#31 in Privacy & ComplianceUpdated 2026-08

Signal

by Signal · Encrypted messaging and calling run by a nonprofit

15 — BenchRank score out of 100

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Overview

Signal is a messaging app for text, voice messages, photos, videos, GIFs and files, with voice and video calls, group chats and stickers. Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted using the open source Signal Protocol, sent over the phone's data connection rather than SMS or MMS. It is run by a 501c3 nonprofit funded by grants and donations.

Best for: People and groups wanting encrypted messaging and calls across mobile and desktop.
Pricing: No prices are shown; the page states Signal is free for everyone, with development funded by grants and donations.
Runs on: iOSAndroidmacOSWindowsLinux

Strengths and trade-offs

Strengths

End-to-end encryption on every message and call by default
No ads, trackers or affiliate marketing in the app
Free text, voice messages, photos, video, GIFs and files
Apps for Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Mac and Linux

Trade-offs

Uses the phone's data connection, not SMS/MMS fallback
Funded by grants and donations; no paid support tier shown
No business, admin or compliance features described
Support is a help centre and community, not named SLAs

How this score is made up

Each dimension is scored out of 100 and combined into the headline score using fixed weights.

MCP support: 0 out of 100
API quality: 0 out of 100
Documentation: 15 out of 100
Agent friendliness: 39 out of 100
Changelog: 0 out of 100
Marketing site structure: 45 out of 100
Operational trust: 35 out of 100

Measured, but not part of the score

Useful to know, but not a mark for or against the product — so these do not affect the ranking.

Openness: 40 out of 100
Maintenance: 100 out of 100

This doesn’t look right — report a problem with Signal’s score

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