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Signal vs Telegram: catalog facts
Signal	Telegram
Free Free; developed by a nonprofit funded by grants and donations	Free The apps are free to download and use.
Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
End-to-end encryption on every message and call using the open source Signal Protocol No ads, affiliate marketers or tracking	Chats sync across phones and desktop computers Large groups, channels and bot platform
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	Relies on Telegram's central servers Apps are open source but the server software is not published
Downloadable app	Downloadable app, Hosted service
Open source	Open source
License: AGPL-3.0	License: GPL-3.0
Account needed	Account needed
Needs internet	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

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