What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Telegram App?
Today, we are going to talk about What are the pros and cons of the Telegram app. Telegram app is a cloud-based instant messaging service and a dedicated multi-platform messaging app developed by Telegram FZ LLC and Telegram Messenger Incorporated.
It was first launched in 2013 and had about 100,000 active users, but its user base grew to over 700 million in 2024.The app competes directly with Meta platforms WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, Rakuten Group’s Viber, and NHN Japan’s Line.
The app’s advanced features make it an alternative to free email services like Gmail and even video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. In this article, we will deeply guide you. What are the pros and cons of the Telegram app? You can find many free messaging apps out there.
However, finding a free messaging app that is also secure and has enough users to make it worth using is very difficult. Let’s see if this is the right option for you!
What are the Pros and Cons of the Telegram App?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Telegram database library and Open-source apps. | A phone number is required for registration. |
| Self-destructive messages. | End-to-end encryption is only for secret chats. |
| Users can log in on multiple devices simultaneously. | The servers are not open-source. |
| End-to-end (E2E) encryption. | Logs IP addresses. |
| Encryption Algorithm: MTProto, a custom protocol. | Maybe sharing data with government agencies. |
| Supports two-step authentication, According to GDPR. | Other user data (used as good VPN services) |
Briefly Discuss: What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Telegram App?
Here are some key features to consider when deciding if Telegram is right for you: And discuss in details What are the Pros And Cons Of The Telegram App?
Pros: Advantages of Telegram Messenger App
1. Rich messaging features
Telegram is feature-packed and has practical applications beyond instant messaging. It is similar to WhatsApp and Viber, but its features are cool. These include voice calls and video calls, group chats, message organization, automated chats or chatbots, secret chats, stickers, and channels.
Messaging is straightforward, but additional features make it flexible for different use cases. Note that users can organize individual and group message threads into files. This is perfect for separating personal messages from work-related messages or other categories.
Telegram’s group chat capabilities are also impressive. It can hold up to 200,000 group members in a group chat. It is ideal for work-related use cases. Many organizations have used the app as their main internal communication platform, while others have used its capabilities to host chatbots for customer service representatives.
2. Aspects of Social Networking
Group chat can be considered a form of social media to some extent. But that’s not Telegram’s obvious social feature. This app has a feature called “Channels” that allows a particular user to create one-way communication channels for their subscribers.
Organizations can create channels to send important internal announcements to their employees. A team within an organization can also create a channel for separate announcements and communications for the team. This feature enhances the productivity and collaboration capabilities of this app.
An individual can also set up a channel for their subscribers to improve their digital presence. Many online influencers and celebrities have used Telegram to keep their digital followers in the loop with important events.
3. Unlimited cloud storage
Another unique selling point and advantage of Telegram over other instant messaging apps is its storage offering. Note that the entire service has no specific chat limit or group chat size limit. This has also been seen in other instant messaging services, such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
However, compared to its competitors, the app offers cloud storage not only for messages but also for media files like photos, videos, and audio, as well as documents. The app does not over-process the media files to maintain the size and quality of the files.
Unlimited storage makes Telegram a communication platform, a file-sharing platform, and a cloud storage platform. Files can be accessed from any device. The app also has a useful internal file management system that manages files under each chat or message threat. A built-in search engine makes these files easily accessible.
4. Free, encrypted, and open source
The entire service is based on a freemium business model. This means it is free for all users. The same users can also opt for a subscription-based service to expand the capabilities of each feature. One example is expanding the group chat capability.
All messages and calls through this platform are encrypted. A special end-to-end encryption feature means that only the sender and receiver can receive them. This makes it a secure communication platform. Privacy controls also allow the user to limit what data and information they can share with their contact list.
It is also important to note that Telegram is open source. It has an open API and source code that is accessible to everyone. Note that the open source code means that it can be inspected and tested to ensure that it is secure and malware-free.
5. Other advantages of the Telegram App
Telegram is a cross-platform instant messaging service. The app is available on all major platforms and operating systems. These include desktop operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as mobile operating systems such as Android, iOS, and iPadOS. Messages and files are accessible and synced across devices for a seamless experience.
Another interesting advantage of this platform is that it is ad-free. Note that some of the most popular instant messaging platforms, such as Facebook Messenger and Viber, have ads that can be intrusive and distracting.
The app is simple yet customizable. The user can change the look and feel of the user interface according to his preferences. They can also register using their mobile number or specific username to improve personal privacy. The app also supports passcode and built-in biometrics to prevent unintended access.
Cons: Disadvantages of the Telegram messenger App
1. There is still a limited global user base
What are the pros and cons of the Telegram app?
The platform now has over 700 million registered users. However, despite its impressive growth over the years and its current user base, its overall user base is still considered limited compared to other instant messaging services, such as Facebook Messenger. This may limit wider adaptability to specific applications or use cases.
It is also worth noting that other platforms or apps dominate other markets. Viber has a strong presence in Southeast Asia. Organizations like businesses and even government agencies have been using the platform to connect with their audience.
A relatively small user base or limited reach of the platform also means that the user may not be able to reach all of their contacts and will be forced to use other instant messaging services. This disadvantage also translates to the fact that there are few developers creating bots and other third-party apps for the platform.
2. Cross-platform unavailability of some features
The app can be downloaded on most mainstream platforms of operating systems. However, despite this apparent advantage, it is also worth noting that not all features are available in a particular version of the app.
Dedicated mobile applications for Android, iOS, and iPadOS are the most feature-rich version of Telegram. The “Lite” app for macOS is considered a scaled-down version because it doesn’t support features like video calls and advanced voice calls with customization. The same goes for the Windows and Linux versions.
Some reports have noted that there are some lags and inconsistencies between the desktop version of the app and the mobile version. It has been featured in message delivery and, in some cases, overall message and file synchronization.
3. Telegram’s Notable Data Privacy Concerns
Note that using the instant messaging service collects user data. These include phone numbers, email addresses, and names. Some may consider this a disadvantage of Telegram. Users are also notified when someone from their contact list joins the platform. It is worth noting that other services or apps and platforms do the same.
Data collection can also be a concern depending on how the company behind the platform processes and stores all the data it collects from its users. This may be a data privacy issue as the company does not disclose its data handling practices.
Another drawback is that messages and files are stored on servers despite end-to-end encryption. Encryption quality is not tested. If hackers manage to infiltrate the servers, it’s another problem. Authorities may compel a company to hand over user data during legal compliance and important investigations. I have tired my best What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Telegram App to explain.
For more information, you can visit official website to lean about telegram latest features.
Bottom Line
What Are the Pros and Cons of the Telegram App? The Telegram app is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 500 million active users. At the moment, it seems to be the main destination for those who want an alternative to WhatsApp. Add in the fact that it’s free, fast, and has tons of useful and fun features beyond basic messaging, and it’s easy to see why Telegram is so popular.
But popularity doesn’t necessarily mean it’s secure or a good option for privacy-conscious users. As I showed above, many experts in the cryptography community have expressed doubts about Telegram’s security. At the same time, the fact that end-to-end encryption is only available for secret chats and voice calls worries many of us. In this article, we will discuss in detail What are the Pros And Cons Of The Telegram App?
Nevertheless, we still mentioned Telegram in our roundup of the best secure messaging apps.
