head to head · open source
Puter vs Signal
Puter has 43,557 GitHub stars, 4,062 forks, 19 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Signal has 29,352 stars, 6,888 forks, 498 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Puter leads on adoption by 48% (43,557 vs 29,352 stars). Puter is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0; Signal is written in Kotlin under AGPL-3.0. Puter has attracted 9% as many forks as stars, Signal 23%. Puter was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Puter | Signal | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 44K | ★ 29K |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Kotlin |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 4.1K | ⑂ 6.9K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Puter if
- You weight community size — 44K stars and counting
- You want the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Signal if
- You want the Signal feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Kotlin
- You evaluated both and Signal fits your workflow better
About Puter
Puter is an open source, self hostable internet computer that delivers a full desktop environment running directly in a web browser. It functions as a cloud based operating system, integrating file storage, applications, and developer tooling into a single cohesive platform. The project lives in the browser based desktop and cloud infrastructure ecosystem, positioning itself as a free and open alternative to proprietary cloud desktop services.
read the full Puter overview →
About Signal
Signal Android is a secure messaging application for Android devices that delivers private communication via end to end encryption. Developed by Signal Messenger, LLC, it operates within the broader Signal ecosystem, which includes official iOS and desktop clients. The app uses mobile data or Wi Fi to send and receive encrypted messages, voice calls, and video calls without relying on traditional SMS or telephony infrastructure.
read the full Signal overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Puter or Signal more popular?
Puter has 43,557 GitHub stars and Signal has 29,352. Puter has the larger community by that measure.
Are Puter and Signal free?
Both are open source. Puter is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Signal under AGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Puter and Signal?
Puter is written in TypeScript and Signal in Kotlin. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Puter or Signal?
Choose Puter if you want the larger community (43,557 stars) or its AGPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Signal if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.