Signal is one of the best encrypted messaging apps that you can use in 2024. While it isn’t the most robust app on the market, it keeps things simple and secure by offering end-to-end encryption for chats and voice calls. Of course, if you’re the type that’s a bit of a skeptic, you can always do a little snooping yourself, since the source code for the app and the server are available openly on GitHub.

8 best encrypted messaging apps

Protect your conversations from prying eyes

With that said, you are going to get a pretty barebones experience when compared to WhatsApp and Telegram, but Signal does add some options from time to time to bring a little excitement to its user base. The brandannounced through its official X (formerly Twitter) accountthat users will now be able to save custom names with people they are chatting with. Users will now also be able to jot down custom notes as well, and this even applies to people that aren’t in your contacts.

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Not the most exciting update but functional

If you’re on a PC using Windows or macOS, you’re going to need to download the beta directly from theSignal beta page. Linux users can also participate, and there’s a special set of instructions on that page as well. Unfortunately, iOS users are going to be out of luck, as the beta is not currently open to any users. But if you signed up for the beta in the past and were accepted, then you should see this update roll out in the near future.

This isn’t the most exciting update or feature that we’ve seen from a secure messaging app, but then again, Signal isn’t really known for a lot of flashy features. Of course, this new beta feature comes at a great time, and it could help users keep track of friends and other people who are now justusing a username, which was just recently rolled out. If you’ve ever been curious to try Signal, now’s going to be a great time.

Signal custom nicknames and notes feature on Android and desktop beta