy, with users expressing concerns about data collection and censorship . Some users even describe it as consuming and stealing data .
Messaging Reliability and Performance tieR21R22R30R43
Signal Signal users report issues with messages not being delivered promptly or at all, with delays indicated by double bubbles R22R30R49. Some also experience problems with messages disappearing or not being received R21R43.
Messenger Messenger also struggles with message delivery, with users reporting texts not being delivered like WhatsApp and being very slow . Messages can vanish mid-typing or disappear entirely .
Call Quality (Audio/Video) edge: MessengerR7R9R25R68
Signal Signal's calling feature is described as spotty, with calls sometimes not going through or acting like they are connected when the other person isn't actually contacted R9. Users also report connection cutting out during calls R25 and issues with video recording R7.
Messenger Messenger generally receives positive feedback for its call quality, with users praising clear audio and video, especially on Wi-Fi R68R83. However, some users experience audio issues, such as sound resetting when someone joins a call or no audio at all .
Ease of Use and User Experience edge: SignalR3R4R6R16
Signal Signal is generally considered easy to use R17. However, users are frustrated by persistent requests for contacts, PINs, and notifications R3R4. Account recovery and transfer to new devices are problematic, leading to lost data or inability to log in R6R16.
Messenger Messenger users report frequent bugs, glitches, and freezing . Login issues, auto-logout problems, and difficulty accessing accounts are also common .
Features and Functionality tieR10R15R18R30
Signal Signal users desire more advanced features, such as better group messaging tools like @everyone tags R10R15, increased attachment limits R18, and improved voice message controls . Some also note a lack of features for Apple phones R30 and no option for storage limits on iOS .
Messenger Messenger offers features like games during calls and custom themes . However, users complain about missing notifications , issues with editing sent messages , and the app forcing external apps for videos . There are also complaints about too many AI bots .
Pick Signal if

You prioritize privacy and secure, encrypted communication above all else R17R20. You are willing to overlook some occasional bugs, feature limitations, or persistent UI prompts for the sake of data security R4R9R30. You need a reliable messaging app for sensitive conversations R11R14.

Pick Messenger if

You are deeply integrated into the Facebook ecosystem and need to communicate with Facebook contacts . You frequently use video and audio calls and generally find the quality acceptable R83. You value a broader range of features, even if it comes with more bugs and privacy concerns .

Evidence note: Signal's reviews, while fewer, are more focused on its core value proposition of privacy. Messenger's vast number of reviews show a broader range of experiences, but recent complaints lean heavily towards bugs and performance issues.

Frequently asked

Which app is better for privacy?
Signal is overwhelmingly considered better for privacy, with users consistently praising its secure and encrypted communication features R11R14R17R20. Messenger, in contrast, faces significant user concerns about data collection and censorship .
Do Signal and Messenger have good call quality?
Messenger generally has good call quality for both audio and video, with users reporting clear sound and video, especially on Wi-Fi R68R83. Signal's call quality is described as spotty, with calls sometimes failing to connect or cutting out R9R25.
Are there issues with message delivery on these apps?
Both Signal and Messenger have reported issues with message delivery; Signal users experience delays and messages not being received R21R22R30R49, while Messenger users report slow delivery, messages vanishing, and texts not being delivered reliably .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R5] Signal 5/5 · US Why keep asking if I’m human: Secure and safe
  2. [R11] Signal 5/5 · US Amazing!!: Me and my family use this app and it genuinely feels so good to share information and talk without insecurity! Plus the new backup feature is amazing!!
  3. [R14] Signal 5/5 · US Secure messaging: Use it, appreciate it, don’t be dumb
  4. [R17] Signal 5/5 · US Awesome - best privacy / usability messaging app: The most easy to use private messaging app - there are ones that are more privacy conscious but really annoying to use, the rest are really easy to use but for a reason - almost everything is reachable by third parties (either company or server operators etc) this one is the best - donate and let it thrive!
  5. [R21] Signal 3/5 · US I use for video calling with people from dating apps before dates: It’s nice because you can video call people from dating apps like hinge to get to know them better, without having to exchange numbers with a complete stranger. That’s what I use it for. But it is a very glitchy app in terms of receiving messages. Sometimes I won’t get them.
  6. [R22] Signal 1/5 · US Pronto desinstalaré: No me a gustado. Esperaré unas apruebas más mando mensaje y no las entrega 2 a 3. Horas después mando otro mensaje y veo que aún no a entregado el primer msaje también llamo y llamo no entrega el msaje ni llamada asta que la otra persona se conecte a signal de ahí llegan los msaje y llamadas perdidas. Está app no va a funcionar Esto lo desinstalo más después si sigue sin fu
  7. [R30] Signal 3/5 · US Good, could be great: I enjoy the privacy but I notice, lately especially, there is a lag in messages being received (indicated by the double bubble). I don’t want to use another messaging service but I have to occasionally because of the delay which is frustrating. Also the features for Apple phones are lacking but I understand why they are not the priority.
  8. [R43] Signal 1/5 · US Bad app: forced me to update in order to send and receive messages, then deleted all message history including those that I updated the app to see, of which I was not receiving. just dumb
  9. [R7] Signal 2/5 · US Video recording?: So from what I can figure out, I need to hold the button down for the video to record? That’s not helpful.
  10. [R9] Signal 3/5 · US Good for messaging bad for calls: I love the privacy features overall for the app and it works great if you’re messaging others but the calling is spotty. Sometimes the calls go through and sometimes it acts like they are going through but the other person isn’t actually being contacted at all. This happens a little too often.
  11. [R25] Signal 1/5 · US Report: You need to help make a steady call without the connection cutting out.
  12. [R68] Messenger 5/5 · US Love messenger: Thank you for your video calls
  13. [R3] Signal 3/5 · US Constant Asking for pin: the asking for pin dropdown never goes away.
  14. [R4] Signal 2/5 · US Stop asking for my contacts. Also bugs.: “Privacy minded” yet won’t stop asking for my contacts. What do you need my contacts for huh? Why are you so insistent on me handing over my contacts huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huuuuuuuuuuuuuh? Why do you keep asking huh? I said no. Do you know what “no” means? It means no for now and no forever. New update is buggy and makes the app cumbersome to use. S
  15. [R6] Signal 3/5 · US Outrageous!!!!: I think it’s stupid that in the app after you get a new number they just want you to reconfirm your old number like it’s gonna work or something. Like dude obviously I’m not gonna be able to access my old number due to it being a old number that a no longer have so why would you try to confirm that and then give no way out every time I open the app I’m literally loosing messages t
  16. [R16] Signal 2/5 · US Unable to log in via SMS where Signal is blocked / Request for email authentication: Dear Developers, Please consider adding an email login option. In countries where Signal is blocked, it is impossible to log in via SMS because the verification codes simply do not arrive. As a result, users cannot access their accounts after switching to a new device. Right now, I am locked out of my account, whi
  17. [R10] Signal 1/5 · US Really need better group messaging: Please add @everyone or @all tags to group chat. Many want to minimize notifications unless it’s important! Tagging every member isn’t feasible/possible.
  18. [R15] Signal 3/5 · US More tools please!: Need more tools, need to be better than WhatsApp! More group ADMIN tools, I’m not able to cleanup my groups when people are no longer working with us.
  19. [R18] Signal 3/5 · US Attachment limits still for 5 chats only?: All other app functions work extremely well; however, how, after being available and in service this whole time with improvements and updates, is the chat limit for attachments still restricted to only five chats? If I want to send to nine people, have to send to five then separately to the other four. Hoping the next update rectifies this longstanding di
  20. [R20] Signal 5/5 · US One of the final bastions of Privacy: Cherish this app while it’s still around, Session died, glad i could move here.
  21. [R83] Messenger 5/5 · US Quality call: Good for communications
  22. [R49] Signal 1/5 · US It’s so annoying: Why does it keep pausing sent texts and I’ve been unable to receive messages

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store