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Marketing & Analytics · head to head

Countly vs Signal

Countly logo

Countly

Marketing & Analytics

Product analytics for mobile and web

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Signal logo

Signal

All industries

Speak Freely

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Countly the private cloud plan starts at $175 a month and is described as usage based without stating the unit; Signal signal must be installed on a phone before the desktop app can be used, so there is no phone-free desktop-only account
  • They diverge on capability: Countly covers Event tracking, Signal covers End-to-end encryption.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Countly and Signal actually diverge.

Attributes where Countly and Signal differ
AttributeCountlySignal
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, ApiWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android
CategoryMarketing & AnalyticsAll industries
Founded20122010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Countly

  • Event tracking
  • Crash reporting
  • Analytics dashboard
  • User retention
  • Open-source
  • On-premise deployment
  • Web support
  • Mobile support

Only in Signal

  • End-to-end encryption
  • Disappearing messages
  • Screen security
  • Group chats
  • Voice calls
  • Video calls
  • File sharing
  • No data collection

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Countly

  • Product analytics for mobile and web applicationsnot Signal
  • Self hosting analytics where data cannot leave the organisationnot Signal

Signal

  • Private messagingnot Countly
  • Secure group communicationnot Countly
  • Confidential conversationsnot Countly
  • Journalism communicationnot Countly
  • Family messagingnot Countly

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Countly

  • The private cloud plan starts at $175 a month and is described as usage based without stating the unit
  • No event cap, data point limit or user limit is published for either paid plan
  • The self hosted Enterprise edition is custom priced and billed annually
  • Adaptivity and intelligence features are separately priced add ons on the cheaper plan

Signal

  • Signal must be installed on a phone before the desktop app can be used, so there is no phone-free desktop-only account

Pricing, plan by plan

Countly

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Open-source
    • Self-hosted
    • Full features

Signal

Free
  • FreeFree
    • End-to-end encrypted messaging
    • Voice and video calls
    • Group chats

Which should you pick?

Choose Countly if

  • You need event tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want crash reporting.
Countly review

Choose Signal if

  • You need end-to-end encryption.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
  • You also want disappearing messages.
Signal review

Questions people ask

Is Countly or Signal better?
Neither clearly leads. Countly starts at Free and Signal at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Countly or Signal?
Countly starts at Free and Signal at Free.
Does Countly or Signal run on more platforms?
Countly runs on Web, Mobile, Api. Signal runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
Can I use Countly for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Countly best used for?
Countly is most often used for product analytics for mobile and web applications, self hosting analytics where data cannot leave the organisation. Of those, product analytics for mobile and web applications and self hosting analytics where data cannot leave the organisation are not what Signal is typically brought in for.
What can Countly do that Signal cannot?
Countly covers Event tracking, Crash reporting, Analytics dashboard, User retention. Signal covers End-to-end encryption, Disappearing messages, Screen security, Group chats. Both handle Cloud deployment.
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Related pages

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