Introduction :
Telegram is a freeware cloud-based and crossed-platform messaging service. Unlike WhatsApp, Telegram also offers many unmatched featured which enhanced user experience and productivity. 22% share of the total installs are coming from India. Whatsapp Vs Telegram is always a debatable topic, let’s understand this in a better way.
It got immense popularity due to its unlimited cloud facility. a user can share an unlimited number of images docs, gifs, stickers, contacts and audio files. Users can create channels and groups depending on their usage. After covid Telegram surpassed 500 million active users. With many similarities, there are differences which is a driving factor for usability.
Moreover, Telegram API is open source and developers can create their apps along with bot API. Whatsapp has lost many users last year when it suddenly changed its privacy policy and agreeing to the update would further share users’ private messages with Facebook.
Whatsapp Vs Telegram: Which app should you use?
| Telegram | |
| Group restriction of up to 256 members | Group restriction of up to 2,00,000 members |
| Max 16 MB Media file and 100 MB document | Any file type to 2 GB can be sent |
| No secret Chatting | End-to-end encryption for hidden chats |
| Simple interface | Can customize with multiple settings. |
| Must have the Phone number to chat | People nearby option to chat with Strangers with a common interest |
How it differs from Whatsapp :
Telegram offers many features which enhance user experience .so here are the native features which help users for a better use case.
Messaging Features:
In Whatsapp, there are a few extra options, like customizing your stickers or ever you can create stickers relevant to your group to publish which can be used and downloaded by anyone.
Video message Duration: Whatsapp doesn’t allow video messages of more than 64 MB Whereas on telegram this limit is up to 2 GB. Although through WhatsApp you can still send your cloud storage link so that users can share the video.
Secret chat: This is the most stunning feature Telegram provides to its users with of course end to end encryption options. This also offers the user option to put self destruct timer, once enabled it would delete a message after defined seconds or minutes. The timer won’t start unless the other person sees the message. It also applies to the other person who sends you the messages. This is a cool feature when you don’t want ‘conversation’ to be public and pretend it never happened. For more privacy, you can put a password to chats but it’s not better than the secret chat option.
Cloud storage: Telegram gives you an option for unlimited data saving option. You can choose to save data in ‘saved messages’. Telegram cloud storage should not be compared to native cloud storage like dropbox, or one-drive storage. It limits sharing to only other Telegram users. It stores all types of files and data in the form of chats, which does not allow you proper segregation and thus no proper folder management ( Remember it is a communicator ).
Bots: Telegram allows you to create bots, isn’t it cool to have your bot for multiple tasks? Get customized News and other notifications. This could be used to create Custom tools to provide customs alerts. Bots can be integrated with other services like Gif bots, Wiki bots, and Song bots. Using these bots you can do a lot :
- Accept Payment from Telegram users using paid services.
- Can build Single or Multiplayer games which can user HTML5 experience with all types of strategy, arcade and puzzle games.
- Get custom notifications for all types of alerts.
Deleting Messages both ways: You can always delete any messages for both sides in the type of conversation ie one to one or in a group ( In Groups you can always delete your messages). So Telegram gives full control over communication which is a cool feature. Just Imagine Telegram Introduced auto self-destructing messages in 2013.
Groups and Channels with advanced features: In Telegram, Groups can have up to 200000 members. This includes features of very powerful communication tools. Features which make Telegram cooler are as follows :
- Instant search: You can search old files and media in the group even if those are posted before your joining date.
- Pinned Message: you can always pin important notifications or messages for easy instructions.
- Group permission: Group admins can restrict members from sending messages.
Temporary QR codes: Now users can generate temporary QR codes which they can share with people without letting them know the contact numbers. This would allow other users to add you anonymously.
Hidden Media :
Further Telegram has rolled back a new feature called as ‘ Hidden Media’. Telegram says this is to hide any text message. Users can cover photos and Videos with shimmering layers that blur the images. Users can view the hidden content with a single tap.
Zero Storage Usage :
A fantastic initiative to check space issues in ios and android. Telegram says, all your media can take up no space on your device. Now users can manage media and documents with Phone storage and re-download them from the Telegram cloud, even if it’s deleted from phone storage, at any time. Telegram gives a good liberty to set max cache size and enhances the flexibility to remove unused items after a certain period.
New Drawing and Text Tools
Chatting with Nearby people: This is another cool feature offered by telegram, where a user can search for nearby people and can chat directly without knowing their mobile numbers. Needless to say, you still have the option to make yourself invisible or visible. This could be used if someone finds him/her at remote places or on trips and wants to exchange contact with nearby people to know about the place or in case of some other emergencies. ( This is only available on smartphone android or IOS)
What are the Limitations of telegram :
- Limited data sharing option: Data can be shared only with telegram users, you don’t have an option for the public link.
- Self Destruct of account: Telegram by default choose an option to delete the account if the user does not come online at least once within a defined period.
- No proper folder management to segregate data of different types, unlike another cloud-based platform.
How Safe Telegram is :
Telegram claims the data transferred are always secure and by any means, it cannot be deciphered by ISP or any other third-party tool. For more safety Telegram always ask to use secret chats with self destruct timer. Users can also enable 2- step verification and set a very strong passcode to lock the app. Privacy can be set for individuals and Groups, you can choose your privacy level by checking multiple options.
There are many options to switch from Whatsapp to Telegram, if Data collection and sharing those data with Facebook bothers you Telegram isn’t the only option left. Yes, we are talking about Signal which is equally open-source and offers end-to-end encryption.