Signal vs Nova Kit
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- End-to-end encrypted messaging
- Free voice and video calls
- Group chats up to 1000 people
- Disappearing Stories
- File sharing
- Admin controls for groups
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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
Nova Kit
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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
Verdict
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
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.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.
| Parameter | Signal | Nova Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.1M ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 67.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1.1M — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #9 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 239 MB | 64 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Signal Messenger, LLC | Grayscale 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
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- 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
Signal
- Signal Secure Backups$1.991 Month
Nova Kit
No in-app purchases








