Telegram vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Telegram's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

	Telegram This App	WhatsApp Messenger Nemesis	Google Messages Contender	Discord - Talk, Chat & Hang Out Contender	LINE: Calls & Messages Contender	Viber Messenger: Chats & Calls Contender	Session - Private Messenger Peer	Threema Peer	WeChat Peer	Slack Peer
Core Identity
Developer	Telegram FZ-LLC	WhatsApp LLC	Google LLC	Discord Inc.	LINE (LY Corporation)	Viber Media	Session Foundation	Threema GmbH	Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Ltd.	Slack Technologies, LLC
Category	Communication	-	Communication	-	Communication	Communication	Communication	Communication	-	-
Platform	Android, iOS	-	Android, iOS	-	Android, iOS	Android, iOS	Android, iOS	Android, iOS	-	-
Store Metrics
Rating	4.0 / 5	-	4.1 / 5	-	3.2 / 5	4.6 / 5	4.2 / 5	4.3 / 5	-	-
Ratings Count	267,381	-	35,529	-	17,764	831,197	3,448	647	-	-
Price	Free	-	Free	-	Free	Free	Free	$6.99	-	-
Release Date	Aug 14, 2013	-	Oct 25, 2021	-	Jun 23, 2011	Dec 2, 2010	Feb 6, 2020	Dec 28, 2012	-	-
Last Updated	May 6, 2026	-	Dec 12, 2025	-	May 7, 2026	May 6, 2026	Apr 9, 2026	Apr 10, 2026	-	-
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentiment	mixed	-	positive	-	negative	mixed	-	-	-	-
Score	35/100	-	85/100	-	25/100	55/100	-	-	-	-
Praises	Cloud-based messaging architecture allows for instant synchronization across multiple devices without data loss	-	Native integration	-	Expressive sticker collections and themes provide a fun and personalized communication experience for daily users	Clear and reliable voice call quality keeps users connected with family members globally	-	-	-	-
Complaints	Aggressive account locking and banning policies prevent users from accessing their personal data	-	Desktop client performance	-	Intrusive AI assistant integration forces recurring manual opt-out actions that disrupt the primary chat interface	Account activation failures prevent new or returning users from accessing their profiles	-	-	-	-
Requests	Transparent account recovery and support channels for users facing unexpected bans	-	Cross-platform parity	-	Permanent disablement options for AI features to restore the original clean chat interface design	Improved security features to block and report spam from unknown numbers	-	-	-	-
Strategic Intel
Strengths	Cloud-first architecture enables multi-device sync without phone tethering 200k-member group capacity creates community network effects Unlimited 2GB file sharing drives viral acquisition	-	Native OS integration replaces default assistant triggers RCS protocol standardization drives cross-platform adoption	-	MINI Apps integration drives high session frequency Sticker marketplace creates strong user emotional attachment	Default end-to-end encryption builds high user trust Viber Out utility provides a unique revenue stream	-	-	-	-
Weaknesses	0.13 rating gap between iOS and Android platforms High volume of account-ban complaints Lack of transparent support channels for recovery	-	Lack of standalone desktop client vs WhatsApp Carrier-dependent infrastructure limits feature consistency	-	Account recovery fails on device loss Intrusive AI UI disrupts chat flow Message sync failures post-update	Account activation failures block new-user onboarding Intrusive ad-redirects during calls drive negative sentiment Sluggish media loading times impact daily retention	-	-	-	-
Pricing	free	-	free	-	freemium	freemium	free	paid	-	-
Momentum	Active	-	Maintenance	-	Active	Active	-	-	-	-
Update Cadence	5 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~10d avg	-	2 versions, ~115d avg	-	3 versions, ~22d avg	4 versions, ~12d avg	-	-	-	-

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