Signal Private Messenger

Signal continues to stand out as one of the most trusted tools for private communication. With its open-source code, end-to-end encryption, and minimal metadata retention, Signal offers robust protections that have been vetted by independent security researchers.

Unlike many messaging apps, Signal collects virtually no data beyond your phone number (and even that can be hidden using a secondary number). Features like disappearing messages, registration lock, and encrypted group calls further enhance privacy.

Signal’s funding model operated by a nonprofit  means it’s not driven by ad revenue or data sales. Recent updates include support for usernames (so you can hide your number entirely) and encrypted storage for attachments.

Critics note that Signal still requires a phone number to sign up, which can be a barrier for some users. But for most, it represents a gold standard in secure messaging.