WhatsApp competitor Signal is gaining ground: 'More than 2 million users in the Netherlands'

That's what American Signal manager Jun Harada told de Volkskrant . In terms of absolute user numbers, the Netherlands ranks alongside large countries like the US, Germany, and Ukraine.

Signal is a free messaging app and a privacy-friendly alternative to WhatsApp, which is part of the large commercial American data and advertising company Meta. That company also owns Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, and Threads.

WhatsApp is the largest chat app in the world and has over 13 million users in the Netherlands. Nine out of ten Dutch people even use WhatsApp daily, according to research by Telecompaper .

Signal is owned by an independent, non-profit organization that doesn't sell data. The app doesn't collect users' personal data and isn't focused on maximizing profit.

Signal isn't publicly traded like Meta, but is funded by user donations, funds, and philanthropic foundations. However, like Meta, the Signal Foundation is based in Silicon Valley.

In terms of functionality, Signal doesn't differ much from its main competitor. Just like WhatsApp, Signal lets you chat, send voice messages, photos, and videos, make calls, video calls, create group chats, and make (video) calls with the group, share locations, and send stickers and GIFs.

A Signal app group became world news this spring. In that group, US cabinet members shared highly sensitive information, such as detailed plans for military strikes. This information came to light when journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to the app group. Goldberg initially decided not to share the information, but then did so after being labeled a liar by President Trump and his team.