Signal user? You can now be a Signal Sustainer by donating

Signal has seen impressive growth in 2021 following WhatsApp’s controversial privacy policy announcements in January. The app promises to be the most secure and privacy-focused messaging platform around, but it isn’t backed by a huge corporation and doesn’t run advertising or sell data.

Now, the Signal Foundation has announced a way for users to give back to the messaging app. The team revealed that users can now become so-called Signal Sustainers by donating a monthly fee to Signal.

A screenshot of the donation screen shows that you can donate $5, $10, or even $20 a month to Signal. This payment also grants donors a badge that can be displayed on their profile. Check out the image below for a better idea of how this works.

In a welcome move, Signal says the subscription will only be renewed if you’ve used the app that month. Otherwise, your subscription is canceled if you fail to use the app that month or uninstall it.

Otherwise, the messaging app will also allow users to give the app a “boost.” That is, a “virtual high five” that serves as a way to say thank you and unlocks a related badge of its own for use on your profile.

Will you sign up for monthly donations to Signal? Choose your answer via the poll below.