Comparison
FadeChats vs Signal: when you don't want to share your phone number
Signal and FadeChats both take privacy seriously, but they're built for different situations. Signal is the strongest choice for people you'll keep talking to. FadeChats is built for the conversation you want to have exactly once, with no identity attached.
Start a disappearing chat — free, no sign-upDifferent tools, different trust models
Signal is designed around identity: a phone number anchors your account, contacts see you the same way every time, and message history can persist across devices if you let it. That's exactly what you want for a relationship you're investing in — a partner, a close friend, a recurring work contact.
FadeChats is designed around the opposite assumption: two people who may never talk again, who'd rather not exchange phone numbers or add each other as contacts, and who want the entire exchange to vanish when it's done. No install, no account, no number — just a link.
Neither approach is more 'private' in every sense. They're optimized for different threat models, and picking the wrong one for the situation is the actual risk.
Side by side
| FadeChats | Signal | |
|---|---|---|
| Phone number required | No | Yes |
| App install required | No — runs in the browser | Yes |
| Disappearing by default | Yes — every room | No — opt-in per chat |
| Group support | No — always exactly two people | Yes |
| Ongoing message history | No — nothing persists after the room | Yes, if you keep it |
| Anonymity between parties | High — no identity exchanged | Low — phone number is visible to contacts |
Feature status as of July 2026. Check each product's site for changes.
When to use which
- Use Signal: a contact you'll message again
Family, close friends, a recurring work relationship — Signal's identity-anchored model and message history are features here, not drawbacks.
- Use Signal: group conversations
FadeChats is strictly two people by design. For a group thread, Signal is the tool.
- Use Signal: you want strong guarantees over years, not minutes
Signal's protocol is battle-tested for long-running, high-stakes conversations where both sides keep using the app.
- Use FadeChats: you don't want to share your number
No phone number, no email, no account on either end. Just a link, a room, and a conversation.
- Use FadeChats: a one-off exchange with a stranger
Buying something secondhand, coordinating with someone you just met, a support conversation — situations where adding a contact feels like the wrong move.
- Use FadeChats: you want the conversation itself to disappear
No opt-in needed — every room is disappearing by default, and there's no install required to get there.
How FadeChats works
- Skip the install
FadeChats runs entirely in the browser. Loading the page is the whole setup — no app store, no registration, no phone number.
- Send a link, not your number
Share the one-time invite over any channel you already use. The other person taps it and joins — no contact is added on either side.
- Talk, close the tab, vanish
The conversation runs directly between your two browsers. When the tab closes, the room expires and nothing is left behind anywhere.
The honest recommendation
If you're going to keep talking to this person, install Signal — its identity model and encryption are built for the long run. If you want one conversation, with no number, no account, and nothing left behind afterward, use FadeChats.
Frequently asked questions
Is FadeChats more private than Signal?
It depends on the threat model. Signal has stronger cryptographic guarantees for ongoing, high-stakes conversations. FadeChats minimizes identity exposure and persistence for one-off chats — no phone number, no account, no history. Different kinds of private.
Why does Signal need my phone number?
Signal uses your phone number to anchor your account and let contacts find you reliably. It's a deliberate design choice for a persistent identity, not a shortcut.
Can I talk to someone without adding them as a contact?
Yes — that's the core use case for FadeChats. Open a room, share the one-time invite link, talk, and close the tab. No contact is ever added on either side.
Does FadeChats have group chats?
No. FadeChats is built for exactly two participants by design — that constraint is what keeps the architecture simple and fully peer-to-peer. For groups, use Signal.