{
  "@context": [
    "https://schema.org",
    {
      "nuanyue": "https://www.nuanyue.com/ns#"
    }
  ],
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "@id": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/signal-desktop/#software",
  "name": "Signal Desktop",
  "description": "Signal's open-source desktop client for macOS, which links to Signal on a phone and encrypts messages and calls end-to-end.",
  "url": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/signal-desktop/",
  "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/signal-desktop/",
  "operatingSystem": "macOS",
  "applicationCategory": "BusinessApplication",
  "publisher": {
    "name": "Signal Technology Foundation",
    "url": "https://signal.org/"
  },
  "sameAs": [
    "https://signal.org/",
    "https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop"
  ],
  "softwareVersion": "8.29.0",
  "license": "AGPL-3.0",
  "offers": {
    "@type": "Offer",
    "price": "0",
    "priceCurrency": "USD"
  },
  "nuanyue:record": {
    "schemaVersion": 1,
    "id": "software:signal-desktop",
    "slug": "signal-desktop",
    "name": "Signal Desktop",
    "type": "SoftwareApplication",
    "entityType": "messaging app",
    "description": "Signal's open-source desktop client for macOS, which links to Signal on a phone and encrypts messages and calls end-to-end.",
    "shortDescription": "Open-source, end-to-end encrypted Mac messenger.",
    "answer": "Signal Desktop is the Mac client for Signal, the end-to-end encrypted messenger run by the Signal Technology Foundation, an independent nonprofit. The desktop app does not create its own account: it is linked to Signal on an Android or iPhone device by scanning a QR code, and messages sync between the phone and the Mac. Its source is published under the AGPL-3.0, so the client can be inspected and rebuilt independently. Signal states that it shows no ads and does no tracking, and development is funded by donations rather than advertising. It suits people who want encrypted messaging without a corporate account or an advertising-funded service.",
    "page": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/signal-desktop/",
    "dataUrl": "https://www.nuanyue.com/data/software/signal-desktop.json",
    "categories": [
      "productivity"
    ],
    "tags": [],
    "platform": [
      "macOS"
    ],
    "minOsVersion": "macOS 13",
    "architecture": [],
    "featured": false,
    "pricing": "open-source",
    "pricingDescription": "Free to use; the client is open source under the AGPL-3.0 and the nonprofit is funded by donations.",
    "license": "AGPL-3.0",
    "currentVersion": "8.29.0",
    "releaseDate": "2026-10-01",
    "openSource": true,
    "website": "https://signal.org/",
    "documentation": "https://support.signal.org/",
    "github": "https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop",
    "download": "https://updates.signal.org/desktop/signal-desktop-mac-universal-8.29.0.dmg",
    "developer": {
      "name": "Signal Technology Foundation",
      "website": "https://signal.org/"
    },
    "features": [
      "End-to-end encrypted messages and calls using the Signal Protocol",
      "Linked-device sync with Signal on Android or iOS",
      "Group chats and group calls",
      "Voice and video calls",
      "Disappearing messages",
      "No ads and no third-party trackers, as stated by Signal"
    ],
    "useCases": [
      "Continuing a Signal conversation from a Mac keyboard",
      "Making encrypted voice or video calls from a desktop",
      "Reading and replying to messages while the phone is elsewhere",
      "Running a messenger whose client source can be inspected"
    ],
    "formats": [],
    "integrations": [],
    "pros": [
      {
        "text": "Published under the AGPL-3.0, so the client source can be inspected and rebuilt independently.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted by default using the Signal Protocol.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Run by the Signal Technology Foundation, an independent nonprofit, and funded by donations rather than advertising.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "cons": [
      {
        "text": "The desktop app cannot register on its own: it must be linked to Signal on an Android or iPhone device, so a phone number is required.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "documentation",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Requires macOS 13 or later, which excludes Macs that cannot run Ventura.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "documentation",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Fewer contacts already use Signal than WhatsApp, so it often ends up as a second messenger rather than the only one.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "whoIsItFor": [
      "People who want end-to-end encryption and minimal data collection",
      "Users who prefer a nonprofit, donation-funded service over an ad-funded one",
      "Anyone who wants messages synced between a phone and a Mac"
    ],
    "notFor": [
      "Users who need a standalone account with no phone — Signal Desktop must be linked to a phone number",
      "Macs running macOS 12 or earlier — the desktop build requires macOS 13 or later",
      "People who need a messenger their whole contact list already uses — network effects favour WhatsApp and iMessage"
    ],
    "limitations": [
      "The desktop client is a linked device rather than a standalone account: Signal on Android or iPhone is a prerequisite.",
      "The supported floor is macOS 13 (Ventura); Signal publishes no build for earlier macOS releases.",
      "The macOS download is a single universal build; no Signal page states Apple Silicon support in those words, so Nuanyue records that field as unknown."
    ],
    "firstUse": {
      "installation": {
        "value": "Download the macOS .dmg from signal.org/download and open it; the download is named signal-desktop-mac-universal-<version>.dmg.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "firstLaunch": {
        "value": "Link Signal Desktop to Signal on an Android or iPhone device by scanning a QR code; the desktop app cannot register on its own.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "documentation",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "systemIntegration": {
        "value": "Periodically checks for updates on its own and shows an in-app update banner; updates are not delivered through the Mac App Store.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "documentation",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "appleSilicon": {
        "value": null,
        "status": "unknown"
      }
    },
    "updates": [
      {
        "version": "8.29.0",
        "date": "2026-10-01",
        "summary": "Small tweaks, bug fixes and performance enhancements.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository"
      },
      {
        "version": "8.28.0",
        "date": "2026-09-23",
        "summary": "Small tweaks, bug fixes and performance enhancements.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository"
      },
      {
        "version": "8.27.0",
        "date": "2026-09-10",
        "summary": "More granular notification settings, including control over the app badge and muted threads.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository"
      }
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "question": "Is Signal Desktop free?",
        "answer": "Yes. The client is open source under the AGPL-3.0, there is no paid tier, and Signal says development is funded by grants and donations.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Can I use Signal Desktop without a phone?",
        "answer": "No. Signal Desktop is a linked device: it is paired to Signal on an Android or iPhone by scanning a QR code, and it cannot create its own account.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "documentation",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "What macOS version does Signal Desktop need?",
        "answer": "Signal's support site lists macOS 13 or later as the system requirement for the desktop app.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "documentation",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Is Signal's code open source?",
        "answer": "Yes. Signal Desktop is published under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0, which GitHub reports as the AGPL-3.0 SPDX identifier.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Can Signal Desktop message WhatsApp users?",
        "answer": "No. Signal and WhatsApp are separate networks; Signal users can only exchange messages with other Signal users.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Does Signal Desktop support Apple Silicon Macs?",
        "answer": "Signal publishes one macOS download named signal-desktop-mac-universal rather than separate Intel and Apple Silicon installers, but its pages do not state Apple Silicon support in those words, so Nuanyue records the field as unknown.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "relationships": [
      {
        "target": "whatsapp-desktop",
        "type": "competitor",
        "reason": "Both are end-to-end encrypted desktop messengers, but Signal is open source under the AGPL-3.0 and run by a nonprofit, while WhatsApp is proprietary and owned by Meta.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "telegram",
        "type": "competitor",
        "reason": "Both are messaging clients, but Signal encrypts every chat end-to-end by default, whereas Telegram's cloud chats are not end-to-end encrypted.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "slack",
        "type": "compared_with",
        "reason": "Signal is built for private one-to-one and small-group messaging, while Slack organises workplace communication into channels, threads and huddles.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "discord",
        "type": "compared_with",
        "reason": "Both support group voice and video, but Discord is organised around servers and communities while Signal is organised around private contacts.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "sources": [
      {
        "id": "signal-desktop:official",
        "type": "official_website",
        "url": "https://signal.org/",
        "title": "Signal Desktop — official website",
        "trustLevel": "B",
        "accessedAt": null
      },
      {
        "id": "signal-desktop:developer",
        "type": "developer",
        "url": "https://signal.org/",
        "title": "Signal Technology Foundation — developer website",
        "trustLevel": "B",
        "accessedAt": null
      },
      {
        "id": "signal-desktop:documentation",
        "type": "documentation",
        "url": "https://support.signal.org/",
        "title": "Signal Desktop — documentation",
        "trustLevel": "C",
        "accessedAt": null
      },
      {
        "id": "signal-desktop:repository",
        "type": "github",
        "url": "https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop",
        "title": "Signal Desktop — source repository",
        "trustLevel": "D",
        "accessedAt": null
      }
    ],
    "claims": [
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.isA",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "isA",
        "value": "messaging app",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.supportsPlatform",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "supportsPlatform",
        "value": [
          "macOS"
        ],
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.officialWebsite",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "officialWebsite",
        "value": "https://signal.org/",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.listedInCategory",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "listedInCategory",
        "value": [
          "productivity"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.pricingModel",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "pricingModel",
        "value": "Open source",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.developedBy",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "developedBy",
        "value": "Signal Technology Foundation",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:developer",
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.ownership",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "ownership",
        "value": "Third-party product — not published by Nuanyue",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.isOpenSource",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "isOpenSource",
        "value": true,
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:repository",
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.licensedUnder",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "licensedUnder",
        "value": "AGPL-3.0",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:repository",
          "signal-desktop:documentation",
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.currentVersion",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "currentVersion",
        "value": "8.29.0",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.hasFeature",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "hasFeature",
        "value": [
          "End-to-end encrypted messages and calls using the Signal Protocol",
          "Linked-device sync with Signal on Android or iOS",
          "Group chats and group calls",
          "Voice and video calls",
          "Disappearing messages",
          "No ads and no third-party trackers, as stated by Signal"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.usedFor",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "usedFor",
        "value": [
          "Continuing a Signal conversation from a Mac keyboard",
          "Making encrypted voice or video calls from a desktop",
          "Reading and replying to messages while the phone is elsewhere",
          "Running a messenger whose client source can be inspected"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.audienceFor",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "audienceFor",
        "value": [
          "People who want end-to-end encryption and minimal data collection",
          "Users who prefer a nonprofit, donation-funded service over an ad-funded one",
          "Anyone who wants messages synced between a phone and a Mac"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.audienceNotFor",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "audienceNotFor",
        "value": [
          "Users who need a standalone account with no phone — Signal Desktop must be linked to a phone number",
          "Macs running macOS 12 or earlier — the desktop build requires macOS 13 or later",
          "People who need a messenger their whole contact list already uses — network effects favour WhatsApp and iMessage"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.limitation",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "limitation",
        "value": [
          "The desktop client is a linked device rather than a standalone account: Signal on Android or iPhone is a prerequisite.",
          "The supported floor is macOS 13 (Ventura); Signal publishes no build for earlier macOS releases.",
          "The macOS download is a single universal build; no Signal page states Apple Silicon support in those words, so Nuanyue records that field as unknown."
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.advantage.0",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Published under the AGPL-3.0, so the client source can be inspected and rebuilt independently.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:repository"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.advantage.1",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted by default using the Signal Protocol.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.advantage.2",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Run by the Signal Technology Foundation, an independent nonprofit, and funded by donations rather than advertising.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.drawback.0",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "The desktop app cannot register on its own: it must be linked to Signal on an Android or iPhone device, so a phone number is required.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:documentation"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.drawback.1",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "Requires macOS 13 or later, which excludes Macs that cannot run Ventura.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "signal-desktop:documentation"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:signal-desktop.drawback.2",
        "subject": "software:signal-desktop",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "Fewer contacts already use Signal than WhatsApp, so it often ends up as a second messenger rather than the only one.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      }
    ],
    "lastUpdated": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z",
    "lastReviewedAt": null
  }
}