Telegram
by Telegram FZ-LLC · Social Media · Messaging
Cloud-based messaging app with a focus on speed, security, and large group support.
Quick Answer: Telegram has a verified Real Score of 4.1/5 based on 100,000 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.6/5. Highly recommended by verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 100,000 verified reviews
Gap Alert: Telegram's App Store rating is 0.5 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Fast and lightweight
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Large group support
- Bot platform
Common Complaints
- Not end-to-end encrypted by default
- Used by bad actors
- Phone number required
- Less popular in US
Verified Reviews (20)
The most feature-rich messenger
Telegram does everything WhatsApp does and more - unlimited file sharing, 200K member groups, channels, bots, custom stickers, and cloud storage. It's objectively the most capable messaging app.
Channels are perfect for broadcasting
Telegram Channels let you broadcast to unlimited subscribers. I follow news channels, tech updates, and deal alerts. One-way broadcasting is a unique feature other messengers lack.
Speed is unmatched
Messages send and deliver faster than any other app I use. Media loads quickly, the app opens instantly. Telegram is optimized for speed and it shows in every interaction.
Default chats are NOT encrypted
People assume Telegram is encrypted. Regular chats are NOT end-to-end encrypted. Only "Secret Chats" are, and those don't sync across devices. Signal offers E2E encryption by default.
Bot platform is incredible
Telegram bots can do anything - polls, games, file conversion, reminders, GPT integration. The bot ecosystem is like having mini-apps inside your messenger. Incredibly extensible.
File sharing with no limits
Send files up to 2GB each with unlimited cloud storage. No compression on photos. This alone makes Telegram essential for sharing high-quality media and documents.
Used by bad actors
Telegram's hands-off moderation means it's used for piracy, scams, and worse. The platform's reputation suffers because of these elements, even though the technology itself is excellent.
Group management is superior
Admin tools, anti-spam, slow mode, granular permissions, and groups up to 200K members. For managing large communities, Telegram's group features are more powerful than any competitor.
Premium is reasonably priced
$5/month for Premium gets you larger uploads, faster downloads, extra stickers, and no ads in channels. Reasonable pricing for power users who live in Telegram.
Custom themes and stickers
The customization options are unmatched - custom themes, animated stickers, emoji reactions, and chat folders. Making the app look and feel exactly how you want adds personality.
Wish more friends used it
Telegram is objectively better than WhatsApp in every technical aspect. But my social circle is on WhatsApp and I can't convince them to switch. Network effects are powerful.
Voice chats in groups are great
Persistent voice chats in groups that anyone can join/leave create casual voice hangouts. Like Discord voice channels but inside your messenger. Great for study groups.
Cross-platform sync is seamless
Use Telegram on phone, tablet, desktop, and web simultaneously. Everything syncs in real-time across all devices. Log in on any device and your entire history is there.
Scheduled messages are useful
Scheduling messages to send at a specific time is useful for different time zones or planning ahead. Wish more messaging apps offered this basic but practical feature.
Stories feature is well-done
Telegram added Stories and implemented them well - both contacts and channel subscribers can see them. The privacy controls for who sees your stories are granular and thoughtful.
Saved Messages is my personal cloud
The Saved Messages chat functions as a personal cloud notepad. I send myself files, links, notes, and photos. It's like a note app inside my messenger. Brilliant design.
Instant View for articles
Telegram's Instant View loads articles in a clean, fast reader format. No cookie popups, no ads, no loading delays. The best article reading experience on any platform.
People nearby feature is interesting
Finding Telegram users and groups nearby is unique. Discovered a local hiking group and a neighborhood community. Location-based social discovery without a separate app.
Phone number requirement is a drawback
Requiring a phone number to sign up is a privacy concern. Usernames for messaging are possible but initial registration needs a number. Signal has the same issue. Matrix doesn't.
Updates come constantly with great features
Telegram ships major updates every month with genuinely useful features. The development pace is impressive. Every update adds something I didn't know I needed but now can't live without.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Last updated: April 2026