head to head · open source
Puter vs Signal
Puter has 44,062 GitHub stars, 4,140 forks, 19 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Signal has 29,568 stars, 6,933 forks, 498 open issues and last shipped 4 days ago. Puter leads on adoption by 49% (44,062 vs 29,568 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 | ★ 30K |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Kotlin |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-10-30 |
| 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
The Open Source Internet Computer! « LIVE DEMO » Puter.com · App Store · Developers · X Puter Puter is an advanced, open source, self hostable internet computer designed to be feature rich, fast, and highly extensible. For Users Puter's goal is to provide you with every app and feature you need to work, create, and play under one roof. From a simple Notepad and Voice Recorder to Spreadsheet and Camera, Puter wants to be the all in one solution for your digital life. For Developers Puter provides everything you need to build and publish web apps and games. From AI to Cloud Storage and Database to Serverless…
read the full Puter overview →
About Signal
Signal Android Signal is a simple, powerful, and secure messenger that uses your phone's data connection (WiFi/4G/5G) to communicate securely. Millions of people use Signal every day for free and instantaneous communication anywhere in the world. Send and receive high fidelity messages, participate in HD voice/video calls, and explore a growing set of new features that help you stay connected. Signal’s advanced privacy preserving technology is always enabled, so you can focus on sharing the moments that matter with the people who matter to you. Currently available on the Play Store and signal.org. Also available…
read the full Signal overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Puter or Signal more popular?
Puter has 44,062 GitHub stars and Signal has 29,568. 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 (44,062 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.