Introduction
Signal has introduced a significant new feature that allows users to back up their chats, giving them both free and paid plan options for the first time in the app’s history. This move directly addresses one of the major pain points that privacy-focused messaging app users have experienced: the anxiety and data loss caused by losing or damaging a device with years of personal and professional conversations stored locally.
For years, Signal has stood out by refusing to include cloud backups, citing privacy risks and potential exposure to hacking or government requests. Now, with its secure backup system, Signal retains its privacy-first reputation while making chat archiving practical and safe. As a news editor closely tracking developments in digital communication, the importance of this announcement cannot be overstated – Signal’s backup strategy merges technical rigor with real solutions for real-world problems.
Free and Paid Backup Plans: What They Cover
Signal’s new backup feature is opt-in, with both a free and a paid plan. The free plan allows users to save up to 100MB of messages and media from the last 45 days. For many, this will be plenty, especially since message compression lets users maximize their allotted space. The system backs up not only texts but recent photos and videos, promising sufficient coverage for even active group chats and contact lists.
For those needing more, Signal now offers its first-ever paid subscription: $1.99 per month unlocks up to 100GB of encrypted storage. At this level, users can archive nearly all their message history and media, regardless of device turnover or data volume. The price remains modest compared to typical cloud subscription services, reflecting Signal’s mission-driven, nonprofit ethos. The paid plan is also flexible – users can upgrade or downgrade at any time, with payment handled in a way that does not compromise privacy.
Security Meets Practicality
Backups created in Signal are protected by end-to-end encryption and use a zero-knowledge architecture. When a backup is created, the user’s device generates a 64-character recovery key, which is never shared with Signal servers and is essential for decrypting the backup. Lose this key and the backup is unreachable, underscoring Signal’s uncompromising stance that it cannot read, reset, or recover user data for anyone.
This approach is markedly different from mainstream messaging platforms. Whereas apps like WhatsApp offer cloud backups that, even though encrypted, can be decrypted if a user loses their cloud key or if law enforcement requests access, Signal makes it technically impossible for anyone but the user to unlock backup content. Even payment information for subscriptions is kept separate from user backup activity—a subtle but essential design step to prevent account linkage by outsiders.
Choosing Cloud without Giving Up Privacy
For years, Signal’s refusal to implement cloud backups was a defining choice, prioritizing user privacy over convenience. The new system, however, finds thoughtful middle ground. All backups, whether local or cloud-based, remain encrypted using industry-standard cryptography. Signal is also rolling this feature out gradually, starting with Android beta users and expanding to iOS and desktop device users after further testing. This methodical rollout gives the company time to monitor for security vulnerabilities and usability feedback, ensuring reliability when the feature becomes mainstream.
Media is expensive to store and transfer securely, which is why Signal decided to charge a subscription fee for the 100GB paid tier. As a non-profit that refuses to sell or collect data, Signal must fund its infrastructure with direct user support. This model is increasingly common among independent privacy-oriented apps, and it aligns well with the broader market shift toward subscription-supported digital services.
Activation and Responsible Use
Enabling the backup feature is straightforward. Users need to download the latest beta version of the app, open the settings menu, and activate Secure Backups. The process involves generating a unique recovery key, which should be saved in a password manager or written down for safekeeping. Signal recommends users store this key offline, ensuring that even physical device theft or hacking cannot unlock the backup.
Signal’s backup does not include time-sensitive or ephemeral messages. Any message set to disappear within 24 hours, or those flagged as “view-once,” are excluded from backups. This respects the privacy expectations of people who rely on Signal’s disappearing message features, ensuring that short-lived or single-use contents stay private in every sense.
Market Implications and Competitive Landscape
The addition of secure backups puts Signal firmly in competition with WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage, all of which offer integrated cloud backup solutions. What sets Signal apart is its deep commitment to security. Its user-controlled PIN system and locally generated recovery keys provide layers of defense unmatched by rivals.
Signal is betting that privacy will remain a top concern for many, especially professionals, journalists, activists, and anyone with sensitive communications at risk. The introduction of paid subscriptions also hints at Signal’s evolving business model. While the free plan will suffice for the majority, the paid plan is tailored for high-volume users, organizations, and individuals with extensive message history.
With 100GB at just $1.99 per month, the price point is accessible, and the storage capacity is ample for even heavy multimedia users. This will likely increase retention among longtime users and expand Signal’s appeal to small business teams and enterprise clients who want secure communication archives. Signal’s transparency about its costs and funding reflects a broader push in tech toward sustainability and user-first support.
A Step Forward for User Empowerment
For privacy-conscious users, the launch of Signal’s backup plans is more than a technical update – it is a statement about control, autonomy, and trust in digital communication. Unlike social networks or big tech chat apps, Signal has no interest in accessing or monetizing user data. Every design decision, from encryption standards to payment separation, affirms its guiding principle of user empowerment.
Signal users now enjoy the reassurance that their conversations, photos, and business documents will not be lost forever if their phone is misplaced or damaged. The option to choose between 100MB free and 100GB paid plans allows flexibility across different use cases and budgets, and both options keep user information private by default.
In an era often defined by surveillance worries and digital insecurity, Signal’s new backup feature bridges the gap between convenience and privacy. As adoption grows, the industry may take queue from Signal’s example and craft similarly user-centric, secure solutions for communication and data management.
Final Thoughts by Team
The Daily Herald Business team sees Signal’s latest move as a clear commitment to user empowerment and sustainable operations. By offering both free and affordable paid backup plans, Signal steps further into the mainstream messaging market while refusing to compromise its privacy-first ethos. With a paid plan priced at just $1.99 monthly for 100GB, this approach reflects Signal’s nonprofit roots, ensuring the service remains independent of advertising and data monetization.
