Messaging apps are essential for connecting with friends, family, and colleagues.
With so many choices available, how do you select the ideal option for your requirements?
Two of the most popular messaging apps are Telegram and WhatsApp, which offer end-to-end encryption, group chats, voice and video calls, and more.
But they also have some key differences that may affect your decision.
In this article, we speak about Telegram vs WhatsApp. Which messaging App Should you use?
Here are some of the main factors to consider when comparing Telegram vs. WhatsApp:
+ 3 Important facts to compare Telegram and WhatsApp
1. Privacy & Security
When discussing Telegram vs. WhatsApp, which messaging App Should you use? One of the most important things is their Privacy and Security.
You want to protect your personal information and communication from hackers, criminals, governments, or anyone else who may try to access them without your consent.
Telegram and WhatsApp claim to protect your privacy and security by using end-to-end encryption, which means that only you and the person you are communicating with can read or listen to your messages and calls.
Even the app developers cannot access your data or decrypt your conversations.
This feature is enabled by default on WhatsApp for all chats and calls, while on Telegram, you have to start a secret chat manually to activate it.
However, other factors may affect your privacy and security on these apps.
For example, WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, which is notorious for its data collection and sharing practices.
Facebook has been involved in several scandals and controversies regarding user data and privacy handling.
Although WhatsApp says it does not share your data with Facebook or other third parties, some users may not trust this claim or prefer to avoid associating with it.
Conversely, Telegram is an independent company that promises not to sell or share your data with third parties.
Telegram also has a more transparent and user-friendly privacy policy than WhatsApp.
Telegram allows you to control who can see your profile picture, last seen status, phone number, etc.
You can also delete your account and all your data at any time.
Another difference is that Telegram allows you to set self-destruct timers for your messages and media files in secret chats.
This means that they will disappear after a certain period. You can choose from 1 second to 1 week.
This can be useful if you want to send sensitive or confidential information that you don’t want to leave a trace on your device or the recipient’s device.
WhatsApp does not have this feature yet, although it recently introduced disappearing messages that delete messages after seven days in regular chats.
2. Features & Functionality
Telegram and WhatsApp have similar features and functionality, such as stickers, emojis, GIFs, voice messages, location sharing, and more.
However, Telegram has some extra features that WhatsApp lacks, such as:
· Channels: These are public or private groups with unlimited members and broadcast messages to them.
· Channels can be used for news, entertainment, education, or other purposes.
· Bots: These are automated accounts that can perform various tasks and services, such as games, quizzes, polls, weather updates, etc.
· Themes: These are customizable skins that let you change the app’s appearance according to your preferences.
· File Sharing: Telegram allows you to send any file up to 2 GB, while WhatsApp limits the file size to 100 MB and the file type to certain formats.
3. User Base & Popularity
According to Statista, WhatsApp had over 2 billion monthly active users as of October 2020, while Telegram had over 400 million.
WhatsApp is also more widely used in many countries worldwide, especially in India, Brazil, Mexico, and Indonesia.
Telegram is more popular in some regions, such as Russia, and Uzbekistan.
However, popularity is only sometimes a reliable indicator of quality or suitability.
Some users prefer Telegram over WhatsApp because of its privacy, security features, or extra functionality.
Others may prefer WhatsApp over Telegram because of its simplicity and familiarity.
Conclusion
Telegram and WhatsApp are excellent messaging apps that offer similar services but have distinct advantages and disadvantages.
We talked about Telegram vs. WhatsApp and Which messaging App you should use, but last, the best app for you depends on your preferences and needs.
Try both apps and see which one suits you better, or you may want to use both apps for different purposes or audiences.
The choice is yours!
Let’s know which one you prefer and why.
Please share all your ideas and experiences with us.
