Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Microsoft Teams VS Signal

Compare Microsoft Teams VS Signal and see what are their differences

Microsoft Teams logo Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams provides the enterprise-level security, compliance and management features you expect from Office 365, including broad support for compliance standards, and eDiscovery and legal hold for channels, chats, and files.

Signal logo Signal

Fast, simple & secure messaging. Privacy that fits in your pocket.
  • Microsoft Teams Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-17
  • Signal Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-20

Microsoft Teams features and specs

  • Integration with Microsoft 365
    Microsoft Teams seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, allowing for a unified work environment and enhanced productivity.
  • Collaboration Features
    Robust features for team collaboration such as channels for different projects, threaded conversations, file sharing, and real-time co-authoring of documents.
  • Video Conferencing
    High-quality video conferencing capabilities, including screen sharing, meeting recordings, and the ability to host large meetings or webinars.
  • Security and Compliance
    Comprehensive security and compliance features, including data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and compliance with various industry standards.
  • Customizability
    Supports a variety of third-party app integrations and custom bots, allowing teams to tailor the platform to their specific workflows and preferences.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Teams

  • Complexity
    The abundance of features and integrations can make the platform overwhelming for new users, necessitating a learning curve for effective use.
  • Resource Intensive
    Can be resource-intensive, leading to performance issues on older or less powerful devices, particularly during high-demand activities such as video conferencing.
  • Notifications Management
    The notification system can become cumbersome, especially for larger teams or those involved in multiple channels, potentially leading to information overload.
  • Limited Free Plan
    The free version has limitations, such as reduced storage, fewer meeting features, and limited support for third-party app integrations compared to the paid versions.
  • Dependence on Microsoft Ecosystem
    Heavy reliance on the Microsoft ecosystem can be a drawback for organizations using diverse software environments, as it lacks the same level of seamless integration with non-Microsoft products.

Signal features and specs

  • End-to-End Encryption
    Signal uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that only the sender and the recipient can read the messages. This makes it highly secure against eavesdropping.
  • Open Source
    Signal's code is open source, allowing anyone to inspect, audit, and improve it. This transparency helps to build trust and ensure the security of the platform.
  • User Privacy
    Signal is designed to collect minimal data from its users. It does not store metadata about contacts, messages, or user activity, thereby prioritizing user privacy.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Signal is available on a variety of platforms including iOS, Android, and desktop, making it accessible to a broad range of users.
  • Multi-purpose Usage
    Beyond just text messaging, Signal supports voice and video calls, as well as file sharing, making it a versatile communication tool.

Possible disadvantages of Signal

  • Limited User Base
    Compared to more popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, Signal has a smaller user base, which may limit its utility as a communication tool.
  • Dependence on Phone Number
    Signal requires users to register with a phone number, which can be a privacy concern for some people who prefer not to share their number.
  • Backup Limitations
    Signal does not offer cloud backups for messages, which means users have to rely on local backups that can be more cumbersome to manage.
  • User Interface
    Some users find Signal's user interface to be less polished and user-friendly compared to other mainstream messaging apps.
  • Notification Issues
    There have been reports of unreliable notifications that can result in missed messages or calls, potentially impacting the user experience.

Analysis of Microsoft Teams

Overall verdict

  • Microsoft Teams is a powerful and versatile tool that excels in enhancing collaboration and communication within organizations, especially for those already utilizing Microsoft products.

Why this product is good

  • Integration: Microsoft Teams offers seamless integration with other Microsoft 365 services, allowing for an efficient workflow.
  • Collaboration: It provides robust features for collaboration, including channels, chats, file sharing, and video conferencing.
  • Customization: Teams can be customized with apps and tools to suit specific needs of organizations or teams.
  • Security: With enterprise-level security and compliance features, Teams is a safe option for businesses.

Recommended for

  • Organizations using Microsoft 365 suite or other Microsoft products.
  • Remote teams requiring a reliable platform for video conferencing and collaboration.
  • Businesses needing strong security and compliance features.
  • Teams looking for an integrated workspace that supports both communication and project management.

Analysis of Signal

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Signal is generally considered a good messaging app.

Why this product is good

  • Signal is known for its strong emphasis on privacy and security. It uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that only the communicating users can read the messages. The app is open-source, which allows for external audits of its code, providing transparency. It does not collect metadata or user data beyond what is necessary for the operation of the service.

Recommended for

  • Privacy-conscious individuals who prioritize secure communication.
  • Journalists and activists who require confidential communications.
  • Users who prefer open-source software.
  • Anyone seeking a simple and user-friendly secure messaging app.

Microsoft Teams videos

Microsoft Teams: How it works?!

More videos:

  • Review - Microsoft Teams Free Version Review
  • Review - Slack vs Microsoft Teams - Which is best?

Signal videos

Why We Should All Be Using Signal Messenger

More videos:

  • Review - WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal: Which is the BEST?!
  • Review - THE SIGNAL: explained

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microsoft Teams and Signal)
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0
Communication
28 28%
72% 72
Group Chat & Notifications
Team Collaboration
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Microsoft Teams and Signal

Microsoft Teams Reviews

  1. Boyd Richardson
    · Writer at SE ·
    The Ultimate Collaboration App

    s someone who works remotely, I've tried my fair share of collaboration apps. However, I have to say that Microsoft Teams has impressed me the most. It's a comprehensive app that brings together all the tools I need to communicate and collaborate with my colleagues seamlessly.

    The interface of Microsoft Teams is user-friendly and easy to navigate. I particularly love the left-hand navigation bar that provides quick access to all the features, including chats, meetings, files, and activity. The app integrates with other Microsoft apps, such as Outlook and OneDrive, making it easier to schedule meetings and access files. The chat feature is simple, yet effective, with options to create groups, share files, and use emojis and GIFs.

    🏁 Competitors: Discord, Slack
    👍 Pros:    Well-integrated|Collaboration|Feature rich
    👎 Cons:    Overwhelming for first time user|Mobile app lacks features|Can be slow

Top 10 Webex alternatives in 2024
MS Teams is a popular collaboration tool from Microsoft. It has advanced features for one-on-one and group conversations, online meetings, video conferencing, document collaboration, and more.
Source: www.rocket.chat
7 best Mattermost alternatives for secure business messaging
Developed by Microsoft, MS Teams is a popular messaging and video conferencing tool for businesses. MS Teams comes as an add-on for businesses with an Office 365 subscription everywhere but the EU.
Source: www.rocket.chat
The 8 best Webex alternatives (2024)
Microsoft Teams is an all in one tool designed for team communication and collaboration, offering features such as chat, file sharing and project collaboration. Initially built for virtual meetings in 2016, Teams has expanded their offer to virtual events and webinars too, with sub-products like Microsoft Teams Webinars.
Source: univid.io
20 Telegram Alternatives to Chat With in 2024
Another thing Teams does well is events. It integrates with MS Office to add “one-click” event scheduling, giving you functionality for meetings and webinars. The MS Teams event has a good interface, an in-meeting chat, and it’s easy to join and invite others (although users either need to use Teams or a Microsoft Edge browser). MS Teams is also a really secure software with...
Top 10 Zoom Alternatives in 2024 — Better Video Conferencing Software
That being said, Microsoft Teams has a limited free plan available only for personal use. Business plans are fairly affordable though, ranging from Microsoft Teams Essentials for $4 per user per month to Microsoft 365 Business Premium plan at $22.00 per user per month.
Source: pumble.com

Signal Reviews

7 best Mattermost alternatives for secure business messaging
Signal offers a secure instant messaging platform for businesses and others concerned about privacy. On Signal, business teams communicate one-on-one or in groups through text, voice, or video calls. The software is open-source and the server, mobile, and desktop client is published through AGPL v3.0 restrictive license. All data and messages are end-to-end encrypted.
Source: www.rocket.chat
20 Telegram Alternatives to Chat With in 2024
Signal is not a broadcasting app (although it does have a stories feature), nor is it a community-building app. It's a simple messaging Telegram alternative for those wanting to chat with friends.
10 Best Secure Messaging Apps to Keep Your Conversation Private
In our comparison between Signal vs Telegram vs WhatsApp, we found that Signal is the most secure messaging app out there. Signal uses the gold standard, open-source Signal Protocol to implement end-to-end encryption. And it implements E2E encryption on all forms of communication on Signal– be it voice/video calls, chat messages, media, or audio clips.
Source: beebom.com
10 Best Telegram Alternatives in 2024
Signal is an alternative Telegram app which was first developed in the year 2014 by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton, Signal was launched after whatsapp and after its launch various organizations shifted their work to Signal from Whatsapp due to its highly secured and safe features than any other app.
Top 10 Apps like Telegram for Android and IOs [2023]
Signal is a messaging program that offers all the features you would anticipate from a modern instant messaging app, with a heavy focus on privacy. Signal is one of the safest messaging apps on the market thanks to its open-source architecture, end-to-end encryption, and commitment to never accumulating user data. If you're seeking secure apps like Telegram, Signal's...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Signal seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 184 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Microsoft Teams mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Microsoft Teams yet. Tracking of Microsoft Teams recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Signal mentions (184)

  • Magic of software; what makes a good engineer also makes a good engineering org
    This is the Moxie that created Signal.[0] I'm pointing this out because people are acting like he's a bit naive. But Moxie has built a very successful company, without the need for VCs, and the tech is used by many big tech companies. Several use the signal protocol. It's a successful nonprofit building open source software. If your focus is to make large amounts of money, maybe his isn't the best advice. But if... - Source: Hacker News / 18 days ago
  • Rely less on Third-Party Services
    Signal is an end-to-end encrypted messenger,. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • How to Make a Product Secure: A Developer's Perspective
    Signal: This messaging app is built with end-to-end encryption at its core. It’s open-source, allowing experts worldwide to audit its security protocols. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • 3G Cell Service Has a HUGE Security Flaw. 🫢
    Well, the best thing you can do right now is stop using cell service (particularly 3G networks) whenever possible. For texting and phone calls, use an encrypted internet based service, like Signal or WhatsApp. Use authenticator apps or passkeys for two-factor authentication instead of your phone number. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • WhatsApp forces Pegasus spyware maker to share its secret code
    Just so you know: https://grapheneos.org/ and https://signal.org/ do exist! - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microsoft Teams and Signal, you can also consider the following products

Slack - A messaging app for teams who see through the Earth!

Telegram - Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free.

Airtable - Airtable works like a spreadsheet but gives you the power of a database to organize anything. Sign up for free.

Element.io - Secure messaging app with strong end-to-end encryption, advanced group chat privacy settings, secure video calls for teams, encrypted communication using Matrix open network. Riot.im is now Element.

Creativity 365 - Cross-device content creation suite

WhatsApp - WhatsApp Messenger: More than 1 billion people in over 180 countries use WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends and family, anytime and anywhere.