Signal
A nonprofit encrypted messaging app focused on privacy.
Signal at a glance
Signal is a social media website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #460 in the country. It was founded in 2014 by Moxie Marlinspike, Brian Acton and is headquartered in Mountain View, CA, USA. Today Signal is owned by Signal Foundation. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 30 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through donations. Its closest rivals include whatsapp.com, telegram.org, messenger.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 28.2 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 29.1 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 30 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 31.8 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct76%
- Organic search13%
- Referral6%
- Paid3%
- Email2%
Audience & demographics
- Men52%
- Women48%
- Age 18-2430%
- Age 25-3429%
- Age 35-4420%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 9 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| signal | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| login | Top 10 | High | — |
| sign up | Top 10 | High | — |
| download app | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 88% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading social media apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- signal.org
- Sector
- Social Media
- Owner
- Signal Foundation
- Owner type
- Nonprofit
- Founders
- Moxie Marlinspike, Brian Acton
- Founded
- 2014
- Headquarters
- Mountain View, CA, USA
- Employees
- 50+
- Ownership
- Signal Foundation controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $50 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English, many others
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $50 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Nonprofit
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Signal operates a social platform focused on United States. A nonprofit encrypted messaging app focused on privacy. Revenue comes mainly from donations, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Donations
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #460 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading social media site in United States
- Global rank
- 2000
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| whatsapp.com | ≈ 18 million / month | #461 class competitor | — |
| telegram.org | ≈ 13.5 million / month | #462 class competitor | — |
| messenger.com | ≈ 9 million / month | #463 class competitor | — |
What is Signal?
Signal (signal.org) is a social platform serving users in United States. A nonprofit encrypted messaging app focused on privacy. It ranks #460 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the social media category.
Who owns Signal?
The site is operated by Signal Foundation, founded by Moxie Marlinspike, Brian Acton. The company was established in 2014 and is headquartered in Mountain View, CA, USA. It employs around 50+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Signal at roughly 30 million visits per month, about 1 million per day. Around 88% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 11.4 pages per visit with an average session of 12 min.
How Signal makes money
Revenue comes primarily from donations, alongside .
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include whatsapp.com, telegram.org, messenger.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 2014
Signal is founded in Mountain View, CA, USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its social media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #460 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Very high daily engagement
- Strong creator and community ecosystem
- Free to use with broad reach
- Self-serve advertising for small businesses
Cons
- Moderation and misinformation criticism
- Privacy and data-use concerns
- Algorithm changes hurt organic reach
- Ad load increases over time
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Signal?
Signal is operated by Signal Foundation. Nonprofit structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Signal headquartered?
Signal is headquartered in Mountain View, CA, USA.
When was Signal founded?
Signal was founded in 2014 by Moxie Marlinspike, Brian Acton.
How many employees does Signal have?
Signal employs approximately 50+ people.
What is Signal's revenue?
Signal's revenue: ≈ $50 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Signal's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include whatsapp.com, telegram.org, messenger.com.
How does Signal make money?
Mainly donations.
Is Signal publicly traded?
No — Signal is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Signal Foundation.
How many visitors does Signal get?
Third-party estimates place Signal at roughly 30 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 88% mobile traffic.
Is Signal safe?
Signal is an established social media site founded in 2014 and ranked #460 in United States; use the official domain signal.org and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementssignal.org
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos