Telegram's advantages over WhatsApp and other messaging apps continue to grow, convincing thousands of users to migrate or even abandon their exclusive dependence on WhatsApp, the app owned by Meta (Facebook).
Although WhatsApp remains the most widely used messaging app worldwide, Telegram's improvements and advanced features invite us to rethink where and how we communicate, both personally and professionally. It's worth taking a closer look. The key differences and reasons why Telegram stands out over WhatsApp and other alternatives.
In my own experience, I started using Telegram for work reasons and, over time, I've ended up using it to chat with both friends and family. Although I still rely on WhatsApp because of its large user base, Telegram's many advantages have significantly reduced my dependence on the Meta app.
Telegram is not the only advanced option out there, but it is the strongest in offering true cross-platform, privacy, massive group management, and an ecosystem of features and customization that's impossible to match today.
Deleting and editing messages: total freedom and real privacy
On WhatsApp, you can delete sent messages, but you have a time limit (currently up to 1 hour) and participants will always see the "This message was deleted" warning, which can raise unnecessary questions and doesn't completely erase the trace, especially in chats with multiple people.
There are no time limits for deleting messages on Telegram.. It doesn't matter if minutes, hours, months or even years have passed: you can delete any message of your own or received in a private chat whenever you want. By doing so, no notifications or traces are visible to others, increasing the feeling of control and privacy over your conversation history.
Furthermore, Telegram allows you to edit sent messages at any time.If you made a mistake, just tap on the message and edit it. A small "edited" mark will appear but all the information will remain organized. WhatsApp, on the other hand, only allows deleting and forwarding, which is much less convenient.
True sync and cross-platform access: Telegram goes way beyond
The Telegram operating system is based on a cloud architecture, which means that You can use your account from any device (Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, or a web browser) and instantly access all your chats, files, and history. Your phone doesn't need to be on or connected to access it from other devices.
WhatsApp requires the primary phone to be on and connected to the Internet. (even in multi-device mode), and its backups are only on Google Drive or iCloud, which can make access and migration difficult.
- Telegram allows you to have open sessions on as many devices as you want. without restrictions or the need to migrate history every time you change devices.
- Unlimited cloud storage keeps your information always available, so you'll never lose anything unless you delete it manually.
This feature is essential for people who switch between PCs, mobile phones, tablets, and other devices, and increases productivity in complex work and personal environments.
Advanced Privacy: Use without exposing your phone number
For security reasons, registering for Telegram requires a valid phone number (just like WhatsApp). However, once activated, Your primary identifier on Telegram becomes your username or alias., which you choose freely. You don't have to reveal your real number to anyone., which is a significant advantage in terms of privacy, and if you want to dig deeper, you can check out how to keep your phone number private on Telegram at this complete guide.
Using advanced privacy settings, you can determine:
- Who can find you by phone number
- Who can see your last seen, profile picture and personal information?
- Who can add you to groups or send you messages
Furthermore, You can share your account using a simple user link (example: telegram.me/youruser) and chat without exchanging phone numbers, unlike WhatsApp, where it is essential to share numbers and expose your information.
File uploads: limit of up to 2 GB per file and no compression
On Telegram you can share files up to 2 GB each., and there's no limit on the number or type of files you can store. Photos, videos, documents, music, compressed files... Everything is saved in the cloud and you can retrieve them from any device immediately. Also, if you want to learn how to save images and videos from Telegram on all your devices, check out this practical Guide.
On WhatsApp, the limit remains at 100 MB per file for most users, and any photos or videos are often compressed, losing quality. This makes Telegram an ideal tool for sharing large files, work documents, audiovisual materials, and even as a personal repository.
- The cloud storage system allows you to access your file history at any time and delete files if you need to free up space, but you can always restore files that haven't been deleted manually.
Supergroups and channels: Telegram dominates mass community management
Telegram allows you to create groups of up to 200.000 members., even managing large-scale forums and communities using tools such as threads, direct replies, hashtags, moderators, and management bots.
WhatsApp, by comparison, limits groups to just over 1000 people (the exact number may vary depending on the update), making it impractical for large communities, open forums, or businesses with many users.
The Telegram channels have no subscriber limit and function as one-way means of disseminating information. They are ideal for news, bulletins, announcements, official announcements, promotions, etc. WhatsApp has recently introduced channels, but their functionality is much more limited and still far from matching Telegram.
Bots and automation: opening the door to personalization and intelligence
One of the features Telegram's most innovative and differentiating features is the integration of bots through its open API. Bots can automate tasks, send alerts, moderate groups, offer support, translate messages, display the weather, facilitate payments, schedule surveys, manage channels, receive news, and much more. To learn about the best bots, check out this guide. Telegram bot guide.
WhatsApp lacks a comparable system and is only beginning to experiment with bots on its Business platform for companies, in a very limited way.
Examples of bot features in Telegram include:
- Verify users and avoid spam with captcha before participating in a group
- Launch surveys and collect results automatically
- Transmit automatic messages or useful information based on schedules
- Convert audio messages to text
- Send reminders and schedule messages
Search and discovery: nearby people and groups, directories, and geolocation
Telegram offers advanced features for search for people and groups by geographic location, which makes it easy to discover like-minded communities, topic-based channels, or forums for nearby interests. You can find local groups, professional sectors, hobby clubs, events, and more using the "People Nearby" section.
There are also public directories of groups and channels, which you can join without sharing your phone number or personal information.
WhatsApp doesn't offer group or person searches outside of your direct contacts, which severely limits the expansion of communities and interaction beyond your private circle.
Multiple accounts on a single device
Telegram allows the use of up to three different accounts on a single mobile device, something tremendously useful for those who want to separate personal, professional, and/or parallel project-related communication.
WhatsApp only allows one account per phone number and device, with some exceptions for dual-SIM systems, but without centralized management or notifications as clear as those offered by Telegram.
Secret Chats and End-to-End Encryption: Maximum Privacy for Demanding Users
All Telegram messages are encrypted between your device and their servers, but “Secret chats” use true end-to-end encryption, like WhatsApp, and are never stored in the cloud.These chats include:
- Messages that self-destruct after being read or after a certain time
- Unable to forward messages or take screenshots (on most devices)
- No traces of conversations remain on the servers and cannot be accessed from other devices.
For those who require the highest level of confidentiality and privacy, Telegram's secret chat option is a superior option to what WhatsApp offers by default, as users can check and control the security level of each conversation.
Video messages and voice messages with images
In Telegram you can send circular video messages (short video messages that show your image as a thumbnail), a visual and direct way to communicate and express emotions, ideas, or clarifications with greater richness than a simple audio. This feature is especially popular in communities and among users looking for immediacy and personalization. To learn how to create your own stickers, visit this Guide to creating stickers on Telegram.
WhatsApp, while allowing voice and video messaging, doesn't yet offer the same fluidity in circular video messaging or multimodal integration as Telegram.
Advanced message and notification management: folders, filters, and slow mode
Telegram allows you to organize your chats by custom folders, separating, for example, work groups, family chats, news channels, forums, etc. Additionally, you can create filters and manage notifications in an advanced way, deciding whether to receive notifications for all messages, only mentions, or direct replies.
In mass groups, you can activate the slow mode to reduce message overload and allow time for everyone to read and respond without chaos.
Storage and space control: efficiency and cleanliness in the cloud
Telegram takes up less space on your device because everything is saved to the cloud by default, and you can free up local space by clearing the cache without losing important files. You can easily adjust the maximum amount of space Telegram takes up on your phone., perfect for those who suffer from lack of storage.
WhatsApp, on the other hand, relies more heavily on local storage and external backups (which aren't always encrypted), which can complicate space management and data security.
Extreme customization: themes, colors, styles, and unique visual experience
Telegram allows modify the appearance of the app to your liking: You can choose from light, dark, and theme themes, change accent colors, wallpapers, fonts, text sizes, bubble shapes, and more. You can even create and share your own custom themes for the entire interface.
WhatsApp only allows basic changes like the wallpaper for each chat or dark mode, but lacks the depth of customization found on Telegram.
Account security and protection: PIN, two-step verification, and biometric controls
Both apps offer enhanced security options such as two step verification and blocking via PIN or biometric credentials (fingerprint, Face ID, etc.). In Telegram, you can block access to the entire app or specific chats, and set exceptions and auto-block timers.
Additionally, Telegram collects less metadata than WhatsApp and makes it easier to view, export, and delete all data associated with your account. We don't share information with advertising companies or sell your data to third parties.
Options for businesses and professionals: channels, bots, and mass distribution
Telegram is especially useful for businesses, NGOs, educational institutions, and media outlets thanks to:
- Mass dissemination through channels with no user limit.
- Advanced management through custom bots for customer service, content distribution, surveys, order tracking, automation, and more. To explore the possibilities, check out this .
- Moderation and administration systems with granular hierarchies and permissions.
WhatsApp Business is the version designed for SMEs and freelancers, but its tools are still limited compared to the potential and openness of the Telegram ecosystem, especially if you're looking to reach large audiences or implement customized solutions.
Exclusive Telegram features compared to WhatsApp
- Message history always available in the cloud (without the need for manual backups)
- message scheduling and reminders
- Possibility of continuing to listen to audio even if you leave the chat
- Allows you to create interactive surveys and questionnaires in groups and channels
- Allows you to share uncompressed photos
- Support for multiple languages and message translation
- Flexible management of administrators in groups and channels
- Limiting visibility of last connection and online status
- Option to completely self-destruct the account if it is not used for a certain period of time
Disadvantages and limitations of Telegram compared to WhatsApp
While Telegram outperforms WhatsApp in almost every technical and flexibility aspect, there are some limitations you should be aware of:
- Smaller user base in some regions: WhatsApp is still dominant in many countries, so it's likely that most of your contacts still use WhatsApp.
- End-to-end encryption is only enabled by default in secret chats, not in all regular chats.
- Using unverified third-party bots can pose privacy risks if used carelessly.
- Some advanced features require some adjustment if you're coming from WhatsApp.
The trend toward Telegram adoption continues to grow, especially in professional and educational settings, and among users who value privacy and innovation.
Comparison Summary: Table of Key Differences Between Telegram and WhatsApp
| Function | Telegram | |
|---|---|---|
| File limit | 2 GB per file, unlimited in the cloud | 100 MB per file, requires local space |
| Groups | Up to 200.000 members | About 1024 members |
| Outdated | No subscriber limit | Limited functionality |
| Bots | Open API, full automation | Only in Business, poor integration |
| Editing/deleting messages | No time limit, no trace | Up to 1 hour, leave a deletion notice |
| Secret chats and encryption | End-to-end encryption in secret chats, self-destruct, no trace | End-to-end encryption on all chats |
| Personalization. | Themes, colors, styles, folders | Dark Wallpaper and Theme |
| Number privacy | Optional, you can hide it | Sharing is required to interact |
| Cross-platform sync | Real and native on any device | It depends on the main mobile |
The competition between WhatsApp and Telegram is one of the most fiercely contested in the tech world. If you're looking for ease and universal compatibility with your contacts, WhatsApp is still a safe bet. But if you prioritize Privacy, power, customization, storage, advanced community management, and smart toolsTelegram is undeniably the most versatile and advanced option available today. Adopting Telegram guarantees access to constant innovation, avoiding dependence on a single company and gaining control over your data and user experience. The decision is yours, but now you have the real keys to choosing wisely and with absolute freedom.
