>>mikece+(OP)
I donate to signal, and use it frequently. But I would much prefer for the app to simply charge users rather than beg for donations. Even better would be to charge users in a way that reflects the costs.
For instance, maybe verifying a new number over SMS should cost $0.10 if that's going to make up 14% of the operating costs.
Begging for donations to subsidize excessive use by other users just doesn't seem sustainable.