Instant messaging is everywhere in the current communication landscape.
Whether you're connecting with friends or reaching out to coworkers, real-time messaging is one of the easiest ways to have your "voice" heard. The question is, which messaging app should you be using? After all, there's a lot more than just one option to choose from.
In terms of popularity alone, WhatsApp is the undisputed champion of the messaging world. 1.5 billion people have a WhatsApp account, and users spend 2 billion minutes on the program every day. However, in a world of ever-evolving technology, there's always space for something new to swoop in and capture audience attention.
Enter Telegram.
Telegram is a simple, straightforward messaging solution that bypasses some of the fun but often distracting features that WhatsApp has soaked up since the Facebook acquisition. If you're looking for meaningful and focused conversations, Telegram has you covered, with cross-platform connections, programmable bots, and high levels of customisation.
Both tools have the potential to transform the business messaging world. Let's take a look at how they stack up against each other.
WhatsApp vs. Telegram: Where The Two Are Similar
Before we explore the unique benefits of WhatsApp and Telegram individually, let's take a look at how they're similar. First of all, it's worth noting that both apps have an identical focus - they want to make communication quick and easy. Each app comes with a mobile and web version so that you can manage your conversation across multiple devices. That's pretty crucial in today's highly versatile environment, where people are constantly switching between phones and desktop screens.
Both services display read receipts and delivery confirmation messages, although you can turn these off with WhatsApp, and you can't with Telegram. Additionally, each app comes with access to group messaging, although you can invite more people to a group with Telegram (up to 200,000 compared to 256 on WhatsApp). Other shared features between both tools include:
- File sharing (limit of 1.5GB on Telegram compared to 16 MB on WhatsApp)
- Voice calling (high-quality)
- Chatbot support (on the way for WhatsApp at the moment, but announced)
Where WhatsApp Stands Out
So, why would you pick WhatsApp as your go-to messaging app?
Well, of the 1.5 billion users that have WhatsApp, more than 450 million are active daily users - highlighting the value of the app. One of WhatsApp biggest strengths is how popular it already is. As a component of the Facebook portfolio, WhatsApp has access to endless potential customers for businesses and connections for team members.
It's also worth noting that WhatsApp has more options for communication than Telegram. You can transform your voice call into a video call with a tap of a button. As video becomes an increasingly common solution for modern generations in the communication industry, this feature could well be a tie-breaker. Video, after all, gives teams access to the unique nuances of facial expression and body language when speaking to their peers at a distance.
WhatsApp also gives users the option to back up all of their information on a regular basis. You can automate your backups according to your needs and view your data on the cloud. This makes it easier to record chats and get rid of data for GDPR purposes when necessary.
