Messaging apps are an important part of everyday life. People around the world use apps like Telegram and WhatsApp to stay connected everyday.
But how is Telegram different from WhatsApp? Is Telegram safer than WhatsApp? And why use Telegram instead of WhatsApp? Let's look at Telegram vs WhatsApp in general and see what makes each app special.
Telegram vs WhatsApp
Telegram and WhatsApp are widely used messaging apps, each with distinct strengths.
- Popularity: WhatsApp has gained over 3 billion users in 17 years, making it easier to reach contacts. Telegram, with over 1 billion users in just 12 years, offers more advanced customization.
- Privacy: WhatsApp encrypts all chats by default. Telegram encrypts chats optionally (Secret Chats), but allows anonymity by using usernames instead of phone numbers.
- Features: Telegram supports large groups (up to 200,000 users), public channels, extensive file sharing, cloud storage, and bots. WhatsApp is simpler, limits groups, lacks bots, but integrates seamlessly with Meta’s platforms (Facebook, Instagram).
- Business Use: WhatsApp has dedicated business tools, verified profiles, and Meta integration. Telegram lacks official business accounts for anyone, but excels with automation through bots and large community building.
| Telegram | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pros |
- Huge groups/channels - Rich features & customization - Large file sharing & cloud sync - Bot integration |
- Large user base - Easy-to-use interface - Default end-to-end encryption - Strong business & Meta integration |
| Cons |
- Fewer users - Optional encryption (except Secret Chats) - Complex interface for beginners - Limited official business support |
- Smaller groups, no public channels - No bots or advanced customization - Requires phone numbers - Privacy concerns due to Meta |
Is Telegram Safer Than WhatsApp?
Both apps have strong security, but their methods differ significantly:
- Encryption: WhatsApp encrypts all chats by default, while Telegram only encrypts "Secret Chats."
- Protocol: WhatsApp uses Signal Protocol (open-source). Telegram uses its own MTProto protocol (proprietary).
- Privacy: Telegram provides more detailed privacy settings, while WhatsApp’s settings are more limited.
WhatsApp has suffered notable breaches, including spyware incidents like Pegasus.
Telegram has no known breaches. Third-party brokers even offer bounties up to $4 million if a Telegram exploit is ever found.
Telegram vs WhatsApp Security
| Aspect | Telegram | |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | MTProto, Secret Chats optional | Signal Protocol, default encryption |
| Privacy Incidents | No known breaches | Several documented breaches (Pegasus included) |
| Privacy Controls | Strong (usernames, hide number) | Limited (phone number-centric) |
| Metadata | Limited and optional anonymity | Extensive metadata linked to identity |
| Government Restrictions | Restricted in some countries | Generally unrestricted |
Telegram’s real-world security record remains strong, prioritizing user privacy and control. WhatsApp is secure in theory but has faced practical vulnerabilities.
Telegram vs WhatsApp for Business
WhatsApp Business offers basic tools (catalogs, automated replies, customer support), great for small-scale businesses.
Monetization is a strong suit of Telegram for content creators and entrepreneurs. A popular way to earn money on Telegram is by offering paid access to private channels or groups using the InviteMember platform.
How To Make Money on Telegram
InviteMember is a Telegram-based platform that helps you set up subscription-based channels/groups and handle payments easily.
Key features of InviteMember include:
- Subscription Plans: Create recurring subscription tiers (monthly or yearly) for your Telegram groups or channels. This way, you earn recurring revenue from members who pay for exclusive content or perks.
- Multiple Payment Options: InviteMember works with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and cryptocurrencies, so you can collect subscription fees from a global audience.
- Affiliate Program: It comes with a built-in referral system where members earn a commission for referring new subscribers.
- Automatic Member Management: The bot automates adding new subscribers and removing expired ones, which ensures only paying members have access and saves you time.
With tools like InviteMember, Telegram channel owners can generate income by turning their content into a subscription service. The bot handles the heavy lifting (payments, renewals, access control), allowing creators to focus on delivering value to their paying audience.
Power-Up Your Business With Other Telegram Bots
Telegram’s rich bot ecosystem can greatly enhance a business’s productivity and customer service. By deploying custom bots, even a small business can automate routine tasks and provide round-the-clock responses.
Here are two examples of Telegram bots that businesses can use to boost efficiency and customer experience:
SUCH Bot Builder (@SUCH): SUCH helps businesses set up a customer support AI chatbot on Telegram easily (no coding required). Within minutes, you can have a bot that greets users, answers FAQs, and hands off complex questions to human agents. The SUCH bot allows support teams to manage conversations more efficiently by providing features like viewing chat history, assigning conversations to team members, quick reply templates, and even snoozing chats for follow-up.
Briefly Bot (@Briefly): Briefly automatically transcribes and summarizes voice messages and audio notes into text. This is helpful in busy group chats or support agents – instead of listening to long voice notes, you can quickly read a summary. By turning audio into text, Briefly saves time and ensures important information isn’t missed. It can handle lengthy audio files and provide quick text summaries, making audio conversations more accessible and searchable for the team.
Why Use Telegram Instead of WhatsApp?
Among the many reasons why more people are increasingly choosing Telegram are:
- Better privacy controls: Usernames and the ability to hide phone numbers enhance user anonymity.
- Larger communities: Ideal for managing extensive groups, channels, or business broadcasts, supporting up to 200,000 members per group and unlimited channel subscribers.
- Powerful bots: Automation for customer support, interactive engagement, secure payments, and streamlined business processes.
- Flexible file sharing: Supports larger files (up to 4 GB with Telegram Premium), beneficial for sharing high-quality media and documents.
- Lightweight and efficient: Consumes less device storage and runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware.
- Continuous innovation: Telegram regularly introduces new features ahead of WhatsApp, setting trends in messaging technology.
- Web3 Integration: Incorporates blockchain capabilities with TON blockchain, supporting decentralized features.
- Monetization tools: Effective solutions like InviteMember facilitate monetizing channels and communities.
- Enhanced customization: Extensive options for profile personalization, including video and emoji-based profile pictures.
- Cross-platform synchronization: Seamless cloud synchronization across multiple devices without relying on a smartphone connection.
- Advanced message management: Features such as folders, scheduled messages, and saved message sections greatly improve message organization.
- Mini-apps and integrated services: Built-in web apps and mini-applications improve user interaction directly within chats.
So, Is Telegram Better Than WhatsApp?
Choosing between Telegram and WhatsApp depends on your priorities:
- WhatsApp is perfect for secure, simple messaging with family, friends, or basic business interactions.
- Telegram excels for those who value advanced features, robust privacy options, automation, community building, and business monetization opportunities.
In short, both apps are great; the best choice depends on your specific needs—whether privacy, innovation, business tools, or community features matter most.
