WhatsApp vs Telegram: Encryption, Group Size and Devices
Pick WhatsApp if you want every personal chat and call end-to-end encrypted by default and most of your contacts already use it. Pick Telegram if you want groups of up to 200,000 people, broadcast channels, open source apps and full cloud sync on as many devices as you like.
Both are free messaging apps for phones and computers. The real trade-off is privacy by default on WhatsApp against scale and flexibility on Telegram.
WhatsApp vs Telegram at a glance
| Telegram | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free; optional paid Premium subscription |
| Free plan | Yes, the whole app | Yes; private messaging free with no ads |
| Platforms | Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Mac, web | iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, web |
| Open source | No (uses the Signal encryption protocol) | Client apps yes, with verifiable builds |
| End-to-end encryption | On by default for messages, media, status and calls | Only Secret Chats and calls; normal chats and groups are not |
| Group size | Up to 1,024 members | Up to 200,000 members, plus channels |
| Owner | Meta | Telegram |
| Best for | Private chats with friends and family | Communities, channels and multi-device use |
Is WhatsApp more private than Telegram?
For message content, yes. WhatsApp says end-to-end encryption happens automatically, with no settings to turn on. It covers your messages, photos, videos, voice messages, documents, live location, status updates and calls, and every message is protected by the Signal encryption protocol.
WhatsApp lists exceptions. Payments are not end-to-end encrypted, and chats with businesses that use certain optional Meta services, or third-party agents, are not treated as end-to-end encrypted. WhatsApp says it shows this in the chat.
Telegram encrypts normal chats between your device and its servers, not end to end. Its FAQ says Cloud Chats, meaning private and group chats, use server-client encryption, and only Secret Chats add end-to-end encryption. Secret Chats work between two devices and are not part of the Telegram cloud. Telegram's voice and video calls are end-to-end encrypted.
The other side of privacy is who runs the app. WhatsApp's privacy policy says "We are one of the Meta Companies." Telegram says it keeps only the information it needs to run as a cloud service, and its FAQ answers "No" to whether it will put ads in private chats or sell your data.
Which is better for groups and channels?
Telegram, by a long way. On 6 November 2026, we checked both help centres. WhatsApp's article on adding and removing members said groups can have up to 1,024 members. Telegram's FAQ said groups can have up to 200,000 members, and channels can broadcast to an unlimited audience.
Telegram groups also come with admin tools, public links, replies, mentions and hashtags, and an option to let new members see earlier messages. Telegram group calls hold up to 200 participants.
For a family group or a team, WhatsApp's limit of 1,024 is more than enough. For a public community or a news channel, Telegram is built for it.
Which works better on computers and multiple devices?
Telegram. Because it is a cloud messenger, you can log in on as many devices as you like at the same time with one phone number, and your cloud chats sync instantly. You can send files of up to 2 GB each, or 4 GB with Premium.
WhatsApp has apps for Android, iPhone and iPad, desktop apps for Windows and Mac, and WhatsApp Web in the browser. Telegram adds a desktop app for Linux, alongside iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and Telegram Web.
Older phones are covered by both. WhatsApp's download page listed Android 6.0 or above for its current Android app and iPadOS 15.1 or newer for iPad. Telegram's FAQ lists iOS 13.0 and above and Android 5.0 and up.
Telegram also publishes the code of all its client apps and offers verifiable builds, so experts can check that the iOS and Android apps in the stores match the code on GitHub. WhatsApp, for its part, says every message is protected by the Signal encryption protocol, the same protocol the Signal app is built on.
What about backups?
WhatsApp offers end-to-end encrypted backup as a setting. On Android, you turn it on under Settings, Chats, Chat Backup, End-to-end encrypted backup, for backups to your Google Account. WhatsApp says backups saved to its own WhatsApp cloud storage are always end-to-end encrypted.
Telegram does not need a separate backup for normal chats, because they already live in its cloud. Secret Chats are the exception: they stay on the devices where they were created.
If you want to look at other messengers too, our list of WhatsApp alternatives covers more options.
Which should you choose?
- You want private chats without changing any settings: WhatsApp.
- Your family and friends are already on one app: use that one.
- You run a community or a broadcast channel: Telegram.
- You use Linux or many devices at once: Telegram.
- You want open source apps: Telegram, though only its Secret Chats are end-to-end encrypted.
- You prefer an app not owned by Meta: Telegram.
FAQ
Is WhatsApp end-to-end encrypted?
Yes, by default. WhatsApp says messages, media, status updates and calls are end-to-end encrypted automatically, with exceptions for payments and some business chats.
Is Telegram end-to-end encrypted?
Only Secret Chats and calls. Normal private chats and group chats use server-client encryption.
How many people can be in a WhatsApp group?
Up to 1,024 members. A Telegram group can have up to 200,000.
Is Telegram free?
Yes. Telegram says private messaging is free and will stay free, with no ads and no subscription fees. Premium is optional and adds extras such as 4 GB uploads.