Signal has introduced a new opt-in feature that helps users create end-to-end encrypted backups of their chats, allowing them to restore messages even if their phones are damaged or lost.

Secure backups are already available in the latest Signal beta version for Android users and will also be rolled out to iOS and desktop devices after this testing phase.

“If you do decide to opt in to secure backups, you’ll be able to securely back up all of your text messages and the last 45 days’ worth of media for free. If you want to back up your media history beyond 45 days, as well as your message history, we also offer a paid subscription plan for US$1.99 per month,” said Jim O’Leary, Signal’s VP of Engineering.

“This is the first time we’ve offered a paid feature. The reason we’re doing this is simple: media requires a lot of storage, and storing and transferring large amounts of data is expensive.”

The free tier includes 100 MiB of message storage, covering photos, videos, GIFs, files, and other attachments, while the storage size limit for paid backups is 100 GB.