It’s a never-ending battle with WhatsApp and
Telegram. Even though WhatsApp is the leader of instant messaging, Telegram is not too far behind.
Before deciding which app to use, discover what features Telegram has that WhatsApp lacks and vice versa. For example, WhatsApp only has voice messages, while Telegram has voice and video messages. Keep reading to discover what other ways they differ.
Why Use WhatsApp?
While you can call your friends with both apps, only
With WhatsApp, you can enjoy changing your status. You can either use the classic written status, or you can opt for the one where you can either add images or videos that are limited to 30 seconds.
Creating backups of your important data is a must, and that’s something you can only do with WhatsApp. Go toSettings > Chats > Chat Backup and choose how often you want to backup your chats. It can either be never, only when you tap Backup, daily, weekly, or monthly.
If you’re a GIF addict, then WhatsApp is the app you might be more inclined to use. Telegram does not support GIFs (for now). And the layout for WhatsApp is arguably better, since you’re only one tap away from seeing your calls, status, contacts, and chats.
Why Use Telegram?
Privacy is crucial for many users, and Telegram knows that. That’s why the app allows users to create secret chats that have a self-destruct timer and don’t allow forwarding or screenshots. Select how long you want your message to last, and once the time is up, the message will disappear. The secret chats also use end-to-end encryption and leave no trace on Telegram’s servers.
Changing your phone number is easier on Telegram than on WhatsApp. Go into Telegram’s settings and tap on the phone option that shows your phone number. You’ll get a notice advising you that all of your data, media, messages, etc. will be transferred to your new phone number.
Your contacts will get your new number automatically if they had your old number and weren’t blocked by you. This is useful since it saves you from having to tell everyone that you got a new number.
Use multiple languages while messaging? With Telegram, it’s easy to have your phone in one language and Telegram in another. By going into the app’s settings and tapping on the Language option, you can choose from languages such as German, English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, and Japanese.
With WhatsApp, your phone and the app have to be in the same language.
Adjust Text Size and More
The bigger the text is, the easier it is to read. Both apps allow you to increase the size of the text, but Telegram can increase it the most. You can choose a specific number to set the size of the text.
Creating groups is another great feature both apps offer. But with Telegram you can add as many as 5,000 members, whereas WhatsApp only lets you add up to 256 people.
Ever heard of Telegram bots? If not, they’re third-party applications that you can only run while using the app. With these bots, you can do things such as create custom tools, integrate with other services, and more!
If you’re in a group with a lot of users, the notifications can drive you crazy. Many users find some peace of mind by muting the notifications. But what if someone mentions you? Telegram will only send you a notification if someone mentions you and only you.
When it comes to sending large files, Telegram gets the upper hand. With WhatsApp, you can only send files that are 16 MB or smaller, but Telegram allows you to send files up to 1.5 GB.
What Do They Have in Common?
The primary purpose of both apps is to provide the best instant messaging experience possible. With both apps, you need to register your phone number. They also offer features such as sharing videos, creating groups, sharing pictures, making voice calls, and messages.
Message delivery confirmation is another useful feature both apps share. They feature the famous check marks, but WhatsApp takes it one step further.
While both apps show the two check marks when you send the message, only WhatsApp’s has read receiptsthat turn blue when the other person opens the message.
WhatsApp and Telegram allow you to copy, delete, and forward your messages. In this area, Telegram has the upper hand when it comes to the messages you send.
With WhatsApp, you have to re-type and re-send your message if you want it to be error-free, but that’s not the case with Telegram. Tap on your message, and below the forward option, you’ll see the option to edit anddelete your messages. We all make mistakes, and it’s great to have the option to correct those mistakes.
For many, end-to-end encryption is a must-have in an instant messaging app. That’s why both apps currently have this security method enabled to keep your content safe.
Using Their Web Apps
Let’s face it, sometimes typing on your mobile keyboard is not the easiest. Typing on your computer’s keyboard is more comfortable, so you may be more inclined to use WhatsApp’s or Telegram’s web app. But which one should you use?
When you open Telegram’s desktop app, it looks very similar to WhatsApp except for a few differences. For example, the options to send files, pictures, stickers, etc. are all beside the text box at the bottom.
WhatsApp’s desktop app has the file sharing option at the top. It’s not a huge drawback, but WhatsApp should have all their file sharing options in one place like Telegram. It’s just more convenient that way.
Which Is the Best Messaging App?
While WhatsApp has more mainstream features like GIFs, Telegram has more privacy-minded features. On Telegram, it’s also easier to create an anonymous account by buying a SIM card especially for Telegram and then using a VPN to connect.
On the other hand, WhatsApp has done quite a bit of fighting against mass surveillance. And WhatsApp just generally has more users than Telegram.
If being anonymous is critical to you, go for Telegram. But WhatsApp does tend to have more features.
What’s more important to you, privacy or large amounts of features? Which app is installed on your Android phone? Share your thoughts in the comments.
