Comparing encrypted chat apps, Signal has no cloud backup, prioritizing privacy; WhatsApp allows backups with optional end-to-end encryption; Apple's iMessages are encrypted but not in backups by default, unless users enable Advanced Data Protection; Google Messages provides encrypted backups with passcodes. Users must ensure all chat participants enable encryption for maximal security, and weigh the necessity of saving conversations against potential privacy risks.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/05/back-it-back-it-let-us-begin-explain-encrypted-chat-backups