When comparing Facebook Messenger Lite vs Signal, the Slant community recommends Signal for most people. In the question“What are the best Facebook messenger alternatives for Android?” Signal is ranked 2nd while Facebook Messenger Lite is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose Signal is:
Signal uses an advanced end to end encryption protocol that provides privacy for every message every time.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Gets features while staying small
It has received several features the full app has (stickers, voice and video calls) while the app size stays about the same.
Pro Can run on slow phones
Being light (installed it takes up 6-10 MB of memory) and fast, Messenger Lite can run on phones with Android 2.3 and up.
Pro Works on all networks
This app was made with 2G networks and areas with slow or unstable internet connections in mind. If you lose the connection, your messages will be delivered when you have signal again.
Pro Provides security and privacy
Signal uses an advanced end to end encryption protocol that provides privacy for every message every time.
Pro Free and open source
Signal is free and open source software, enabling anyone to verify its security by auditing the code. It's the only private messenger that uses open source, peer-reviewed cryptographic protocols to keep your messages safe.
Pro Supports encrypted group chats
Pro Has a desktop app
Signal Desktop can be used on multiple devices and has most features of the Android version, although it still requires you to register with your phone.
Pro Supports sharing of various different media types
Signal supports: emoji, pictures, videos, audio, contacts, any location and GIF.
Pro Note to Self feature
Allows you to "send: messages to yourself and sync to desktop so you can use Signal as a kind of encrypted Pushbullet alternative
Pro You can easily view all media exchanged
You can easily view all media shared in the chat without scrolling back to when it was shared.
Pro Annonymous Sender (Encrypted)
The sender credentials can be encrypted with the rest of the message, leaving only the recipient address readable by the Signal server. Even if Signal wanted they couldn't see who is talking with who by this mean.
Pro Works everywhere in every country
Unlike most messenger apps, Signal works reliably in all countries by securely circumventing internet censorship.
Pro Recommended by Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden uses this messenger and recommends it to everyone who is concerned about his privacy.
Cons
Con No secret chats
Doesn't support end-to-end encrypted "secret chats" like the full app.
Con Doesn't support deactivated accounts
The full app has a feature where the user can deactivate their Facebook profile, but continue using Messenger. Lite lacks that feature.
Con Needs access to your phone number and contacts to work
Con Single device
Signal can only be registered to one mobile device at a time. But you can link Signal to Signal Desktop.
Con Servers hosted in the US
A security risk due to National Security letters, which require giving up data to the US state, and making it illegal to disclose that.
Con Unreliable notifications
Sometimes messages won't be received if the Signal app has been closed for a long time or hasn't been opened after booting the device.