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A year ago, the debate between WhatsApp and Telegram did not have nearly as much significance as it does today. But ever since WhatsApp amended its privacy policy, people have questioned if it is still safe to use WhatsApp or whether they should switch to Telegram instead. If you are one of these types of users, then it is highly recommended that you read this post.
We’ve broken down the key differences between WhatsApp and Telegram in this article so you can have a better idea of which of the two applications is the more secure option to use. From their degree of availability to the specifics of their characteristics and a great deal more besides. Continue to scroll down.
Telegram vs WhatsApp features
Telegram | |
---|---|
Code for the open source parts is available on GitHub | Signal only recently embraced tools like Statuses or Broadcasts with its Stories feature. |
Telegram apps for Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Mac OS, Windows, Linux, popular browsers | Even WhatsApp’s website has pictures of phones from many years ago, like the Windows Phone platform, which is no longer used. |
Strong social features in Group and Channels | Several updates and relaunches have added new features that are on par with most of the competition. |
Fun features like interactive emoji and stickers | End-to-end encryption by default |
Telegram vs WhatsApp: Ease of use

Whether you use instant messaging apps for work or to talk to family and friends, one of the most important things to look for is how easy they are to use. Both WhatsApp and Telegram are easy to use. All of the chat options are on the home page of each app. WhatsApp also puts the calling tab right at the top, which may be helpful for people who talk on the phone a lot.
Both apps have a button in the bottom right corner that you can click to start a chat. Just as easy is making a group. The difference has to do with the chat itself. Telegram lets you send a lot of different types of media, like hundreds of stickers and moving emojis. It also lets you share bigger files, which makes it easier to chat. You can download this app from its official website.
Telegram vs WhatsApp: Data and privacy
When Meta’s new terms of service came out in 2021, a lot of WhatsApp users left the service. Users of WhatsApp had to agree to share their information with the parent company or they would lose access to the app. The way Telegram handles data has also been questioned in the past, just like Whatsapp.
Most of the privacy experts we talked to seemed to agree that Signal is the best way to handle data out of the three, but in the end, it’s up to you to decide. One advantage of Telegram over WhatsApp and Signal is that users don’t need a phone number to use it. Instead, they can choose a username.
But the lack of end-to-end encryption by default, which was talked about earlier in this guide, will worry people about their privacy. Also, Telegram bots can be used to pull scams and launch cyberattacks.
Telegram vs WhatsApp: Pricing

There is a $4.99/£4.99 Premium membership for Telegram that gives you benefits like faster downloads, larger file uploads, and special stickers and reactions, but you don’t have to pay for it to use the app. In the same way, WhatsApp just released a Premium plan for business users that includes a web page and the ability to communicate with customers through more than one agent. But neither of these plans affect regular users, who can still use all the main features of each app without paying a monthly subscription fee.
which is better ?
When it comes to deciding which instant messaging app is better, each person’s needs matter a lot. However, based on the features, Telegram is the clear winner. It has more features and makes them work better, which makes chatting safer, easier, and more fun.
This doesn’t mean that WhatsApp is bad. Still, it’s one of the best and most-used apps out there. It has more than 2 billion users who use it every month. As of this year, there are only about 550 million people who use Telegram. So, if you want to talk to the most people on a single app, you might want to try WhatsApp instead.
WhatsApp pros and cons
Pros:
- Video and voice calls
- Fun and lively stickers
Cons:
- Requires phone number and contacts list to function
Telegram pros and cons
Pros:
- Supports Two-Step Verification
- GDPR compliant
- Self-destructing messages
Cons:
- E2E encryption only for Secret Chats
- Servers are not open source
FAQs
What makes Telegram better than WhatsApp?
What is better about Telegram than Whatsapp? Users can talk to other users on Telegram even if they don’t know the other person’s phone number. This feature makes sure that the user’s contact number is kept private. Telegram lets you store as much as you want.
Is Telegram more private than WhatsApp?
By default, Telegram chats are not encrypted from one end to the other. “You can’t access encrypted chats from more than one device,” Bischoff said, explaining that this makes them more secure but less useful than WhatsApp.
Does Telegram show your number?
To sign up for Telegram, you need a phone number. By default, everyone in your Telegram contacts list will be able to see this phone number. If you let Telegram access your contact books when you set up your account, all of your contacts will be able to see your phone number and know that you use Telegram.