Telegram
Telegram is a cloud-based messenger known for enormous groups, channels, 4 GB file sharing and bots, with encryption only in Secret Chats.
- Brand
- Telegram FZ-LLC
- Category
- Messaging Apps
- Released
- 2013
- Price
- Free; Premium from $4.99/month
- VersusAnything Score
- 79/100
Key features
- 200,000-member groups
- 4 GB file sharing (Premium)
- Bots and channels
Best for communities, creators and power users who want huge groups and big files.
Telegram specifications
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (Secret Chats only); cloud chats are not E2E |
|---|---|
| Owned by | Telegram FZ-LLC (Dubai) |
| Ads in the app | Sponsored messages in large channels |
| Max group size | 200,000 members |
| Max file size | 4 GB |
| Voice and video calls | Yes, group video up to 1,000 viewers |
| Chat backup | Cloud-synced automatically |
| Monthly active users | 1,000 million |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Price | Free; Premium from $4.99/month |
Score breakdown
- Overall (100%)
Scored against every messaging app in our database using the messaging apps weighting.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 200,000-member groups
- 4 GB file sharing (Premium)
- Bots and channels
- Strong overall score (79/100 within messaging apps)
Cons
- No weak scoring group in its category
Compare Telegram against
Alternatives to Telegram
- WhatsApp 75/100
- Signal 25/100
- Facebook Messenger 29/100
- Discord 42/100
Sources
- Telegram: Telegram FZ-LLC official (manufacturer)
Specifications last verified: 2026-10-01. Prices are launch or official list prices in US dollars unless stated. See our sources and data policy.