The short answer
- 1Telegram keeps regular chats in the cloud; WhatsApp keeps them on your phone.
- 2WhatsApp encrypts personal chats end-to-end by default; Telegram does so in Secret Chats.
- 3A Telegram @username lets people reach you without your phone number.
In this article
Same idea, different design
Telegram and WhatsApp both send messages, photos and calls to people by their phone number, so at first they feel alike. The differences show up in where your chats are kept, how your other devices connect, and what you can do with a message after you send it. The table below covers the ten that change daily use. The WhatsApp details come from WhatsApp's own help pages; check them there if your version behaves differently.
| # | Topic | Telegram | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Where chats are kept | In Telegram's cloud; any logged-in device shows the full history | On your phone, with an optional backup to Google Drive or iCloud |
| 2 | Other devices | Each device is its own session and works with the phone switched off | Up to four linked devices through your main phone, logged out if the phone is unused for about two weeks |
| 3 | End-to-end encryption | Only in Secret Chats and calls; regular chats are cloud chats | On by default for personal chats |
| 4 | Being found without your number | A public @username lets people reach you without seeing your number | Contact is by phone number |
| 5 | Group size | Up to 200,000 members | Up to 1,024 members |
| 6 | Editing a sent message | Possible for a long time after sending; marked edited | Within 15 minutes; marked edited |
| 7 | Deleting for everyone | In one-to-one chats, any message, sent or received, with no time limit and no trace left | Within two days; a "This message was deleted" note stays |
| 8 | Large files | Up to 2 GB per file, 4 GB with Telegram Premium | Documents up to 2 GB |
| 9 | Bots and mini apps | Anyone can build bots and mini apps that run inside Telegram | Automated chats mainly through business tools |
| 10 | Several accounts | Up to three accounts in one app, switched with a tap | Depends on the app and device; see WhatsApp's help |
The three differences that matter most
Your chats live in the cloud, not on your phone
This is the root of most other differences. Because Telegram keeps your regular chats on its servers, a new phone or a computer shows your whole history as soon as you log in, with no backup to restore. Lose your phone and your chats are still there. The price is that Telegram can technically hold that data, which is why it offers Secret Chats for conversations that should exist only on two devices. Why Telegram keeps your chats in the cloud explains the trade-off.
Encryption works differently
If you are used to WhatsApp, do not assume every Telegram chat is end-to-end encrypted. Regular Telegram chats are encrypted between your device and Telegram's servers, and stored encrypted there. Only Secret Chats are end-to-end, and they stay on the one device where you started them. Use a Secret Chat when that matters to you; use regular chats for everything you want on all your devices.
Your number does not have to be your address
On Telegram you can hide your number from everyone and let people find you by @username instead. That makes Telegram workable for groups of strangers, buying and selling, or communities where you would not hand out your number. How to hide your phone number shows the settings.
Same thing, different name: a terms table
Many features exist in both apps under different names. Where the match is only close, the table says so.
| In WhatsApp | In Telegram | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chats | Chats | Same idea |
| Groups | Groups | Telegram groups can be far larger and can be split into topics |
| Channels | Channels | One-way posts to followers in both |
| Broadcast lists | Channels | Closest match; a Telegram channel is public or private, not a hidden list |
| Communities | Topics, folders | Closest match; no single equivalent |
| Status | Stories | Posts that disappear after a while |
| Disappearing messages | Auto-Delete | A timer per chat |
| View once | View Once | Photos and videos that open a single time |
| Starred messages | Saved Messages | Closest match; Saved Messages is a private chat with yourself |
| Linked devices | Devices | On a computer: Active sessions |
| Two-step verification | Two-Step Verification | A password on top of the login code |
| Archived chats | Archived Chats | Same idea |
Telegram's own names change slightly between phone and computer; the glossary lists them side by side.
Moving over from WhatsApp
- You do not have to leave WhatsApp. Many people use both, with Telegram for groups and channels.
- Telegram can import a WhatsApp chat you export, including its media, so an important conversation does not stay behind.
- Your contacts who already use Telegram appear by themselves if you allow contact sync; for everyone else, share your @username. Finding your friends shows both.
- Set up Two-Step Verification on day one. On Telegram it protects a cloud history, which makes it more important than on an app that keeps chats on the phone.
Habits that trip up WhatsApp users
| Habit | What happens on Telegram | Do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Assuming every chat is end-to-end encrypted | Regular chats are cloud chats | Start a Secret Chat for conversations that must stay on two devices. |
| Backing up chats before changing phones | Not needed; chats are in the cloud | Log in on the new phone. Only Secret Chats do not move. |
| Giving your number to everyone | Your number becomes visible to them | Set a @username and share that. |
| Expecting "This message was deleted" | In one-to-one chats a deleted message simply disappears | Tick Also delete for … when you delete. |
FAQ
Is Telegram more private than WhatsApp?
They protect different things. WhatsApp encrypts personal chats end-to-end by default; Telegram lets you hide your number behind a username, and offers end-to-end encryption in Secret Chats.
Can I move my WhatsApp chats to Telegram?
Yes. Export a chat from WhatsApp and choose Telegram as the destination; the messages and media are imported into a Telegram chat.
Do I need my phone on to use Telegram on a computer?
No. Each Telegram device is its own session and keeps working when the phone is off.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Cloud vs phone
New device, full history. No backup to restore on Telegram.
- 2Encryption differs
End-to-end on Telegram means a Secret Chat on one device.
- 3Usernames
Share @username instead of your number with people you do not know.
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