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Following WhatsApp’s privacy controversy in 2021, I sought a more secure messaging alternative. Telegram quickly became my go-to app on account of its advanced features and commitment to user data protection. This article discusses Telegram vs.
WhatsApp and why I’ve come to rely on the former. Good to know : if you’ve also decided to make the switch, learn how to import your WhatsApp chats into Telegram . Telegram’s reputation for privacy is well deserved and what initially drew me to the app.
The app ensures that sent messages are protected by encryption while in transit, minimizing the risk of malicious interceptions. Even when the messages reach Telegram’s servers, they stay encrypted, as the decryption occurs directly on the user’s device. To decrypt a message, a unique key is required, which is paired with one stored on the Telegram server.
For users seeking an additional layer of security in their online conversations, Telegram provides Secret Chats. These chats use end-to-end encryption, meaning the recipient’s cryptographic key pair needed for decryption is saved on the user’s device, not on Telegram servers. Additionally, Secret Chats don’t pass through Telegram servers at all.
Telegram employs a custom encryption protocol known as MTProto, which was developed specifically for the platform. It is designed to manage encrypted communications across a variety of devices. WhatsApp also offers a strong layer of privacy with end-to-end encryption.
Even so, users should be mindful that the app is part of Meta, a company known for its data harvesting practices. In 2021, WhatsApp faced a substantial penalty of $255 million imposed by the European Union for its alleged breaches of data privacy regulations. This incident, in conjunction with other controversies, such as the Cambridge Analytica event on Facebook, has raised questions about Meta’s overall approach to user data protection.
Tip : for more privacy-minded WhatsApp alternatives , check out our list. While privacy is a major bonus, Telegram also excels in terms of features. Many of its capabilities are comparable to WhatsApp, with several setting Telegram apart from a standard messaging app.
For instance, the ability to schedule messages. Occasionally, you may think of a crucial detail you need to share with a friend or loved one but hesitate, as it’s late, and you don’t want to interrupt them. With Telegram, you don’t have to write post-its around the house to make sure you remember to reach out later.
You can simply schedule your message. This is a native feature in Telegram that you can access by long pressing on the Send button in your chat. In contrast, WhatsApp does not offer this feature.
To schedule a message in WhatsApp, you’d have to use a workaround. For instance, iPhone users can use the Shortcuts app to create an automation for scheduling a WhatsApp message. Android users can use a third-party app or Chrome extension to schedule messages on WhatsApp .
Telegram includes the channels feature that caters to your unique interests. Using the search button in the top-right corner of the app, you can search for keywords to find dedicated channels. For instance, you can try searching for “horror movies” if you’re into that kind of thing.
You’ll immediately see the results appear underneath. I, for one, joined a few “movie” channels on Telegram that always bring in a fresh supply of interesting new movies to watch. While WhatsApp introduced a comparable option recently, Telegram provides significantly more choices.
You can find WhatsApp’s channels under the Updates tab in the app. Press on the Explore more button to view more options. In comparison, a similar search for “horror movies” yielded no results in WhatsApp.
Tip : if you need to do more editing, try one of these online photo editors . Another cool feature of Telegram is its built-in image editor. While WhatsApp has one too, Telegram’s is a bit more extensive.
For instance, you get a few extra annotation tools in Telegram, as well as the option to add GIFs and even use images from your own device in the editing process. On WhatsApp, you’re confined to quickly annotating or drawing on the image using your finger. You can further edit by adding stickers and text.
On WhatsApp, all conversations show up on the main screen. The most recent one will show up at the top. If you have many conversations, finding a specific chat could prove challenging.
But on Telegram, you can organize your conversations for easier access using Chat Folders . Once added to these folders, chats will still show up on the main Telegram screen, but you’ll be able to access them more quickly by switching to the folders. Telegram uses bots to enable a myriad of other functionalities in the app.
This is another feature you won’t find in WhatsApp, at least not for regular users. Bots allow you to do everything from checking out flights and hotel offers to adding a personal assistant or checking your Gmail. There’s also a bot that lets you search Wikipedia from the app.
Use the Search function in the upper-right corner to find bots. In this example, I’ve activated the @wiki bot in Telegram. WhatsApp offers many sticker packs to explore, and even more you can import.
While it offers a wide range of native stickers that you can access from the app, you can import more via third-party apps . But I tend to prefer Telegram’s offerings. It could be just for purely aesthetic reasons, but I feel Telegram stickers somehow represent me better.
Of course, there’s a massive library to choose from. Recently, Telegram introduced the option to create custom stickers, a feature that WhatsApp already had, leaving the two apps on equal footing where stickers are concerned. Yet, I still prefer Telegram’s stickers Video notes is another feature that you won’t find in WhatsApp.
It’s available in any chat on the app and unlocks swifter communications between parties. To send one, tap on the mic icon in the message bar at the bottom. It will shift into a camera icon.
Long-press that to record your video note. This feature does not have an equivalent in WhatsApp. While you can record voice messages, I prefer the video notes, as they are a bit more personal.
FYI : learn how to message yourself on Telegram and other messaging apps. If you’ve also decided that Telegram is the clear winner in Telegram vs. WhatsApp, you can get it on multiple platforms, such as Linux .
It also may come in handy to know how to hide Telegram chats without permanently deleting them . Image credit: Unsplash . All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.
Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox Alexandra is passionate about mobile tech and can be often found fiddling with a smartphone from some obscure company. She kick-started her career in tech journalism in 2013, after working a few years as a middle-school teacher. Constantly driven by curiosity, Alexandra likes to know how things work and to share that knowledge with everyone.
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