There are plenty. Telegram and Signal to name but a couple. All encrypted, and much better with regards to user privacy and data security then any Facebook-owned entity.

it’s a very good app. Lots of users, easy to use and effective. It’s great for so many reasons.

It's not really a good app, and I can list down many reasons why Telegram is better. But like @Dracula said, it isn't a matter of which is better (because WhatsApp will never win that battle), it's merely a case of user base. WhatsApp was first on the scene and has the most users. Everything that came after (like Telegram) is better but has a smaller user base, which gives people reason to hesitate and make the switch. Telegram is still growing though, thanks in large part to WhatsApp's own blunders.

Signal, Telegram See Demand Spike As New WhatsApp Terms Stir DebateSome privacy activists questioned the "accept our data grab or get out" move on Twitter, and suggested users to switch to apps like Signal and Telegram.www.moneycontrol.com

Same here in Malaysia, though many institutes have been making the switch to Telegram. Our Ministry of Health and National Security Council who release daily updates concerning COVID-19 both have Telegram channels with over a million subscribers. Many schools/classes prefer to use Telegram channels for information dissemination. Some houses of worship also use Telegram channels to promote their weekly activities. Slowly but surely, more and more people are using Telegram.

I loaded it onto my phone last night and started using it today. Elon said it was good so....

I’ll try this Signal app for a while and if it’s not good I’ll try Telegram. Downloaded that one too. Thanks to people who provided input.

Here's some final input for you 🤣

Not to argue, but I wouldn't really trust Elon. He did say and do a bunch of dumb things at the beginning of the pandemic. His opinion on what's good or not isn't really that reliable.

Elon Musk is dangerously wrong about the novel coronavirus"The coronavirus panic is dumb"www.theverge.com

How about Edward Snowden, then? He's recommended it for journalists that need encrypted communications.

Main reason?

I agree with much of what you said but I do think he’d know security. In his wheelhouse.

It's just a more all-around messenger app. You can use it on multiple devices, it has cloud sync so you'll never lose your messages, and it offers a bunch of other features that make messaging more practical.

Signal may prioritise security, but as a result of that it's a much more bare bones messenger that lacks some basic utility (like multi-device support and cloud sync that I mentioned earlier).

Appreciate the feedback!