A Honest Comparison

1. Privacy and Security

M8Chat:
M8Chat takes privacy seriously, with end-to-end encryption protecting all your messages. This means that only you and the person you’re chatting with can read the content of your conversations. Even M8Chat itself cannot access your messages. Your data is stored on Australian servers, under Australian privacy laws, so your information stays protected from foreign surveillance. No one can eavesdrop, and your data stays yours.

WhatsApp:
WhatsApp also uses end-to-end encryption for messages, which is great for security. However, WhatsApp collects a significant amount of metadata, such as your contacts, location, and usage patterns. This data is shared with its parent company, Meta (Facebook), which uses it for targeted ads and other purposes. While your chats are encrypted, the metadata that WhatsApp collects can still be used to build a profile of you.

Signal:
Signal is known for its strong privacy focus, with end-to-end encryption and minimal data collection. It’s the choice for privacy enthusiasts and security-conscious individuals. However, Signal requires you to register with a phone number, which can still tie your account to your real-world identity. While Signal collects less data than WhatsApp, it still requires a phone number for registration, which could be a concern for some users.

Telegram:
Telegram uses server-side encryption for its regular chats, meaning that Telegram can access your messages. For more privacy, Telegram offers Secret Chats, which are end-to-end encrypted, but these must be manually enabled. Additionally, Telegram stores your chat history on its servers by default, which means Telegram has access to the data. M8Chat outperforms Telegram here with always-on end-to-end encryption for all chats by default.

Facebook Messenger:
Messenger lacks end-to-end encryption for regular chats. While it offers Secret Conversations with encryption, they are not the default, and Messenger collects extensive metadata from your conversations. Since Facebook owns Messenger, your data is also subject to their privacy policies, which have been a cause for concern over the years. If privacy is a priority for you, Messenger’s data collection practices are a significant downside.

2. Data Control and Sovereignty

M8Chat:
M8Chat stores all your data locally in Australia, giving you full control over your personal information. With M8Chat, you don’t have to worry about your data being stored overseas or being subject to foreign laws. Data sovereignty is key here—your messages stay in Australia, and only Australian laws govern how they are handled.

WhatsApp:
WhatsApp’s data is stored on servers around the world, often in the United States or other countries. This means your data could be subject to foreign government regulations, such as the U.S. CLOUD Act, which allows U.S. authorities to access data stored by American companies, even if it’s located in another country.

Signal:
Signal is very privacy-focused, but it still relies on U.S. servers for data storage, which means your data could be subject to U.S. laws. While Signal doesn’t collect much data, being based in the U.S. means it could be asked to comply with government requests for user information.

Telegram:
Telegram’s servers are spread across various countries, and its data storage is more distributed than other apps. While Telegram has stated that it tries to avoid sharing data with governments, it has been criticized for not being fully transparent about where data is stored and who has access to it.

Facebook Messenger:
Since Messenger is owned by Meta, all data is stored on Facebook’s servers around the world, including in the U.S.. This makes Messenger susceptible to the same issues related to foreign government access, especially under U.S. law. Facebook has been involved in several data privacy scandals, including the infamous Cambridge Analytica case, which has damaged its reputation in terms of protecting user data.

3. User Experience and Features

M8Chat:
M8Chat offers a user-friendly experience with all the essential messaging features you expect: text chat, voice and video calls, file sharing, and group chats. It also features Jitsi integration for secure video conferences, making it a great choice for anyone who needs to host online meetings or group calls. M8Chat is cross-platform, meaning you can use it on mobile, desktop, and web. There’s no need to worry about syncing your conversations – everything stays in sync across your devices. The Matrix protocol used by M8Chat is scalable and can support even large groups and organizations.

WhatsApp:
WhatsApp is widely used for personal chats and has many features, such as voice and video calls, file sharing, and group chats. However, WhatsApp is mainly designed for mobile devices, and the web version requires your phone to be connected. WhatsApp does offer a multi-device feature but still depends on your phone for syncing. It also lacks end-to-end encryption for backups, which means if you back up your chats, they aren’t fully secure.

Signal:
Signal is an excellent choice for security, but its user experience is often seen as basic compared to the more polished options like WhatsApp. It supports voice and video calls, text chat, and file sharing, but it doesn’t have as many advanced features as WhatsApp or Telegram. The app is available on mobile, desktop, and web and syncs your chats across devices.

Telegram:
Telegram is feature-rich and supports large groups, bots, file sharing (up to 2GB), cloud-based storage, and voice/video calls. It’s cloud-based, so your chats are available on any device without the need for syncing. However, as we mentioned earlier, regular chats are not end-to-end encrypted, so while the app offers many features, it’s not as private as M8Chat.

Facebook Messenger:
Messenger is packed with features, such as voice/video calls, file sharing, sticker packs, and integrations with Facebook’s other services. However, Messenger’s user experience can feel cluttered, and it’s not as privacy-conscious as other apps. Additionally, Messenger’s integration with Facebook means that your messages can be used for ad targeting.

4. Community and Support

M8Chat:
M8Chat’s focus is on creating a safe, respectful, and community-driven environment. It’s designed to be family-friendly and is great for personal chats, small groups, and larger community conversations. Since M8Chat operates within Australian jurisdiction, users are also assured that the platform follows strict local laws and regulations that prioritize data privacy and consumer protection. If you have a question, M8Chat has an accessible support system that is quick to respond and is based locally in Australia.

WhatsApp:
WhatsApp has a huge user base and is extremely popular across the globe. The platform offers support through its help center, but since it’s part of Facebook, there is a lack of personal support and accountability. WhatsApp’s community is not as focused on respect and privacy as M8Chat’s.

Signal:
Signal has a small but loyal community focused on security and privacy. It’s run by a non-profit, so the focus is entirely on the users and their security. However, Signal lacks broader community features that some people may find useful, like group chats with lots of people or larger-scale integrations.

Telegram:
Telegram has a massive and diverse global community, which can sometimes lead to issues with content moderation. While the platform is great for broadcasting, it can be challenging to manage large groups. Telegram’s support can be slow at times, and since it’s a more open platform, it’s easier for harmful content to slip through.

Facebook Messenger:
Messenger is a social media-focused app, so it tends to prioritize the needs of advertisers and content creators rather than users. The Facebook ecosystem makes it easy to find people and chat with them, but privacy is a secondary concern. With Facebook’s history of data misuse, users are often left wondering how their data is being used beyond just chatting with friends.