WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, FB Messenger, iMessage: Here’s exactly what data each messaging app collects so you can take a look and make an informed choice, if you want. 

WhatsApp

Data collected by app: Phone Number, Email Address, Contacts, Coarse Location, Device ID, User ID, Advertising Data, Purchase History, Product Interaction, Payment Info, Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data, Customer Support, Product Interaction, Other User, Content, Metadata.

Facebook Messenger

Data collected by app: Precise Location, Coarse Location, Physical Address, Email Address, Name, Phone Number, Other User Contact Info, Contacts, Photos or Videos, Gameplay Content, Other User Content, Search History, Browsing History, User ID, Device ID, Third-Party Advertising, Purchase History, Financial Info, Product Interaction, Advertising Data, Other Usage Data, Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data, Other Data Types, Developer’s, Advertising or Marketing, Health, Fitness, Payment Info, Sensitive Info, Product Personalization, Credit Info, Other Financial Info, Emails or Text Messages.

iMessage

Data collected by app: Email Address, Phone Number, Search History, Device ID.

Signal

Data collected by app: None.

You need to sign up on Signal using your mobile phone number for registration, but the app does not link your phone number to your identity. If you check the app on the App Store it states that there is no data linked to you.

Telegram

Data collected by app: Name, Phone Number, Contacts, User ID


Just a glance at this list and you’ll know that Signal is clearly the most secure messaging app and both of Facebook’s products are as data greedy as it gets. No wonder Facebook got that miffed with Apple and its privacy labels and the user tracking restrictions!