Compare software

Signal vs qTox: catalog facts
Signal	qTox
Free Free; developed by a nonprofit funded by grants and donations	Free Free and open source under the GPL.
Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
End-to-end encryption on every message and call using the open source Signal Protocol No ads, affiliate marketers or tracking	Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging without a central server Voice, video and file transfer in one client
Requires a phone number that can receive an SMS or phone call to register Desktop app requires Signal to be installed on a phone first	Contacts must also use Tox Smaller user base than mainstream messengers
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: AGPL-3.0	License: GPL-3.0
Account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Needs internet	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.