Both Signal and Threema encrypt messages end-to-end — so neither falls under the Chat Control regulation currently in force, which only affects unencrypted communication. They do, however, differ in important respects.
Signal
- Fully open source and independently funded (the non-profit Signal Foundation)
- Requires a phone number to register (more recently also usernames to hide your number)
- Regarded as the reference implementation for E2E encryption — the Signal Protocol is also used by WhatsApp
- Free, no ads, no data collection
Threema
- Swiss provider, subject to Swiss data protection law
- Works entirely without a phone number or email address — maximum anonymity
- One-time purchase fee instead of being free
- Also end-to-end encrypted, with source code available for security researchers to inspect
What Does This Mean for Chat Control?
Because both messengers use genuine end-to-end encryption, they are not affected by the voluntary scanning of unencrypted services currently permitted. For maximum anonymity on top of encryption, Threema is the stronger choice, since no phone number is required. Anyone looking for a free, open-source standard with a large user base is well served by Signal — and it comes preinstalled on every SaferPhone.
You can find more background on Chat Control in our detailed guide.
More on this topic: VOID — the encrypted messenger from SaferPhone