The difference between the Telegram messenger and WhatsApp

The WhatsApp messenger was created in 2009, and, by the time Telegram appeared in 2013, it had 300 million monthly users. Immediately after the appearance of the Russian application, one of the founders of WhatsApp, Jan Kum, accused Pavel Durov of copying his platform.

The goals and functionality of the services are similar. But the differences between the messengers have been noticeable since the launch of Telegram, and over time they have become more obvious.

Comparison between Telegram messenger and WhatsApp Comparison between Telegram messenger and WhatsApp

Let’s compare both platforms and find out how different they are from each other and whether one application can replace the other. Let’s start with a brief description of WhatsApp and Telegram - what kind of applications they are and what functions they have.

WhatsApp messenger

WhatsApp is a free online instant messaging application. The application allows you to communicate by text and voice, add stickers and emoticons to messages, and make video calls. The service supports file attachments, photo, and video sharing. WhatsApp also allows you to create group chats.

WhatsApp Messenger

Every message in the service or call is encrypted by default with end-to-end encryption based on the open-source Signal protocol. Messenger is equipped with an interface with clear controls that do not require prior knowledge and training. The application is compatible with Android, KaiOS, S40, iOS, Symbian, Windows Phone, macOS, Windows, and other operating systems.

The number of users around the world who visit the messenger every month exceeds 2 billion people. Among similar services, this is the highest value.

Telegram

Telegram is a free cloud messenger that allows you to exchange messages online. Text format, video and audio files, photos, stickers, animation, and interactive emoji are available for communication. The exchange of information is possible in channels, groups, and secret chats. The application publishes news, advertising, and entertainment content.

Telegram Messenger

The messenger is endowed with many additional functions, including:

  • text recognition from an image (option works on iOS 13 and higher);
  • setting a timer for publications;
  • image and video compression;
  • search for subscribers without a phone number;
  • use of bots;
  • commenting on posts;
  • creating folders with chats;
  • the ability to share geolocation;
  • text editing within 48 hours;
  • create your own free stickers.

Versions of Telegram are designed for tablets, phones, and stationary devices. The service is compatible with most operating systems: Windows, GNU/Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, Windows Phone. The application uses an end-to-end encryption method with the property of deleting information by timer.

In terms of popularity, Telegram ranks fifth in the world among mobile applications. Every month, the messenger is visited by 550 million people.

Differences between Telegram and WhatsApp

Services were created for messaging. But there are differences in the algorithms for using applications.

1. Compatibility

To install WhatsApp on a phone, Android operating systems (from 4.1), iOS (from 10), and devices with KaiOS from 2.5.0, including JioPhone and JioPhone 2 are recommended. Desktop versions on which the installation of the messenger is available are Mac OS X (from 10.10 ), Windows (from 8) 32-bit, and 64-bit versions. Therefore, active users of the application need to update the current system version on the device or purchase a new one.

Telegram desktop application for Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows Telegram desktop application for Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows

Telegram continues to work on some of the operating systems that WhatsApp no longer works with and is available on phones, tablets, and computers. The Russian messenger is installed on Android (from 4.1), iOS (from 9.0), watchOS (from 5.0), Windows 7, 8, and 10, macOS X, Linux 11.4, and Windows Phone.

Conclusion: Telegram is compatible with more devices than WhatsApp messenger.

2. Working with memory

As for the weight of applications, the values ​​for messengers do not differ much, being within 80 MB. But WhatsApp overloads memory by storing information in the smartphone gallery.

In Telegram, all media files are stored in the cloud, and to free up space, you need to clear the application cache.

Conclusion: Telegram does not use the device’s memory to store media files, unlike the WhatsApp application.

3. Synchronization and accounts

WhatsApp allows you to be online at the same time on your phone and up to four other devices. To do this, other platforms need to be associated with the phone where the application is downloaded. But it won’t work on connected devices:

  • make calls to contacts who use outdated versions of the application;
  • view location;
  • create newsletters.

Also, you will not be able to use the WhatsApp application from the tablet.

Device sync

Telegram gives simultaneous access to one account from an unlimited number of devices. At the same time, the application works quickly everywhere synchronizes chats, stories, and files retains full functionality on any of the versions.

Simplifies working with Telegram and the ability to install up to three accounts on one device.

It’s impossible to do on WhatsApp.

Conclusion: In WhatsApp, synchronization works for a limited number of devices (5 devices), unlike Telegram, where you can simultaneously be on an unlimited number of devices in your account. It is also not possible to use multiple accounts at the same time on WhatsApp.

4. File transfer volume

The speed of sending data is another indicator that distinguishes the two applications. The allowable size of files sent to Telegram is 2 GB. Also, a Telegram user can compress video files and images when sending.

In WhatsApp, when sharing data, document sizes are limited to 100MB and media cannot exceed 16MB.

Conclusion: The Telegram messenger can send larger files.

5. Interface design

The design of both applications is convenient and understandable for users. In each, you can choose a background, a dark theme to save battery, and it’s easy to figure out the settings on the main page.

Design of Telegram and WhatsApp messengers

WhatsApp offers subscribers 50 themes for profile and chat designs, a choice of text fonts, and the ability to decorate photos.

There are fewer themes for backgrounds in the Telegram library. But in the application, the user can create their own color scheme for the design of the chat and share it with another person. Through the settings, you can select the color and size of the message boxes, the color of the text, and the brightness of the menu buttons.

Conclusion: The interfaces of both messengers are intuitive for users. But Telegram offers more advanced features for customizing design options.

6. Opportunities

WhatsApp and Telegram offer many standard features that make communication comfortable. But each messenger has something that distinguishes the service from competitors. So, if we talk about chatting, then Telegram allows you to organize groups of up to 200 thousand people. In WhatsApp chats, people are counted not in thousands, but hundreds. There can only be 256 participants.

In WhatsApp, for small business owners, the WhatsApp Business service is available, with which you can add product and service catalogs to your profile, sort chats to track new orders and payments, and create automatic answers to the customer frequently asked questions. Telegram does not have these functions.

WhatsApp Business Service

However, Telegram allows you to turn off notifications from groups and doesn’t allow strangers to automatically add members to a conversation. WhatsApp has no such advantages. As well as, there is no possibility to communicate in secret chats.

Private correspondence is not just protected by encryption. In secret Telegram chats, it is forbidden to take screenshots and forward messages to other users. Also, correspondence between users can be deleted by timer. A private conversation is available only on the device where the conversation was created and disappears after logging out of the account.

Telegram channel demo Telegram channel demo

Telegram users can send video messages, maintain up to 10 blogs, and be subscribed to 500 communities. To help manage groups and channels, it is possible to create bots. Such programs publish texts, select and add pictures, edit, organize polls. To make your work easier, you can create folders in the application. All of the above is not available to WhatsApp users.

Conclusion: Telegram allows you to combine up to 200 thousand participants in chats, organize 10 blogs for one participant and subscribe to 500 groups. Video messages, secret chats, bots, and folder creation are also available to users. The WhatsApp app does not have these features. However, WhatsApp has a small business helper service called WhatsApp Business, which makes it easier for the business owner to interact with customers.

7. Privacy

Communication without being tied to a phone number and searching for a subscriber-only by public name - these two Telegram functions make it possible to stay on the “incognito” network and are absent in WhatsApp. A user who does not show a phone number can also be sent messages.

Also, in Telegram, the function of editing and deleting an already sent message is available. WhatsApp users cannot edit messages, while users can also delete their messages from the conversation, but the interlocutor will see an inscription that the messages have been deleted.

Conclusion: In terms of privacy, Telegram outperforms WhatsApp.

8. Security

WhatsApp uses the Signal Protocol for encryption, which is based on a combination of asymmetric and symmetric key cryptographic algorithms. Telegram implements end-to-end encryption using the MTProto protocol, which consists of three encryption algorithms: 256-bit symmetric AES, 2048-bit RSA, and Diffie-Hellman key exchange. That makes both apps safer than their counterparts.

Comparison of the information security level of Telegram and WhatsApp (Source: https://techholds.com/2021/08/07/difference-between-whatsapp-telegram-and-signal/)

Additional trust in Telegram is caused by the privacy policy of the service itself, according to which the service has access only to:

  • to profile information;
  • to user numbers;
  • to correspondence outside secret chats.

At the same time WhatsApp Messenger additionally:

  • collects statistics when with whom, and how much the user communicates;
  • captures the IP address, device, and mobile network data;
  • collects payment information.

Because the American application belongs to Meta, formerly Facebook, known for the facts of unintentional leakage of collected data, the list presented may cause concern for users.

Conclusion: Telegram’s encryption algorithm has more layers of protection than WhatsApp. Telegram also collects less personal information from users.

Summary

Both messengers are quite functional and provide subscribers with additional options. So, WhatsApp is distinguished for the better:

  • user-friendly interface;
  • the ability to synchronize the application on five devices;
  • organization of video calls;
  • lack of advertising;
  • additional business service.

Among the advantages of the Telegram messenger are:

  • user-friendly interface;
  • privacy;
  • the ability to synchronize the application on an unlimited number of devices;
  • video messages;
  • editing messages and commenting on posts;
  • a large number of participants in chats;
  • connection of chat-bots;
  • communication without a phone number;
  • secret chats;
  • folder creation;
  • large sizes of transferred files;
  • reactions in messages;
  • create your own stickers.

Therefore, when choosing one or another messenger, it is worth proceeding from the user’s needs.