WhatsApp vs Telegram which is better? Messaging apps are chat applications or platforms we use for instant messaging and connecting. They have become an integral part of our lives as we use them to connect with our friends and colleagues most of the time. They are also widely used in the business field as they allow you to connect and engage your customers in real-time. They are not only limited to our private life but have taken off in workplaces too. Messaging apps include chatting, groups, photo sharing, voice, and video calling.
Difference between WhatsApp and Telegram
When we think of messaging apps, WhatsApp and Telegram automatically come to mind. They are the most prominent messaging apps today. Since both apps are quite similar, users often debate which is better. While both have merits and demerits, I will be sharing a brief comparison of WhatsApp and Telegram based on various aspects like their features, privacy, security, etc. This article will certainly help you to decide which application you should use. WhatsApp vs telegram which one is better?
WhatsApp Vs Telegram: Background
WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum. It was later acquired by Facebook (Meta Platforms) for US$19 billion in 2014. It is highly popular with 2 billion active users worldwide. More than 100 billion messages are sent each day on WhatsApp. It is very easy to set up, and it’s free. You can chat and share your photos, documents, location, & contacts with this app. You can do video and voice calls easily using WhatsApp.
WhatsApp uses advanced security features, and end-to-end encryption for privacy and security. The user interface is very easy and appealing. It is very comfortable for users as they can use this platform easily without prior knowledge or experience. Potential revenue for WhatsApp is estimated to be $5 billion.
Telegram
It uses advanced security features, and end-to-end encryption for privacy and security. The user interface is very easy and appealing. It is very comfortable for users as they can use this platform easily without prior knowledge or experience. Potential revenue for WhatsApp is estimated to be $5 billion.
Users can send any file through Telegram. Users can use Telegram on multiple devices and receive messages on all devices. It offers a level of security and protection to its users and is widely used both personally and professionally. Telegram does not make a profit from its application and services.
WhatsApp Vs Telegram: Comparisons
Both Whatsapp and Telegram are instant messaging apps with a list of features. Their basic features like Voice, Video Calls & Messages are almost common. However, there are some features like group capacity, file sharing, multi Platform Support, etc. Let’s discuss them briefly below, which will help you find out which app is best for your needs.
Write in points(Group, File Sharing, End-To- End Encryption and Secret Chats, Multi-Platform Support, Privacy and Security, Revenue)
Group difference in WhatsApp and Telegram
Both Whatsapp and Telegram have group features.
- Whatsapp allows only up to 256 members. Where as the Telegram supports up to 200,000 members in a group.
- Both WhatsApp and Telegram have ways you can broadcast to a public audience. WhatsApp has the WhatsApp Broadcast list while in Telegram, you can create channels similar to the Broadcast list of WhatsApp for broadcasting.
File sharing in WhatsApp and Telegram
- WhatsApp offers you a limited file sharing capacity, 16MB for media files like video, photo and 100MB for documents. In Telegram, the file size limit is up to 1.5GB, and hence you can send high-quality images, videos, and files up to which is not possible on WhatsApp.
- In WhatsApp, you can share only 30 images at a time. While Telegram has unlimited file-sharing options.
- In WhatsApp, you have to backup and restore your data in google drive or iCloud Drive to protect your data for future use. But Telegram provides unlimited cloud storage. It means all your text messages, images, media files & documents are saved on Telegram’s cloud. You can log out and log in to devices anytime without losing any data.
- In the case of End-To-End Encryption and Secret Chats WhatsApp provides end-to-end encryption for chats and calls, and it is safer. All messages flowing through the platform are secured so that only the sender and the recipient can view them. But Telegrams uses end-to-end encryption only for secret chats. All other general chats and group messages on Telegram are only encrypted between your device and Telegram’s cloud, and your message history is stored on Telegram’s cloud.
Telegram vs WhatsApp: Multi-Platform Support
- WhatsApp is more restrictive for multiple device use. But you can log in to Telegram with your name and password from any device.
- You can operate WhatsApp on up to 4 devices at a time but can only have one mobile connected to your WhatsApp account at a time. But Telegram allows you to operate on multiple devices at a time without any constraint. Find more about this feature from here: How to use WhatsApp on multiple devices?
Privacy and Security
There are a lot of uncertainties among the users regarding the privacy and security of WhatsApp and Telegram. The recent update on WhatsApp’s new privacy policy has created a lot of confusion among the users.
- WhatsApp uses an end-to-end encryption method just like Apple’s iMessage and Signal. Those you are chatting with can only see the messages, and not even WhatsApp can see your messages. Telegram uses client-server encryption for its personal and group chats, which means that Telegram has access to your messages since it handles the encryption and decryption at their servers. Secret Chat and voice and video calls use the E2E Telegram encryption method.
- WhatsApp collects your metadata – your name and mobile phone number, location history, your contacts, IP address, and their phone numbers, even your device type while Telegram collects and keeps your phone number since it is mandatory to verify your account, the username you choose, and contact information when it comes to user data.
Revenue of WhatsApp and Telegram
There is no comparison in terms of revenue in Whatsapp and Telegram.
- A multi-billion dollar company, Meta, owns Whatsapp, while Telegram is a free app that currently runs on donations.
- Whatsapp earns money through different ways and its estimated potential revenue is $5 billion. The average revenue per user is around $4. Telegram does not make any money from its applications and services which it offers. It hasn’t made any revenue yet.
WhatsApp vs Telegram: Which one should you choose?
Telegram and WhatsApp both have their merits and demerits. If you want secure end-to-end encryption for all chats, you can go for Whatsapp. But if you want to work with many people and need a large amount of storage to save or download, then Telegram can be a better option for you.
Conclusion
This article has shown you a detailed discussion on major aspects of Whatsapp and Telegram (WhatsApp vs telegram). We have shown you the comparisons of WhatsApp with telegram and difference between WhatsApp and telegram. After all of this, you can choose the best app per your needs and interests.
