Signal has approximately 70-100 million users as per the latest available data for 2026. The platform got its first boost with the WhatsApp privacy issue in 2020 and Elon Musk’s tweet. Though being a non-profit organization, it managed to pull in traffic of 2.6 million in August 2026.
This detailed Signal statistics report breaks down all the key data, including Signal users, traffic, revenue, and much more.
Signal Users: Key Highlights
- Signal has approximately 70-100 million users.
- The 25-to 34-year age group makes up 22.85% of Signal’s users.
- Signal attracted 2.6 million visitors in June 2026.
- The United States holds the largest traffic share with 28.35% in August 2026.
- Signal downloads in the UAE increased by 896% in 2021.
Signal Key Information
Below is the key information about the Signal messenger:
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Signal Technology Foundation (Signal Foundation) |
| Product | Signal Messenger |
| Founded | 2018 (Foundation); Signal Messenger traces its origins to 2014 |
| Founders | Moxie Marlinspike, Brian Acton |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, California, United States |
| Organization Type | Nonprofit (501(c)(3)) |
| President | Meredith Whittaker |
| Executive Chairman | Brian Acton |
| Industry | Instant Messaging, Privacy Software |
| Available In | 180+ countries |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| License | Free and Open Source |
| Revenue Model | Donations, grants, and philanthropic funding |
| Annual Revenue | $29.4 million (Fiscal Year 2024) |
| Operating Expenses | $38 million (Fiscal Year 2024) |
| Initial Funding | $50 million |
| Primary Competitors | WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, iMessage |
Source: ProPublica, Wired
How Many People Use Signal?
Signal has between 70 and 100 million users as per the latest available data.
The massive spike is an outcome of the global reaction to WhatsApp’s privacy policy. This made users move to Signal for its secure, ad-free, and non-profit model.
Billionaire Elon Musk tweeted, “Use Signal,” which led to a sharp spike in users.
Below is the growth of Signal users:
| Year | Active Users |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 0.5 million |
| 2020 | 12 million |
| 2021 | 20 million |
| 2022 | 40 million |
| 2023 | 55 million |
| 2024 | 70 million |
Note: The last publicly available figures for Signal were reported in 2024. Since then, multiple sources have estimated Signal’s user base to be in the 70–100 million range in 2026, with some estimates placing it closer to 100 million users.
Sources: Backlinko, Business of Apps
Signal User Demographics
The age group between 25 and 34 years accounts for 22.85% of Signal’s users among iPhone users and other devices.
This is how Signal users are distributed across different age groups
| Age | Signal Audience |
|---|---|
| 18-24 | 16.48% |
| 25-34 | 22.85% |
| 35-44 | 18.05% |
| 45-54 | 16.82% |
| 55-64 | 15.4% |
| 65+ | 10.4% |
Source: Similarweb
Signal Users By Country
Signal holds an 11.1% social media share in Germany. Even though a smaller percentage, it represents millions of people using it in absolute terms.
Also, Germany’s Federal Statistical Office and Eurostat showed that 83% of Germans aged 16 to 74 used messaging services like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram in the first quarter of 2025.
Downloads of Signal in Ukraine increased by 1,075% to 787k after the invasion. Active Signal users in Ukraine increased almost threefold between February 24 and March 20, 2022.
Signal’s most popular countries include Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
In the UAE, average daily Signal downloads increased from 348 to 3,466 in 2021. This was a rise of nearly 896%.
Source: The Global Statistics, Destatis, Business of Apps, Middle East Eye, Sensor Tower
Signal Revenue
Signal generated $29.4 million in revenue in 2024.
The revenue increased by a massive 3,085.5% from 2018 to 2019.
| Year | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2018 | $0.60 million |
| 2019 | $19.4 million |
| 2020 | $14.9 million |
| 2021 | $12.8 million |
| 2022 | $26.1 million |
| 2023 | $35.8 million |
| 2024 | $29.4 million |
Brian Acton, WhatsApp’s co-founder, is Signal’s primary financial backer. He provided a $50 million interest-free loan in 2018 when Signal was formed.
Read how Signal’s biggest competitor, WhatsApp, stands against it in terms of scale in our detailed report.
By the end of 2018, the loan had grown to $105 million at 0% interest, with repayment due in 2068.
However, expenses are climbing faster. Signal’s operating costs reached approximately $50 million in 2025, up from roughly $40 million in late 2023.
In the same year, Signal Foundation announced that its costs of $35.8 million slightly exceeded its income.
Source: Signal, Wired, Nelson’s Log
Signal Downloads Statistics
Just like the users, we can clearly see the jump from 8.3 million to 13.4 million, which is the result of WhatsApp’s privacy issue.
Signal’s annual download numbers since 2019 are as follows:
| Year | Annual Downloads |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 8.3 million |
| 2020 | 13.4 million |
| 2021 | 65.7 million |
| 2022 | 27.4 million |
| 2023 | 25.8 million |
| 2024 | 27.3 million |
| 2025 (through June) | 14.9 million |
Source: Backlinko
Signal Traffic Statistics
Signal attracted 2.6 million visits as of August 2026 figures. Engagement levels are very low compared to other websites, with a 62% bounce rate and 1.76 pages per visit.
These are the different metrics of Signal’s traffic as of August 2026:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Global Rank | #27,811 (down 108) |
| US Rank | #14,770 (up 1,492) |
| Category Rank | #388 (up 43) |
| Total Visits | 2.6 million |
| Pages / Visit | 1.76 |
| Visit Duration | 00:00:50 |
| Bounce Rate | 62% |
Country-wise, the United States sends the most traffic with a 28.35% share. Germany stands second with a 12.31% share, less than half of the US’s share.
Here is how country-wise traffic is distributed for Signal:
| Country | Traffic Share |
|---|---|
| United States | 28.35% |
| Germany | 12.31% |
| Ukraine | 4.19% |
| France | 3.98% |
| India | 3.95% |
| Others | 47.23% |
Signal’s visitors are skewed a little towards males, with a 56.47% traffic share, whereas females have a 43.53% share.
The 25 to 34 age group is the largest visitor group at 22.85%, but the distribution seems unusually flat.
Source: Similarweb
Other relevant statistics you can check out:
Who Owns the Signal App
Signal Technology Foundation runs Signal. It is an American non-profit corporation under 501(c)(3). Cryptographer Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton, co-founder of WhatsApp, were the company’s two founders.
Signal Messenger LLC is the software development company that creates the Signal messenger, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the foundation.
What sets Signal apart from other messengers is the absence of any parent company or shareholder. Brian Acton is CEO, and Meredith Whittaker is President of the company.
