We’ve made tremendous leaps in technology this past decade. Our lives have improved significantly as a result. One such area is how we communicate with one another. There is a plethora of messaging tools, each of which has something different to offer. Naturally, this has fanned the debate of which service is the best one out there. In most cases, this argument is likely to boil down to Telegram vs WhatsApp.
On the VoIP spectrum, both WhatsApp and Telegram occupy different positions, catering to different user needs. However, which one of these has the right set of features useful for you? This WhatsApp vs Telegram comparison pits the pros and cons of both these services against each other and gives a final verdict on which service is truly better.
What Sets These Two Apart
I consider this WhatsApp vs Telegram comparison particularly interesting because both these apps have an entirely different set of features to offer. WhatsApp maintains a significant lead over all other messaging apps in terms of the sheer number of users. Conversely, Telegram offers a more secure option, if privacy is of the utmost importance to you.
While there are several similar baseline features that both services offer, on the whole, both Telegram and WhatsApp are different in the kind of service they offer their users. This comparison looks at these features, makes a case for both of them, and gives a personal verdict over which service comes across as the better option for you based on your needs.
The Case for Telegram
Doing my research for this Telegram vs WhatsApp, I realized Telegram has carved out a precise market niche for itself. Unlike WhatsApp, Telegram emphasizes its privacy features a great deal. For starters, Telegram users will have the end-to-end encryption feature that so many VoIP apps proffer. However, it takes privacy to the next level by allowing you to set a timer on messages to self-delete.
Similarly, whenever someone on the other end takes a screenshot, you’ll be notified. If someone forwards your sent messages to someone, you’ll be notified. If someone copies your message to their clipboard, you will be notified. As you can see, Telegram aims to keep you aware of your privacy beyond just your device. If you’re someone that feels they need to be aware of how and when their messages not meant to be shared get shared, Telegram is the perfect app for you.
Moreover, I found it impressive that Telegram allows you to connect with other Telegram users using their username. There’s no need to have someone’s contact number to connect with them. This offers you the chance to maintain seamless communication without compromising your contact number, which speaks to Telegram’s commitment to privacy (and phone numbers are way private!).
Finally, Telegram seems to have taken a lead in embracing the future when it comes to machine learning. You’ll find numerous bots on Telegram that can perform a plethora of in-app functions for you. For example, a dedicated image bot can easily generate images from a name and vice versa. Other bots are performing similar tasks when it comes to other forms of multimedia as well as some third-party compatible apps like YouTube and GIPHY.
The Case for WhatsApp
There’s a reason why WhatsApp has 1.5 billion users compared to Telegram’s 200 million. If this Telegram vs WhatsApp debate was based solely on user-friendliness then WhatsApp would have been a clear winner.
Like past comparisons, WhatsApp’s most effective weapon in their arsenal is their number of users. Being the most popular VoIP app on the market means that there’s a greater chance of people you’re going to be talking to frequently having WhatsApp rather than Telegram. Despite Telegram’s numerous important features, they’re significantly less appealing if most of my contacts are not even using the app.
To its credit, WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption while supporting similar encryption on voice as well as video calls. Moreover, it’s the little things that give WhatsApp a slight edge over the rest of its competition. Little things such as the blue double-check feature indicating that the recipient has both received and read the message make a difference.
Whatever WhatsApp lacks in terms of features, it makes up for in its user-friendly interface and sleek design. With both Dark and Light modes available, WhatsApp has traditionally favored a highly minimalist design. This tendency to keep things simple makes it easy for people to use the app without any major learning curves involved.
Final Verdict
In the end, it all boils down to what you’re looking for in your primary messaging service. As I mentioned earlier, Telegram can offer you several bots that automate several tasks, as well as better privacy for its users.
On the other hand, WhatsApp offers users a greater user base, better-calling features in addition to simpler interface design. While Telegram may improve some of its features in the future, for now, you may find its lack of support for video calls to be a major downside.
In my opinion, Telegram’s low user base means you’re likely to end up needing to use WhatsApp anyway because that’s what most of your contacts use.
Guarantee Complete Privacy Online
Unfortunately, both apps fall short when it comes to completely protecting your internet privacy. There have been cases in the past where despite their promises of complete privacy for all users, lapses led to millions of users being left exposed. WhatsApp faced the embarrassment of having thousands of private WhatsApp groups available on Google SERPs. Similarly, Telegram’s claims of obfuscating your digital footprint were refuted by an MIT report revealing hackers can pinpoint exactly when a user goes online in addition to their physical locations.
Keeping such past incidents in mind, the best way to truly protect yourself online is via a reliable VPN such as PureVPN. Thanks to its AES 256-bit encryption, a verified no-logs policy, and more than 2,000 servers spread across 140+ countries, PureVPN can assure its users of complete privacy. It effectively masks your internet connection, keeping you safe from any prying eyes looking for any vulnerability to exploit.
Yasir Nawaz
June 20, 2023
10 months ago
