Catalog · Mobile

Signal

Signal is an end-to-end encrypted messenger for Android, iOS and desktop, with text, voice and video calls, groups and disappearing messages. Registration requires a phone number. The client and server code is published under AGPL-3.0, but the service runs on Signal's own infrastructure; running a private Signal network is not supported.

Code Fireworks render of the Signal repository, as of Nov 2026
As of Nov 2026Code Fireworks ↗

Why it fits

The Android, iOS, Desktop and server components are published in separate repositories. Clients can be installed free of charge for private communication. Admission here is client self-install, not running a private Signal network.

Getting started

Prerequisites (from the official docs):

  • A phone (Android or iOS); the desktop app is linked to a phone
  • A phone number for registration

Steps:

  1. Install Signal from the official download page or your app store.
  2. Register with your phone number and set a PIN.
  3. Optionally install Signal Desktop and link it by scanning a QR code with your phone.

Official downloads: https://signal.org/download/

Notes

Self-hosting a private Signal service for personal use is not a supported offering. The license shown here is the one in the Android client repository.

Sources

  1. signal.org
  2. github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/blob/main/LICENSE
  3. signal.org/download
  4. futo.tech/grants

More in Mobile

← Back to the catalog