WhatsApp and Telegram are two of the most popular messaging apps. They have a huge user base and offer an impressive range of features.
However, both WhatsApp and Telegram are susceptible to malicious attacks. As a result, it is important to know the differences between these platforms and choose the one that suits your needs best.
1Features
WhatsApp and Telegram have been battling for users’ attention, both in terms of features and privacy. While the former is owned by Facebook (whose abysmal track-record in user data security and privacy has put them in a vulnerable position), the latter is an independent app with a strong focus on user privacy.
One of the most popular features of both apps is status, which allows users to upload photos and videos to share their feelings or events with others. Although the Meta-owned WhatsApp claims that status is a thing of the past, it still lets you vanish messages after 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days if you no longer need them read.
Both apps provide end-to-end encryption for your chats. However, Telegram is a little ahead of WhatsApp in this area, as it also offers secret chats. Messages in secret chats are encrypted and cannot be forwarded or taken screenshots of.
In addition, you can set a self-destruct timer for all chats on Telegram, which erases the messages after one day, one week, or a month. This is a good option for those who don’t want to leave messages on other people’s phones after they read them.
Another feature that Telegram provides is a ‘Spoiler’ button, which lets you blur out the part of a message that contains movie or show details, sports results, and more. You can also create chat folders for all your conversations and organise them in any way you like.
WhatsApp also provides a payment feature called WhatsApp Pay, which is an excellent feature for businesses. This way, customers can make payments directly within the platform, which is much more convenient for them than having to leave their chat window to access their account.
Aside from this, WhatsApp also provides a label feature for business profiles that separates customer contact into different categories and sends them relevant messages accordingly. This way, you can easily target your audience and boost sales.
Both platforms are extremely popular, but Telegram is considered to be more privacy-friendly than WhatsApp and can be a good choice for businesses looking to use messaging apps. Moreover, it is available for multiple devices and does not rely on your phone number for verification.
2Security
WhatsApp is an instant messaging service that allows users to send text, photos and videos to each other. It’s available on a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets and PCs. It also has a web version that supports logging in through any browser.
One of the most important features on WhatsApp is end-to-end encryption, which protects your messages and media files from being read by anyone else. This is especially important when sending a message to someone outside of your network. However, it’s not a perfect security feature. It’s also important to remember that your phone may backup data and store it on the cloud, so if your messages are not encrypted, they could be at risk of being leaked.
Telegram is a different type of messaging app that focuses on privacy and security. It was launched in 2013 by Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov, who wanted to build a secure and user-friendly messaging platform that wasn’t reliant on any big tech companies.
The main difference between the two is that Telegram’s privacy policies are more strict than those of WhatsApp. It’s also open-source, meaning that all of its code can be reviewed by the community and security experts.
Another interesting aspect about Telegram is that it’s free to use. This is a major difference from WhatsApp, which has been acquired by Facebook and has an abysmal track record when it comes to maintaining its users’ privacy.
For those who are concerned about their privacy, Telegram offers a self-destruct timer/auto-delete feature that lets users set a pre-defined time to automatically delete or self-destruct messages. This helps protect the privacy of both parties, and ensures that they won’t be able to find their deleted messages.
Despite these benefits, some people still worry that their conversations are vulnerable to surveillance and other threats. This is because Telegram stores a lot of user information on its servers, which can be used by the government to identify suspicious activities or other crimes.
Another concern is that Telegram uses a more complex protocol than WhatsApp, which means it is more likely to be subjected to hacking and other cyberattacks. This is particularly true if you use the app on multiple devices or are an international user. This is why it’s a good idea to install security software on all of your devices, even those that don’t support Telegram.
3Privacy
WhatsApp and Telegram are both popular messaging apps that have a lot of users. However, they differ in several ways. One important difference is the way they handle privacy.
WhatsApp has a number of privacy features that help keep your information private and secure. This includes end-to-end encryption, the ability to hide chats and screenshot blocking.
In addition, WhatsApp lets you archive messages and photos for later viewing. This feature is especially useful if you’re sharing personal or sensitive information such as passwords, bank details and passcodes with others.
Another helpful privacy feature is the ability to tag photos and videos as “View Once.” This means that a recipient can only see them once and won’t be able to save them. This is great for preventing other people from taking screenshots of your messages and keeping them forever.
Despite these privacy features, there are still some things you should be aware of. For instance, WhatsApp is not a good choice if you want to share files with other users. The app limits the size of files you can send, which can make it difficult to upload large files such as videos and documents.
On the other hand, Telegram has no storage limit, which can be useful for sharing long videos or large images. It also has a feature called e2ee secret chat, which allows you to send encrypted messages in groups or to other users.
Aside from these, Telegram has other helpful privacy features. For example, you can use a timer to hide a message if the receiver doesn’t view it within 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days. It also lets you remove a conversation from your phone if it’s deleted by another user or if you change your device.
Other privacy features include the ability to download a copy of your account data and settings, which is handy in case you lose your phone or have it stolen. The download can take three days, but it’s a safety feature in case you’re ever in a situation where your device has been lost or stolen and you need to get in touch with others.
4Cost
Telegram is a cloud-based messaging service that costs nothing to use. It is available on all major operating systems and can sync messages across multiple devices. In addition, it supports end-to-end encryption, allowing for secure communication.
WhatsApp is the most popular messaging service in the world, with over 1.4 billion monthly users. However, it has been criticized for its privacy scandals and the way it collects user data.
On the other hand, Telegram is a free messaging platform that allows users to communicate securely and without revealing their phone number. It also offers encryption and has a strict policy on privacy.
The service has a large user base and is supported by many different devices. It also comes with a few unique features, such as sending hidden photos and suggesting profile photos to contacts.
Another feature is the ability to send messages without sound, which is useful for those who want to message friends but don’t want their device to make noise. This is especially helpful when sending messages to people who are studying, attending a meeting, or sleeping.
It is important to note that the first 1,000 conversations every month are free for both user and business-initiated chats, so it’s worth keeping that in mind when comparing prices.
Costs are based on the type of conversation and the country code of your customer’s phone number. You can pay a flat rate or receive discounts for certain countries.
In addition to the chat fee, you’ll also be charged a regular messaging fee and a service charge for each inbound or outbound WhatsApp message that you send. The cost for a “template” message is based on your customers’ country code and the number of messages you send to them in a calendar month.
You can also use the WhatsApp business API to communicate with your customers. This can help you get answers to questions, solve problems and provide better customer support. It can even be used to send insurance policies, lead generation or document submissions.
Both WhatsApp and Telegram are popular services for business, but each has its own strengths and weaknesses. The key is to choose a messaging service that best suits your needs.