Link: https://aboutsignal.com/news/signal-registration-without-a-phone-number-now-available/

Signal has started rolling out Signal Login, an optional registration method that allows users to create a Signal account without providing a phone number. The feature will be rolled out first on Android and will come to iOS later.

As we previously reported, Signal Login is not a free alternative registration method. Signal requires users who choose to register without a phone number to make a one-time payment. The price at launch is $2.99 / € 3.49, although this may vary by region and currency

Oh a payment, how privacy-respecting. /s

Oh a payment, how privacy-respecting. /s

Well, depends on the offered payment option (article doesn't go into detail here).
And I also don't see it to be worse than having to provide your phone number.

It's no different. That's the problem.

What's the point of introducing it if it's merely "not worse"?

Let me guess, I can only get this beta by being signed in to Google Play and enrolled in a beta program?

Edit: yep...

Because "not worse" includes "better" for certain usecases, e.g. to add the Wifi-only family tablet.

It’s no different. That’s the problem.

But it is.
It doesn't require a phone number.
So our family tablet will finally get a Signal connection.

I'm not paying 3.49€ for that.

Your choice, and a totally understandable one.

But I already paid several times even ~5€ for exactly that, so that my kids have a way to securely take part in a phone-number-free private family group chat.
(Threema based though, which had the phone-number-less option right from the start)

It is always good to just have the option.

And if you don't need it: Fine for you!

The thing is, I wanted a phone number-free option for privacy reasons, which can't be realized when its tied to payments.

The thing, I wanted a phone number-free option for privacy reasons, which can’t be realized when its tied to payments.

But privacy doesn't depend on a payment per se, but entirely on the type of payment method offered (which we don't know yet, as I already stated in my original comment).

Coming back to e.g. Threema: You can buy a working Threema license key using completely anonymous payment, e.g. bitcoin, or even by cash.

Having the option to pay instead of providing the phone number has the potential to be the much more privacy friendly option, if it is done right...

Seems a bit difficult, I'm not particularly interested in going through all the hoops that come with trying to own cryptocurrency anonymously, and actual cash payments don't seem practical considering that the Signal organisation is US-based (I don't live in America; I'd absolutely try my luck with sending a letter with a 5€ note to e.g. Switzerland).

And it's not really about the price, I'd happily donate 3.50, but not directly tied to my messenger account.

It isn't tied to the account, the developers in the forums say so. It uses a zero-knowledge proof so the account and the payment aren't linked.

That's neat if true, thanks.

Buy prepaid debit card with cash?

why u need to be signed in to google? I wanna do it without google

Because Google will not give you the APK otherwise.

oh, but CalyxOS gave me the APK