Alternatives to WhatsApp – our pick
More than two billion people worldwide use WhatsApp. However, there are alternatives to this messaging app, which is part of the Facebook family of products. Comparis explores the advantages and disadvantages of WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and Threema.
24.08.2021
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WhatsApp is the dominant player in the messaging app market. But there are alternatives to the Facebook-owned service. Here’s our pick of the best.
More than two billion people already have the messaging app WhatsApp on their smartphone. This makes the Facebook-owned service the dominant player in the market. But consumers do have other options. For many users, the choice of messaging services is just as much about data security as how intuitive the features are. One of the main drawbacks of WhatsApp rivals is that they have relatively few users.
The messaging apps compared
Like WhatsApp, these alternative apps allow users to send texts, photos and videos to individuals and in group chats, and add emojis to their messages. The biggest difference between them lies not in their functionality but in the data security they offer. This is because users usually pay for free services with their data. Below is an overview of the messaging services WhatsApp, Signal, Threema and Telegram and how they handle data.
| Signal | Threema | Telegram | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall data protection | Poor | Good | Very good | Poor and not transparent |
| End-to-end encryption for messages | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ (client-to-server and end-to-end in Secret Chats) |
| Storage of metadata such as contact details and location information | ✔️ | ❌ | Few | ✔️ |
| Services run on in-house servers instead of cloud and hosting services | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Messages are permanently removed from the server as soon as they have been delivered | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| User data is not used for marketing purposes | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Adverts in the messaging service | ❌ (but is planned) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Based in | USA | USA | Switzerland | Dubai |
| Price | Free of charge | Free of charge | 4 francs | Free of charge |
WhatsApp in detail
WhatsApp was purchased by Facebook in 2014 and is one of the most widely used messaging apps in the world.
In May 2021, WhatsApp updated its terms of service and privacy policy. The changes affect the processing of location information and the forwarding of users’ communication data to third parties. This data is now exchanged between WhatsApp and Facebook companies and service providers. However, this arrangement does not apply in Europe, because the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is in force.
The “view once” function, also a feature of Snapchat, has been available in WhatsApp since August 2021. You can enable this function when sending a file to someone. After the recipient has viewed the image or video once, it disappears automatically from the chat. The file is also deleted if it is not viewed within 14 days. If someone takes a screenshot or screencast, the sender receives no notification that they have done so, unlike in Snapchat.
Advantages of WhatsApp
Free of charge
High number of users
End-to-end encryption
Disadvantages of WhatsApp
Data is shared with Facebook and its associated companies
Cannot be used anonymously
WhatsApp for iOS and WhatsApp for Android.
Threema in detail
Threema is a Swiss paid app. It is known for its high standard of data security and confidentiality. The app has some 9 million users worldwide and is the only messaging app among the big names that meets the requirements of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Communication via Threema can be completely anonymous, as users do not need to provide an e-mail address or a mobile phone number. In addition, Threema does not collect any data.
Advantages of Threema
The servers are in Switzerland and are subject to the Swiss Data Protection Act.
As soon as data is delivered, it is deleted from the server.
End-to-end encryption
No telephone number required in order to register
Survey function in group chats
Pin feature to highlight a selected chat
Disadvantages of Threema
One-time cost of four francs
Low number of users
Threema for iOS and Threema for Android.
Signal in detail
Elon Musk and Edward Snowden both use Signal. Its data privacy standards are not as high as Threema’s and it does not support fully anonymous communication. However, it is a good alternative to WhatsApp and already has 40 million active users worldwide. Developed by the Signal Foundation in the USA, Signal is a non-profit service.
Advantages of Signal
Free of charge
Data saver mode available
End-to-end encryption
Source code is publicly available
No advertising
Disadvantages of Signal
Telephone number required to register
The servers are in the USA and are subject to the American data protection laws.
Low number of users
Signal for iOS and Signal for Android.
Telegram messages without end-to-end encryption
Telegram has more users than all the other WhatsApp alternatives put together. Switching from WhatsApp to Telegram, however, will not give you better data privacy. The only advantage is that your data will not be passed on to Facebook. What’s more, end-to-end encryption is not a default setting on Telegram. This means that messages can be read by third parties.
Advantages of Telegram
High number of users
Disadvantages of Telegram
No end-to-end encryption
Company has access to all messages
Company has access to metadata such as your contact list and location tracking, and knows when, where and on which device you have been online
Some radical groups are active on the platform
The company is not very transparent
How to find the right messaging app
Both Threema and Signal have higher data privacy standards than WhatsApp. But even so, you should always keep up to date on their latest terms of use.
It is worth making a distinction between private messages and those containing less important information. You can use different apps for different types of message and have them running in parallel. Personal data such as family photos can be shared safely via an alternative app such as Threema. This keeps at least some of your data out of the hands of WhatsApp.
What to watch out for when deleting WhatsApp
Decided against WhatsApp? Make sure you don’t just delete the WhatsApp app, but your WhatsApp account as well.