Ready to download Signal? It’s the gold standard for private messaging. Every message, call, and file is end-to-end encrypted by default, not as an optional setting, not as a premium feature. Just the default. It’s free, open source, and run by a nonprofit that has no financial incentive to collect or sell your data.
Select your device below to download the latest version of Signal.
⬇ Download Signal for Windows
The official Signal Desktop app for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Requires Signal to be installed on your phone first for initial setup.
Free – Official Signal Site – Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
⬇ Download Signal for Mac
The official Signal Desktop app for macOS. Works on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3/M4).
Free – Official Signal Site – macOS 12 (Monterey) or later
⬇ Download Signal for iPhone
The official Signal app for iPhone and iPad from the Apple App Store.
Free – App Store – iOS 15 or later
⬇ Download Signal for Android
The official Signal app for Android from Google Play.
Free – Google Play – Android 6.0 or later
⬇ Download Signal for Linux
Signal Desktop is available for 64-bit Debian-based Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Mint, etc.) via the official Signal APT repository.
Free – Official Signal Site – 64-bit Linux (APT)
How to Set Up Signal – Quick Start
- Install Signal on your phone first, the mobile app is required to activate your account
- Open the app and enter your phone number
- Verify with the SMS code sent to your phone
- Set your name and optional profile photo
- Create a username (Settings → Account → Username), lets people message you without sharing your phone number
- To use Signal on desktop: open the desktop app → scan the QR code shown on screen using your phone (Signal Settings → Linked Devices → Link New Device)
✅ Enable secure backups: Signal now offers encrypted Secure Backups, available since early 2026. Go to Settings → Account → Backups to enable. The free tier covers all your text messages plus media from the last 45 days. For older media and up to 100GB of storage, a paid plan is available for around $1.99/month.
What’s New in Signal in 2026
Secure Backups – The most-requested Signal feature ever. After careful design to preserve privacy, Signal now offers opt-in encrypted backups. A 64-character recovery key generated on your device is the only thing that unlocks them, and Signal itself never sees it. Your message history is protected and recoverable even if you lose your phone.
Redesigned Call Interface – Calls now feature larger buttons for incoming calls, a centered blurred profile photo in the background, and better color matching with the system. Picture-in-picture during video calls can now be enlarged to almost full screen.
Group Member Labels – Add a label to describe your role in a group chat (e.g., “Admin,” “Moderator,” or anything custom). Labels appear next to your name in the group. Group admins control who can set labels.
Grouped Chat Events – When multiple people join a group at once or you receive several missed calls in a row, these events are now grouped into a compact display instead of filling your chat with individual notifications.
Signal vs WhatsApp vs Telegram – Privacy Comparison
| Feature | Signal | Telegram | |
|---|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | ✅ All chats (default) | ✅ All chats (default) | ⚠️ Secret Chats only |
| Data collection | ✅ None | ⚠️ Metadata collected | ⚠️ Some metadata |
| Owner | Nonprofit | Meta (Facebook) | Private company |
| Open source | ✅ Fully open source | ❌ Closed source | ⚠️ Partially open |
| Ads | ❌ No ads ever | ⚠️ Ads in Status | ❌ No ads in chats |
| Price | Free forever | Free | Free |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Signal completely free?
Yes. Signal is free with no paid tiers required and no ads. It’s operated by the Signal Foundation, a nonprofit funded by donations. Every core feature is available to all users for free; the only optional paid add-on is extra backup storage for old media.
Do I need a phone number to use Signal?
You need a phone number to register. However, you can create a username so others can contact you without knowing your number. Go to Settings → Account → Username after setup.
Can I use Signal on my computer without a phone?
Signal Desktop requires a phone for initial account setup and linking. After linking, the desktop app works independently, you don’t need to keep your phone nearby or online.
Is Signal safer than WhatsApp?
Both use end-to-end encryption for messages. Signal goes further: it collects no metadata, is fully open source (independently auditable), and is run by a nonprofit with no advertising revenue model. For maximum privacy, Signal is the stronger choice.
What happens to my Signal messages if I get a new phone?
Signal now supports encrypted Secure Backups. Enable them in Settings → Account → Backups before switching phones. The free tier keeps all your text messages plus the last 45 days of media; older media requires the paid backup plan to carry over.
Final Thoughts
Signal does one thing, private communication, and does it better than any other app. If you’ve been meaning to move away from messaging apps owned by advertising companies, Signal is the straightforward answer. Free, open source, and built by people whose only job is to make it as private as possible.
