Comparison Between Signal and iMessage
With today’s technology, almost everyone communicates via online chat and with the demand of online chatting, numerous chatting networks have emerged. The popular chatting platforms are Signal and iMessage and through this article we shall feature both mentioned chatting platforms. We shall discuss the differences and similarities and their pros and cons.
iMessage
iMessage is exclusively for Apple users. It is a well-known encrypted messaging app which is built-in on Apple devices. In fact, iMessage could only be used and could only work for users sending messages from one Apple device to another. This platform is similar to how BBM of Blackberry works. The only difference os that iMessage could also be sent as a normal text message. You will know if your message is sent as a normal text message as the color of the message would be green instead of the usual blue. iMessage is often sent through internet connection which means if you have some internet connection, your message would be sent as normal SMS. Keep in mind that if your message is sent via SMS, you would be charged by your mobile carrier.
Pros of iMessage
iMessage users have expressed how much they are impressed with this built-in communication chatting platform on Apple devices. iMessage does not require users to search for it on App Store. This means, you will no longer have to go through the hassle of downloading it and signing up for it. Another advantage of having and using iMessage is that it is a very secured platform. In fact, iMessage comes with end to end encryption. With this feature, we could say that iMessage tops over Signal.
As for iMessage’s interface, it is very user-friendly, minimalistic, clear and classic which is the usual style of Apple. Moreover, it also supports voice messages. Furthermore, as iMessage is sent via internet, you will not have to worry about the cost. However, if you do not have internet connection, your mobile carrier would charge its usual fee for SMS.
Cons of iMessage
As mentioned above, iMessage is exclusive to Apple devices which means, the downside of iMessage is that you will not be able to use it if you are an Android device user.
Signal
Signal on the other hand, though it is also known as an encrypted messaging app, it is also an open source software application. This means that this platform could be used on both Android and iOS devices. Moreover, what is amazing about it is that it is for free. Though that is the case, the difference of Signal vs iMessage is that Signal does not have the ability to transform your message into SMS in case you do not have internet connection.
With Signal, the person you are sending messages to must have the same platform as you do. This means, you, the sender and the receiver must have Signal and at the same time, both of you must have strong internet connection. Signal could be downloaded from Google Play Store and/or App store.
Pros
Just like iMessage, Signal is known for it being a secured messaging platform. In fact, it comes with high grade end to end encryption. It is offered for free and it also has a desktop feature which works just like WhatsApp Web.
Cons of Signal
The downside of Signal is that you will not be able to sign in to several devices simultaneously. This means that the app cannot function without being given access to your phone number and contact list. Furthermore, there are times when this platform is unreliable. There are times when there is a delay in receiving messages and notifications.
Is Signal Better than iMessage?
Both Signal and iMessage have their pros and cons. Whether Signal is better than iMessage would depend on the user’s preference. We hope that through this article, we were able to provide you useful information which could guide you on choosing which is the best messaging platform that would best suit your messaging needs and preference.
