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Signal vs Wire: Which Ensures True Privacy in Messaging?

Explore how Signal (US) and Wire (CH) safeguard your conversations. Discover the differences in privacy features and choose the best for your secure communication needs.

Last updated: February 1, 2026•Reviewed by Built in EU Team

Should You Switch to Wire?

What You Gain

Gain secure collaboration tools and self-hosting options.

Privacy advantage
Trade-offs

May lose some advanced messaging features like disappearing messages.

Signal has more features
Bottom Line

Switch if you prioritize privacy and collaboration over advanced features.

At a Glance

Data Location
🇺🇸US

US data laws

🇨🇭CH

GDPR protected

Pricing

Signal

Contact

Wire

freemium

Migration
Medium difficulty~1-2 hours

Privacy & Compliance Comparison

Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance

CriteriaSignalWire
Server Location
USEU
GDPR Compliance
FullFull
Open Source
E2E Encryption
All plans
Data Portability
LimitedPartial

CLOUD Act Notice

Signal is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. Wire is not subject to US jurisdiction.

Switching from
Signal logo

Signal

🇺🇸

Signal

VS
Switching to
Wire logo

Wire

🇨🇭

Wire

US Data Storage

Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities

EU Data Protection

Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency

Certifications & Compliance

No certifications listed

EU-Based
GDPR Compliant
Open Source
Self-Hostable
Swiss hosted

Reasons to Switch

  • âś“Wire offers secure file sharing with end-to-end encryption.
  • âś“Wire supports self-hosted deployment for enhanced data control.
  • âś“Wire provides integrated video conferencing within the app.
  • âś“Wire is fully GDPR compliant, ensuring strict data protection.

Things to Consider

  • !Migration from Signal may involve data loss or compatibility issues.
  • !Wire's user interface may require a learning curve for new users.
Migration difficulty:
Medium
~1-2 hours

Migration Overview

Full guide
Difficulty
Medium
Time Estimate
~1-2 hours

Depends on data size and complexity

Quick Steps

1

Create Wire account and configure settings

2

Export and prepare data from Signal

3

Import data, test integrations, and migrate users

Note: Wire provides a robust platform with end-to-end encryption and cross-platform collaboration, making it a strong alternative to Signal.

Other alternatives to Signal

Ready to make the switch?

Start using Wire today and take control of your data privacy.