Session vs Signal
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Session and Signal.
Session Decentralized messenger — no phone number required. | Signal Private messenger | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2 (58 reviews) | 4.8 (45000 reviews) |
| Pricing Model | free | free |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | Best for users seeking privacy and security tools | Most secure messaging |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | — | — |
Session
Pros
- + No phone number or email required
- + Onion-routed message transport hides IP addresses
- + Decentralized network supports offline message delivery
- + Open-source clients with public GitHub repos
- + Publicly documented third-party security audit
- + Android can use F-Droid repo
Cons
- - Fast push uses FCM, exposing IP and token
- - Research shows practical attacks on Protocol V1
- - Some features have different metadata properties than texts
- - UX can be less reliable than mainstream messengers
Signal
Pros
- + Free app with optional donations
- + Publicly documented Signal Protocol specs
- + Minimal retained data in subpoena examples
- + Usernames reduce phone-number sharing
- + Open-source core code on GitHub
- + End-to-end encrypted group calling design
Cons
- - Phone number required for registration
- - Some anti-spam server components reportedly closed
- - Backup recovery key adds user responsibility
- - No official performance benchmarks published
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