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Signal Desktop

Open source

Signal Desktop is the open-source desktop client that links with Signal on Android or iOS so you can message from Windows, macOS and Linux.

Open-source alternative to

Visit Signal Desktop View on GitHub
signal.org
Signal Desktop homepage screenshot
GitHub stars
17k
Last commit
yesterday
Repository age
12 years
Version
v8.29.0
Licence
AGPL-3.0
Self-hosted
No

About Signal Desktop

Signal Desktop is the desktop version of the Signal private messenger for Windows, macOS and Linux. It links to the Signal app on an Android or iOS phone, which lets you send and read messages from your computer. It is written in TypeScript and released under the AGPL-3.0 license.

Both a production version and a beta version can be installed. Support is provided through a support site with answers to common questions and a community forum, which is also where feature requests and questions go, while bugs are reported as GitHub issues. Contributions are welcome, including non-code ones, and the repository has a contributing guide.

Signal is run by an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Signal Technology Foundation, and donations can be made from inside the apps or on the web. The repository includes a cryptography notice explaining that the software contains encryption and may be subject to import, possession and export rules in some countries.

Key features

  • Links with Signal on Android or iOS
  • Messaging from Windows, macOS and Linux
  • Production and beta release channels
  • Open-source TypeScript codebase
  • Support site and community forum

Good fit for

  • →Using Signal from a desktop computer
  • →Continuing phone conversations while at work
Built with
TypeScript
Tags
messaging
private-messenger
encryption
desktop
signal
privacy
typescript
nonprofit

Signal Desktop: questions and answers

What is Signal Desktop used for?
Signal Desktop is the open-source desktop client that links with Signal on Android or iOS so you can message from Windows, macOS and Linux. It is a good fit for using Signal from a desktop computer and continuing phone conversations while at work.
Is Signal Desktop open source?
Yes. Signal Desktop is open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at signalapp/Signal-Desktop and is written mainly in TypeScript.
Is Signal Desktop free?
Yes. Signal Desktop is open source, so the software itself is free to use. A managed cloud version is also available.
What is Signal Desktop an alternative to?
Signal Desktop is an open-source alternative to WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger and Viber. Other open-source alternatives to WhatsApp include Signal Android, Signal iOS and SimpleX Chat.
Is Signal Desktop actively maintained?
Yes. The most recent commit to Signal Desktop was on 1 October 2026, and the latest release is v8.29.0, published on 1 October 2026. The project has 17k stars on GitHub.

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