Face Off: WhatsApp vs. Telegram
Since 2010, WhatsApp has progressively become the world's most-used, non-SMS text messaging application. It was for good reason too.
WhatsApp was one of the first apps to work cross-platform, and bring many features along that were seen in BBM, such as sent and read receipts. Since the app uses data instead of SMS/MMS, it has also become a favorite for millions outside of the USA and Canada. Unlike these two, other countries are often nickeled and Dimed per SMS, and unlimited texting plans are not nearly as common. Data is the way to go.
This wasn't the only messaging service to show up to the table with a solution though. Other messengers, such as Kik, attempted to offer the same options with their own twists. For whatever reason, though, WhatsApp just stuck - and grew.
Then Facebook bought them.
Suddenly many felt the app would go downhill. People feared they would lose security and privacy. The list goes on.
Telegram was born.
At first sight, Telegram does look and feel a lot like WhatsApp. It isn't until you use it for a short while before you notice the differences and begin to appreciate what Telegram has to offer that WhatsApp cannot - and vise versa.
To keep it simple, and avoid creating a long article as I tend to do, I'll create a table;
Feature
|
WhatsApp
|
Telegram
|
Price
|
Free for the first year.
$0.99 / year
|
Free!
|
Platform
|
Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Nokia, Symbian, Windows Phone, web app
|
Android, iOS (iPhone and iPad), BlackBerry 10 (using Android), Windows Phone, Windows, OS X, Linux, web app
|
Multiple Platform Sync
|
No. One device per phone number / SIM
|
Yes, syncs across all devices.
|
In-app advertising
|
No
|
No
|
Marked as Sent/Read
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Photo sharing
|
Yes -
|
Yes -
|
Video sharing
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
File Sharing
|
Yes - photos, video, audio, location, contacts
|
Yes - up to 1.5GB of any file type
|
Voice recording
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Phone
|
Yes (New!)
|
No
|
Video
|
No
|
No
|
Stickers
|
No
|
Yes - Both in-app, also allows to share your own via web app / desktop applications
|
Group Chat
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Group Chat features
|
Title for group chat, avatar for group chat
|
Reply to specific post, mention user(s), title chat, avatar for chat
|
Contact Sharing Method
|
Contacts must have your phone number in their contact list.
|
Contacts may have your phone number or email in your contact list - OR - users may create and share a username
|
Secret Chat
|
No
|
Yes
|
Status Update
|
Yes
|
No
|
Muting Chat / Group
|
Yes - Group chats only; 1 hour, 1 week, 1 year
|
Yes - 1 hour, 8 hours, 2 days, disable
|
Customize chat background
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Location sharing
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
In-app photo editor
|
No
|
Yes
|
In-app GIF and JPG finder
|
No
|
Yes
|
Material Design (Android)
|
No
|
Yes
|
Search for content in chats, including hashtags
|
Yes - Only within each chat
|
Yes - Universal in all chats
|
Drag-and-drop files, photos,
|
No
|
Yes - Desktop
|
Pop-up Messages
|
Yes - Reply
|
Yes - Reply
|
Custom notification sounds/LED per contact
|
No
|
Yes - Android only
|
Broadcast messaging
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Open API
|
No
|
Yes
|
Forward Messages
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Shortcut to conversation
|
Yes - Android
|
No
|
It should be noted that I did not include the speed or security of each app. These aren't really features in my eyes, and more just how each app is.
If I happened to have missed any features, or was incorrect with any of them, by all means, let me know in the comment section!
WhatsApp: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapp
Telegram: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.telegram.messenger
If I happened to have missed any features, or was incorrect with any of them, by all means, let me know in the comment section!
WhatsApp: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapp
Telegram: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.telegram.messenger
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