Telegram may be among the most popular messaging services in the world, yet there are still many who don’t know what it’s all about. The app is often name-dropped in discussions regarding online privacy and security, but aren’t all messaging apps secure? Don’t more popular apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger (despite their ties to Facebook) also have the fabled “end-to-end” encryption? What makes Telegram so special?
Keep reading to learn what Telegram does, what its main features are, and why you might consider using it. You can also download the app right away at the link below.
What is Telegram?
Telegram is a multi-platform messaging service founded by Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov, although it was temporarily banned in Russia and has no affiliation with any government or company. It first rolled out on iOS and Android in late 2013, and now has an estimated 550 million monthly users. Telegram’s user base tends to increase whenever a privacy scandal hits one of its larger competitors.
What makes Telegram unique is its focus on privacy, encryption, and an open-source API. There are countless unofficial clients to go along with the official Telegram apps and web interface. It also allows multiple devices to use the same account (verified by SMS), and multiple accounts on the same device.
How does Telegram work?
Telegram’s core functionality is the same as most other messaging apps: You can message other Telegram users, create group conversations, call contacts, make video calls, and send files and stickers. However, there are a few specific features that make it work differently from other chat apps.
Read also:WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal: Which messaging app should you use?
First and foremost, Telegram’s headline feature is privacy, and to ensure this it employs end-to-end encryption. This is what stops those outside a two-way conversation — be it a company, the government, hackers, or someone else — from seeing what has been sent.
However, Telegram only uses this encryption in calls and in its “secret chats” feature, not in regular chats. Those are only encrypted client to server. Meanwhile, WhatsApp, the supposedly less secure service, has used end-to-end encryption in all messages, calls, and video calls since 2016.
Telegram is all about privacy and security, and it isn't beholden to larger companies like Facebook.
The reason for this is Telegram’s enhanced use of the cloud. Essentially, it stores all of your messages and photos on a secure server. This means you can access them from any connected device, making Telegram much more multi-platform friendly than other chat apps like WhatsApp.
Another security feature that adds usability is usernames. Instead of giving people your phone number, you can simply give them your username. This gives you better control over what information is out there, and how people can contact you in the future. If you want even more privacy, you can generate a temporary QR code so people can add you without a username or phone number.
Is Telegram safe to use?
In general, Telegram is as safe or safer than most other chat apps. It could be argued that WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption on all messaging is a better approach, but the company’s ties to Facebook/Meta may turn off privacy advocates.
Plus, if you’re using the “secret chats” feature, you’re getting the same level of end-to-end encryption. On top of this, users can’t forward or screenshot messages in secret chats, and messages can be programmed to self-destruct. Deleting a message also deletes it for everyone on the service, and users have the option to delete not just their own messages, but other users’ messages, too. It’s also worth mentioning that all chats are encrypted, even if not end-to-end encrypted.
Read also:How to protect your privacy using Android
Another thing to keep in mind is that selling your data isn’t at the core of Telegram’s business model. According to Telegram’s FAQ page, the company is funded by its founder and CEO Pavel Durov, not through advertising or data collection and sharing.
On the same page, Telegram also lists one of its two tenets of internet privacy as “protecting your personal data from third parties, such as marketers, advertisers, etc.” That puts it in stark contrast to a myriad of services from Facebook, Google, Amazon, and others.
Ultimately though, using Telegram doesn’t necessarily mean your messages are more private or secure than when using WhatsApp or other messaging apps. Server-side data leaks can still happen, and no amount of encryption will help if your end device is already compromised.
Is Telegram free?
Telegram is free to use and supported by its founder and CEO Pavel Durov. The company began employing new monetization methods in 2021, including a Telegram Premium subscription service, but the core business of chatting will remain free for everyone.
These new monetization methods include ads on public one-to-many channels (which function like Twitter feeds), premium features for business teams and power users, and paid sticker packs. Some of these funds will go back to users in the form of enhanced visibility for channels or payments to creators of unique sticker packs.
Can Telegram be used on PC?
Since Telegram stores chats and files on a remote server instead of your device, you can also access everything (except secret chats) from the web. Access it via the web portal or any of several Chrome extensions.
The company also makes its API publicly available for free and invites developers to create clients on other platforms. Users can also create custom bots, themes, stickers, and more free of charge.
Pros of switching
Telegram’s main feature list may cross over with other apps, but there are many specific differences between it and its competitors. Here is a short list of some of the major features that may push you to switch messaging apps.
Secret chats
The aforementioned secret chats are where you can take part in end-to-end encrypted messaging with a contact. But that’s not its only benefit: Secret chats also don’t allow a person forward messages from there or take screenshots. Of course, someone could take a picture of the screen with another device, but it’s still discouraged, and it’s bolstered by another feature: self-destruct timers.
Self-destruct timers
If you don’t want messages in your secret chats to hang around forever, Telegram lets you set self-destruct timers to permanently remove them. After a message is received, it remains in the chat for a predetermined period — you can choose times between one second and one week – before disappearing.
You’ll have to beespecially concerned with privacy to want to do this — it means you’ll never have a chat log — nonetheless, it’s a nice option that Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and WeChat don’t have.
SIM-less access
Telegram no longer requires a SIM card to sign up. You will, however, need to buy an anonymous phone number from the Fragment service. These are purchased using Telegram’s Toncoin cryptocurrency, typically costing $10-20. These numbers are tied to the blockchain and only work with Telegram.
Cloud access
Since non-secret chats and files are stored in the cloud, you can access them from any device by logging into your account. You will never have to worry about on-device storage or losing important files, but the trade-off is that you lose a bit of privacy and security.
Global message deletion
Since an update in 2019, Telegram has allowed users to delete messages sent by other users, across all devices. It’s a somewhat divisive feature. Having your messages deleted by someone else doesn’t feel very good. But if your conversation is between you and a person you trust, it’s another handy way to control your online communications.
Usernames
As mentioned above, the use of usernames instead of phone numbers means your account isn’t tied to just one phone. This makes it easier to log in on other devices, allows you to have multiple accounts on the same device, and makes it so you don’t have to share your phone number with someone to add them as a contact in Telegram.
Large file size limit
If you want to send big files, Telegram has much of the competition beat with support for up to 2GB files. Meanwhile, WhatsApp’s limit is a measly 100MB, WeChat’s limit is also 100MB, andSkype’s limit is 300MB. Telegram files are also stored in the cloud, so you can access them from other devices.
Customizations
Telegram comes with some customization options absent from many of its competitors where you can choose the dominant app color, how the app opens links, whether or not the UI shows animations, and more. There is also chatbot integration where you can make use of bots to improve the experience. You can even create your own themes, bots, and full apps using the Telegram API. Over the years, Telegram has built up an extensive bot ecosystem that adds even more functionality to the app.
Cons of switching
New user announcement
A further privacy blunder is that Telegram notifies your contacts when you join it — unless you don’t give it permission to access your contacts. The app doesn’t warn you it’s about to ping your contacts, and that’s a big caveat for those who want to use Telegram to keep a low profile.
Stories and statuses
Telegram lacks the Stories feature of some competing messaging apps which lets you post images or short videos without messaging a contact directly. Admittedly it isn’t an essential feature for most people.
Users
Possibly the biggest disadvantage Telegram has over more popular messages is simply that: popularity. Despite its hundreds of millions of fans, Telegram is still leagues behind WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat in active monthly users.
If you’re in the West and you meet a new contact, the odds are they’ll prefer using WhatsApp to Telegram messenger. Popularity breeds popularity, and trying to dethrone WhatsApp is an uphill battle for Telegram.
See also: How to delete a Telegram account
Should I use Telegram?
Scott Adam Gordon / Android Authority
“Privacy” itself isn’t a particularly attractive product feature in online services. It can be nebulous: We can’t always feel or understand it, and sometimes it’s only when privacy is taken away that we take it seriously.
If you’re a particularly private person and troubled by news reports regarding online security and privacy breaches, you should absolutely consider using Telegram with secret chats enabled. You will have largely the same experience as with more popular messaging apps, with greater peace of mind.
That’s far from saying Telegram will protect you from all privacy terrors the online world presents — you should check out ourAndroid privacy guidefor a broader look at that. Telegram just offers a good marriage of popularity and security for those with concerns over other messaging apps.
You can download the app for free from the Google Play Store via the button below — give it a try with a pal if you’re keen. The best way to decide if it’s right for you is to try it for yourself.
Other FAQs
The founder and CEO of Telegram Pavel Durov is Russian, but the company has no ties to the Russian government. In fact, the founder fled Russia in 2015 after being pressured by the Kremlin for his ownership of the social media network VKontakte. The app has also been banned in Russia in the past for not sharing user data with the government. The company is currently based in Dubai.
Telegram does remove copyright-infringing content from public channels, sticker sets, and bots. The company cannot access or remove content from private one-to-one or group chats.
No. Your data is stored on servers spread across several countries, with encryption keys spread across multiple jurisdictions. This means no one government can force Telegram to give up your data. According to the company’s FAQ page, it has never given governments any private data. In fact, it was briefly banned in Russia for refusing to do so.
Yes. However, if you are not connected to Wi-Fi you may be subject to data charges if you go over your data limit.
Yes, all chats are encrypted, but only “secret chats” are end-to-end encrypted by default.
No, it doesn’t. You can use the app and find contacts using just a username.
Group voice calls are currently in beta. You can try them by installing the beta version of the app. Note that it will only work for admins in the group.
Finding groups in Telegram is easy. Simply head to the desktop app and use the search bar in the top left corner. This will bring up groups that match your search term, and you can join with a single click.
Telegram offers security in the form of end-to-end encryption. This means your messages are protected when you send them. However, they are decrypted once they reach Telegram servers, which could leave you vulnerable.
Telegram was launched by Russian brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov, who still own it today.
Telegram offers end-to-end encryption, but the feature is not enabled by default. Your messages are protected on the way to and from Telegram’s servers, though they can be accessed while on the server.
Guides
Telegram
FAQs
What are the benefits of using Telegram? ›
- Users don't need a SIM card to log in into Telegram. Users are able to communicate with other users on telegram even if they don't have the contact number of others. ...
- Limitless server storage. Telegram offers limitless storage. ...
- Media Compression. ...
- Multi-platform support. ...
- Secret Chat.
But is Telegram safe to use? The short answer is: not by default, but Telegram could be safe to use for most people. Unfortunately, despite the protective features the platform boasts, you have to consciously arm your Telegram account with encryption and use secret messages with every new chat for any solid protection.
Who uses Telegram the most? ›Between January and August 2022, Indian users installed the messaging app approximately 70 million times. Russia ranked second, with over 24 million downloads over the observed period, while U.S. users installed the app 20 million times. Brazil recorded the largest number of downloads among Latin American countries.
Does Telegram show your number? ›Other Telegram users will only be able to see your phone number if you have theirs stored in your phone and sync your contacts with Telegram. That includes friends, anyone in your phone contacts, and anyone you have willingly shared your phone number with. It is a simple system that maintains a semblance of privacy.
Can Telegram be traced? ›The information shared in Telegram is encrypted and only accessible to people in the chat. There is even a feature to completely delete messages after a certain time. That makes it harder for law enforcement to track down illegal activity and the people behind it.
Should I delete Telegram? ›Telegram is a solid messaging app that keeps your chats encrypted and is rich with features. But if you're switching to a new messaging app, it's best to delete your Telegram account before you go. Unfortunately, Telegram doesn't offer a direct switch you can flick in the app's settings.
Can I use Telegram without phone number? ›Telegram, an instant messaging platform, has updated its app with several new features. One of the major changes is the new sign-up process. Now, users will not require any phone number to sign-up. Previously, the users of Telegram were needed to enter their mobile number to create a Telegram account.
Why is everyone using Telegram? ›What makes Telegram unique is its focus on privacy, encryption, and an open-source API. There are countless unofficial clients to go along with the official Telegram apps and web interface. It also allows multiple devices to use the same account (verified by SMS), and multiple accounts on the same device.
Is Telegram used in USA? ›While 27% of U.S. adults say they have heard of Telegram, only 2% use the app for news. Overall, just 6% of Americans regularly get news from at least one of the seven alternative social media sites studied, and no single site is regularly used for news by more than 2% of U.S. adults.
Does Telegram cost money? ›Telegram is free forever, with no advertisements and no subscription fees. Being free of cost and accessible it is a highly recommended tool. Plus it is very secure and safe.
Can you be anonymous on Telegram? ›
Messaging app Telegram has rolled out a new update enabling users to create accounts using blockchain-based anonymous numbers, as opposed to cell phone numbers. Telegram already hides people's private phone numbers from non-added users on the app.
Do my contacts get notified when I join Telegram? ›The instant messaging app sends notifications when any of your contacts join the platform.
Is Telegram legal or illegal? ›It depends. Some content on is freely licensed, meaning that you have the owner's permission to download and share these works freely. As a rule of thumb, most movies by large production houses are usually protected by copyright, and it is illegal to download them off from telegram .
Can police see Telegram chats? ›Telegram's privacy policy states that it will only provide IP and phone numbers to authorized parties for confirmed terrorist investigations. They will not provide any contact information for law enforcement to pursue a court order.
Why you should switch to Telegram? ›Telegram provides unlimited storage. This means all your text messages, images media files & documents will be saved on their cloud. You can log out and log in any number of times from any number of devices simultaneously without losing any data, you don't need to worry about backup & restore.
Is Telegram safe from hackers? ›Even though Telegram only encrypts messages in communication between your device and its servers by default (you can manually enable end-to-end encryption), Telegram is known for its safety and encryption policies.
What happens if you uninstall Telegram? ›Uninstalling your Telegram only removes the application from your device, but your account remains intact. You can use another device to access your account or re-install the Telegram app.
How do you text someone on Telegram? ›Start a Telegram one-on-one chat
Click on the new message button (the pencil), select a contact, and start writing. By default, all communications are encrypted between your device and Telegram's servers, and then between Telegram's servers and your contact, but Telegram will be able to read your conversations.
Simply type the numbers 141 before the phone number you plan to dial. This is the same system used on landlines but it also works on mobiles. It was first introduced to stop people getting your number when they dialled 1471.
What is self destruct in Telegram? ›The self-destruct timer is a feature that allows users to set a timer for messages and media files so that they are automatically deleted after a certain period. This timer can be set to any duration, ranging from 1 second to 1 week. This is a useful feature for users who want to keep their messages private and secure.
Why Telegram is the safest? ›
Regular chats on Telegram are not end-to-end encrypted, meaning third parties can intercept and read your messages. Telegram provides end-to-end encryption in its "secret chat option." However, if you're using Telegram across multiple budget Android phones, you won't be able to move secret chats between them.
Is Telegram safer than texting? ›Ultimately though, using Telegram doesn't necessarily mean your messages are more private or secure than when using WhatsApp or other messaging apps. Server-side data leaks can still happen, and no amount of encryption will help if your end device is already compromised.
Why are people using Telegram instead of WhatsApp? ›Is Telegram safer than WhatsApp? Telegram is considered a safer and privacy-friendly app among many users compared to WhatsApp. However, Telegram lacks one key factor when it comes to securing user data and that's end-to-end encryption for chats. This means Telegram can access user chats stored on the server.
Why do criminals use Telegram? ›Researchers found that a combination of simplicity and security found in Telegram has provided a perfect communications hub for attackers: cybercriminals can message others individually or in groups, as well as receive or send large data files.
Why are more people joining Telegram? ›Telegram is more like a messenger like WhatsApp. It has more number of including members to group where groups can be public or private. Privacy in telegram is more than Instagram. Instagram is social media and telegram is a messenger that's how they different from each other.
Can someone hack through Telegram? ›The answer is yes. Your Telegram account can be hacked in many ways. To begin with, your account password can be compromised when a Telegram company gets hacked. This is called Public hacks.
Why do people use Telegram instead of just texting? ›Telegram is a popular cross-platform messaging app that is widely used because it offers some enhanced privacy and encryption features as well as support for large group chat features.
Do hackers use Telegram? ›Microsoft says hackers are using Telegram to connect with, hack VIPs at cryptocurrency companies. Threat actors have been directly targeting cryptocurrency investment companies using Telegram chat groups.
Why is Telegram controversial? ›And Telegram has been attached to a fair few scandals related to terrorism, sexual exploitation and crime. Back in 2015, Vox described Telegram as “ISIS' app of choice,” saying that the platform's real use is the ability to use channels to distribute material to large groups at once.
What is Telegram advantages and disadvantages? ›Drawbacks or disadvantages of Telegram app
➨It does not offer security in 'group chat' feature unlike "Signal app". ➨Secret chats are not backed up. ➨'Self Destructing messages' feature is available only for secret chats. ➨'Ads' feature is not supported by Telegram. It may be available in future releases.