Comparison

Signal vs Nova Kit

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Signal

This messaging app prioritizes your privacy with strong end-to-end encryption for all communications. It offers free text, voice, and video messaging, including group chats and disappearing stories, all without collecting your data.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encrypted messaging
  • Free voice and video calls
  • Group chats up to 1000 people
  • Disappearing Stories
  • File sharing
  • Admin controls for groups
Features
Read full description

Signal is a messaging app with privacy at its core. It is free and easy to use, with strong end-to-end encryption that keeps your communication completely private. • Send texts, voice messages, photos, videos, GIFs, and files for free. Signal uses your phone’s data connection, so you avoid SMS and MMS fees. • Call your friends with crystal-clear encrypted voice and video calls. Group calls supported for up to 50 people. • Stay connected with group chats up to 1,000 people. Control who can post and manage group members with admin permission settings. • Share image, text, and video Stories that disappear after 24 hours. Privacy settings keep you in charge of exactly who can see each Story. • Signal is built for your privacy. We know nothing about you or who you’re talking to. Our open source Signal Protocol means that we can’t read your messages or listen to your calls. Neither can anyone else. No back doors, no data collection, no compromises. • Signal is independent and not for profit; a different kind of tech from a different kind of organization. As a 501c3 nonprofit we are supported by your donations, not by advertisers or investors. • For support, questions, or more information please visit https://support.signal.org/ To check out our source code, visit https://github.com/signalapp Follow us on Twitter @signalapp and Instagram @signal_app

About

Nova Kit

Features
Read full description

Nova Kit - Tactical Team Coordination Requires Nova Server for use - Inquire at https://novakit.us Nova Kit gives your team a shared operational picture - live map, push-to-talk voice, mission management, and secure communications, all in one app. Built for the field, not the boardroom. MISSIONS Create and manage tactical missions with defined objectives, assigned roles, and dedicated channels for voice and chat. Control who's in, who can see what, and what the mission looks like - all in real time. LIVE MAP See your whole team on a shared map as they move. Drop waypoints, checkpoints, rally points, and objectives. Draw your Area of Operations directly on the map. Every marker updates instantly across all connected devices. PUSH-TO-TALK VOICE Crystal-clear PTT voice built directly into missions and team rooms. No third-party app, no switching screens. Works with Bluetooth headsets and earpieces. Defaults to earpiece - your radio stays your radio. DRONE FEEDS Connect live drone video streams directly to your mission. Watch the feed on your phone while your team coordinates on the map below it. SECURE BY DESIGN Every organization gets a dedicated server container, isolated database, and private authentication realm - your data is never co-mingled with other customers. All traffic encrypted in transit. Role-based access controls at every level. BUILT FOR OPERATORS New user operational in under 5 minutes. No server configuration, no plugin hell, no IT ticket required. Download, join a mission, go. Nova Kit is used by security professionals, law enforcement teams, and tactical operators who need real coordination tools - not consumer apps repurposed for the field. _______ novakit.us

Screenshots

Signal4 screens
Nova Kit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nova Kit at none against Signal's 1. Signal's advantage is chart position (#9 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Signal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Nova Kit asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Signal versus Nova Kit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSignalNova Kit
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.1M ratings) — better—
Positive reviews67.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.1M — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#9 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size239 MB64 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperSignal Messenger, LLCGrayscale Consulting Group LLC

Bugs and requests

Signal

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Problem retrieving data, resulting in lost message history
  • Keyboard covering the current conversation
  • Inconsistent behavior when attaching photos/videos
  • Scrolling issues when reading through messages
  • Inability to recover message history after device change

Requested features

10 requests
  • Add filters and customization options
  • Allow adding music to stories
  • Implement a sticker store
  • Add ability to pin messages in group chats
  • Allow new members to view previous group messages
Show 5 more
  • Make group background changes visible to all
  • Implement a backup/restore feature
  • Add option to move sent messages to the left side
  • Bring back pause and skip functions for longer audio messages
  • Allow batch deletion of group messages

Nova Kit

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Signal

Subscriptions1
  • Signal Secure Backups$1.991 Month
None

Nova Kit

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Signal free?
Signal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nova Kit free?
Nova Kit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Signal or Nova Kit have ads?
Neither Signal nor Nova Kit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Signal or Nova Kit?
Signal ships an update weekly, and Nova Kit weekly. Most recently, Signal was updated on October 28, 2026 and Nova Kit on October 28, 2026.

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