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A free account still uses servers and people’s time

Signal describes a donation-supported model, while Proton says revenue from paid plans funds its services, showing how the person using a service and the person paying for it can differ.

3–7 min

Questions you could explore

  • How might the funding model shape what a free user receives?
  • How do serving one extra user and covering a platform's fixed costs pose different funding questions?

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  • Signal Technology FoundationDonate to Signal

    Signal explains what donations help fund, including servers, bandwidth and development. This is the organization’s own description, checked in October 2026.

  • ProtonProton plans explained

    Proton explains its free tier and funding through paid subscriptions. The model was checked in October 2026; plan features and prices can change.

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A free account still uses servers and people’s time | Speech Topic | speaking.app