Last checked: October 2026
Relay compared
Every messenger makes different trade-offs. Here's where Relay sits next to three you've probably used, on the questions people ask most.
| Question | Relay | Signal | Telegram | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone number required to sign up | No — just a username; an email is optional | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| End-to-end encryption on by default for all chats | Yes | Yes, for personal chats | Yes | No — only Secret Chats, which you start separately |
| Group chats end-to-end encrypted by default | Yes | Yes | Yes | No — Secret Chats are one-to-one only |
| Server keeps your message history | No — deleted once delivered | Not by default — history is kept on your device | Not by default — history is kept on your device | Yes — regular chats are stored in Telegram's cloud |
| Uses the Signal Protocol | Yes | Yes | Yes | No — uses its own protocol, MTProto |
Reading the table
WhatsApp and Signal are built on the same Signal Protocol Relay uses, and all three encrypt conversations end to end by default. The clearest difference from both is how you sign up: Relay needs no phone number, just a username — and with a passkey, not even an email address.
"Deleted once delivered" means an encrypted message waits on our servers only until the recipient's phone collects it, or 14 days if it never does. Relay's optional backup goes to your own iCloud, encrypted with a recovery key only you hold. How Relay works covers the details.
Out of date?
Other apps change, and this page was last checked in October 2026. If something here is out of date, tell us at support@relaymsg.app and we'll correct it.
WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram are trademarks of their respective owners. Relay isn't affiliated with any of them.