WhatsApp is the indisputable leader when it comes to messaging, primarily because of its huge user base. Since it has been acquired by Facebook, the social media giant has tried to integrate a lot of features corresponding to its other social media apps such as Instagram and Facebook itself. With this implementation, WhatsApp has soaked up the flavours of a social media platform and is now far from being a simple messaging platform. While a lot of users have come to like the additional features, it might be distracting who want to use the app for simple and meaningful conversation and this is where another great messenger — Telegram — comes into the picture. Telegram is a simple, cross-platform messaging service with a security-first approach and a variety of extra features like programmable bots, allowing users to highly customize how they communicate with others. Almost during all of 2018, Facebook has faced fire from regulators and lawmakers around the world for the massive and infamous Cambridge Analytica breach. Meanwhile, Telegram, too, faced legal tussles from the Russian authorities for denying private encryption keys of users. So, whether it is for your concerns about privacy or just taking a break from the usual hubbub on WhatsApp, Telegram might be able to redeem you. However, that in no way intended to mean that WhatsApp lags behind, and both messaging apps have their merits and demerits. Both WhatsApp and Telegram support similar features like support for stickers, picture-in-picture viewing, besides basic messaging features, but are, at the same time, are set apart by many other features. In this article, we plan to highlight these differences to help you make a clear distinction between the two and also letting you choose which might be the to fulfil your necessities. User Base Before taking the battle between WhatsApp and Telegram further, let us take a look at the difference between the number of users employing the two apps. A larger user base translates to a more polished overall end-user experience, a smaller number of experimental features, and a better customer support channel. In January 2018, WhatsApp reportedly had 1. Features Comparison WhatsApp and Telegram, both boast of some unique features that differentiate them from one another. Using this feature, you can call a maximum of three other people — adding the tally up to four users including yourself. You can simply initiate a new group video call directly from any WhatsApp group by tapping on the Telegram vs telegram x icon on the top bar, and then adding the participants to the call. While the option is still there, WhatsApp added the option to upload Snapchat-style stories which can live for 24 hours and are automatically deleted after telegram vs telegram x. While adding text statuses, users get the options to change the font style and the background color of the status. As per recent news, WhatsApp could show ads to users in the Status tab to generate revenue from WhatsApp. WhatsApp Business, although designed while keeping the communication needs of small businesses in mind, can be a pretty useful tool in not only sending out promotional and informational messages but also as a great platform for customer support. With WhatsApp Business, small and medium sized businesses can see insights and metrics about customers, and set automated messages for wee hours. While the service is free for business owners, WhatsApp charges business users who take more than 24 hours to reply to a message. This is apparently to keep businesses bound to engage and reply via WhatsApp. The feature also warns users when it suspects a potentially harmful link that might trigger the download of unwanted software, malware, or bloatware on to their smartphone. Any further development has, however, hit the wall after the Reserve Bank of India necessitated that all the data related to financial transactions must be stored on servers within the country itself and not overseas. Currently, the feature stays limited to a small bunch of users but if you want to try it out, you can use our guide on working. You can also set a self-destruct timer, which will destruct your messages after a specified time. If you are looking for a secure messaging experience, Secret chat has got telegram vs telegram x covered. On Telegram, you can send files up to 1. Telegram also supports the option to download themes created by other users. You can simply search for channels dedicated to themes and directly install a theme created by other users. You can either schedule the timing for this or assign a threshold brightness level such that the interface changes theme automatically when the brightness falls below a certain level. You can also add a hint so that you can recall your password in case you forget it. Besides simply viewing links, you can also change the font style and size, as well as the color of the background in Instant View 2. To make articles compatible with Instant View, developers must implement the code in the back-end of their website. However, if you want to write basic articles and share them primarily via Telegram, you can create Instant View articles using Telegram bot. You can even check your active sessions in the app to know the devices in which your Telegram account might be active. Channels are essentially broadcasting to a larger audience and it can hold unlimited members. When you send a message through a channel, the message is sent through the channels name. A user can even send mute messages in channels along with the ability to edit sent messages. Every bot comes with its own set of commands and features. For instance, the can be used to create polls in groups, comes in handy if you want to search for more cool bots. Telegram lets you hide last seen for particular contacts. So, instead of hiding your last seen for everybody, you can simply hide it from a single contact or more. Also, you can lock your chats on Telegram with the passcode feature, so that no one else reads your personal messages. Well, bid adieu to typos, as Telegram now lets you edit sent messages. The edited messages will have an edited banner on them. Telegram Topples WhatsApp in Features When it comes to features, Telegram wins it by a significant margin, as it brings some unique features that surely make a difference when it comes to usability. While WhatsApp has group video calling and end-to-end encryption for all chats, Telegram is clearly the superior option with its self-destruct timer, multi-device support along with tons of other small yet unique features internal media player, bots, Instant View 2. Security The security of chats on WhatsApp has been constantly under question despite the platform first introducing text message encryption in 2014, and later revamping it to complete end-to-end encryption in 2016. The messaging app has since remained shut in the country. Furthermore, special features like Secret Chats and Self-destruct timers make your chats more secure and even more difficult to be intercepted by anti-privacy advocates. This shows that, unlike WhatsApp, Telegram is not willing to compromise the privacy and security of users to reap financial gains, making us lean in its favour when it comes to security. Moreover, since WhatsApp chats for Android users are stored on Google Drive, these chats are not encrypted, which means an attack on your Google account or Google Drive in general can result in loss of data. Furthermore, while WhatsApp might have to give up encryption in countries like India where the government wants to police digital habits, Telegram might not easily come under the lens due to its relatively smaller user base. Overall, Telegram takes a lead over WhatsApp in terms of security. When it comes to usage, both WhatsApp and Telegram are very easy to use, with similar working apps. It also receives many experimental features before they qualify to make their way to the main Telegram app. Platform Compatibility WhatsApp is available on mobile devices, web and it also offers. Comparatively, Telegram has desktop clients for. Moreover, Telegram also has a web app available on the Chrome Web Store and due to its open-source nature, there are third party Telegram apps available as well — although we recommend you to beware while using a Telegram client by an unknown or unidentified developer. Telegram wins it here because of the fact that it offers independent apps for all platforms, unlike WhatsApp, which requires the mobile app to be running for the desktop and web clients to work. Furthermore, you can have multiple instances of Telegram running at once while WhatsApp is limited to only a mobile app and a desktop client simultaneously. WhatsApp has been testing and adding new features quickly these days, and new ones keep popping up. It is clear that Telegram offers a better experience but you might feel out-of-touch since many users still prefer using a single messenger and that happens to be WhatsApp. If convincing your family and friends is a challenging task, WhatsApp is the more convenient option, of course. These are our recommendations which, we hope, will help you decide between Telegram and WhatsApp — or even help you divide time between the two apps judiciously. Do you think we missed a vital piece of information. Tell us in the comments below. A late bloomer but an early learner, Tushar likes to be honestly biased. More into the popping culture than the pop. Joined Telegram to message my favourite radio station and loving it. When listening to a string of messages on a group chat Telegram vs telegram x requires you to manually start each audio message. Telegram continues on to next message automatically. I like both features depending on the situation the real winner will be the one that decides to offer a toggle that allows users choice. Just because everyone is eating junk food doesint make it food. With the telegram plus messenger you have never experienced peace. Also with double verification nobody can activate your account even if they have your handset with them. Last year someone snatched my phone and knew my number. He later kicked all my valuable friends from groups I was admin. When I see a good movie from some group I can share it to my cloud without downloading first for later downloading. I can even toward it to my friends without telegram vs telegram x. The telegram list is endless. WhatsApp is just left for those stuck in middle-class crisis. I use both to chat to different people. It is much more inclusive. Also, for broadcasting event details, anyone can join the public channels, where I use the built in image editor to add text to images to make attractive announcements. Telegram has this invitation feature. It is actually for this reason I am considering dumping WhatsApp for Telegram.
