Comparison
Korovs
SignalSignal is the privacy gold standard — for personal use. For teams, Koro builds on top.
Signal invented the Signal protocol that inspired WhatsApp and Koro. For personal 1:1 and small group communication, there’s nothing better. What Signal deliberately is not: a team tool. Here’s what Koro adds — with comparable cryptographic substance.
Short and honest
Where Signal is enough — and where Koro takes over.
Encryption: on par
Both use Diffie-Hellman as a base. Signal invented the protocol, Koro builds on its own implementation. Cryptographically comparable strength.
Workspaces, roles, channels
Signal has groups — but no workspaces, no channels per topic, no role management. That’s exactly what Koro provides.
Tasks, translation, API
Signal is deliberately minimal. Koro adds tasks out of messages, live translation in 50+ languages and a full API.
Encryption
Who can read your messages?
The same conversation, two paths. Where does it run encrypted end to end — and where doesn’t it?
Via Signal
You
Sender
Server
Can’t read
Markus
Recipient
Servers are blind
Signal protocol with Double Ratchet and forward secrecy — cryptographically excellent. Servers in the US (AWS), open source, non-profit. Very minimal metadata. Jurisdiction: USA.
Via Koro
You
Sender
Server
Can’t read
Markus
Recipient
Servers are blind
Own Diffie-Hellman implementation with forward secrecy, audited by Cure53. Servers in the EU, open source kernel. Comparable cryptographic substance — plus workspaces, roles and multi-device without a master device.
Feature by feature
What you get with Koro — and what’s missing in Signal.
KoroSignalHonestly speaking
When does Signal win, when does Koro?
We’re not going to talk Signal down where it doesn’t deserve it. Here’s the honest split.
If this is what you want
Stick with Signal
- Personal 1:1 communication with family, friends, sources.
- You’re an activist, journalist or whistleblower and need maximum minimalism — little metadata, no business model.
- You want to back a non-profit financially rather than a company.
- You do NOT need team structures. A simple chat app is enough.
If this is what you want
Switch to Koro
- Your team needs workspaces, channels per topic and role management.
- You want tasks to be detected from chats and synced into your project tool.
- Language is a barrier — live translation in 50+ languages is a game-changer.
- EU servers and Austrian jurisdiction are hard requirements.
- You’re building a product that should embed Koro via API/SDK — whitelabel included.
- Multi-device sync without mobile as the master device is what makes the desktop workflow practical in the first place.
Signal-grade privacy for teams.
We use Signal personally and deeply respect their work. If your team works beyond personal 1:1 comms, Koro is the next step — with the same cryptographic substance.