WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal: Difference and Comparison

WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal, Which is the best messaging app? This question is the hardest, although most people are familiar with all of these messaging apps, due to updates of policy.

People are thinking before choosing an app among these three apps. Moreover, the Popularity of these is apps are beyond the nation.

As these messaging apps are used for personal and interpersonal communication as well as business purpose. 

Key Takeaways

  1. WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal are all messaging apps, but they differ in their focus on privacy and features.
  2. Signal is the most privacy-focused, with end-to-end encryption for all messages and calls and minimal data collection.
  3. Telegram offers a balance between privacy and features, with options like self-destructing messages and large file sharing, while WhatsApp has the largest user base and is owned by Facebook.

WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal

The difference between WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal is that Whatsapp launched in 2009, while Telegram launched in 2013. Meanwhile, Signal is launched in 2014. Secondly, WhatsApp is available on iOS(iOS 9 and on) and Android(4.0.3 and later), while telegram is available on iOS(iOS 9 and on) and Android(4.1 and later). On the Other hand, Signal is available on Android(4.4 and later) and iOS(11.1 and on). Thirdly, WhatsApp deletes an account after 120 days of inactivity, while Telegrams deletes the account after six months. On the other hand, Signal doesn’t really delete inactive accounts. Fourthly, WhatsApp doesn’t support iPad, iPod and Apple watch, while telegram supports iPad and Apple Watch. In comparison, Signal supports iPod and iPad. Lastly, WhatsApp and Signal don’t allow editing after sending a message, while the telegram enables editing a message after sending a message. 

WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal

WhatsApp is a messaging app that allows sending a text, picture, video, document, and so on. It is launched in 2009 and is available on iOS(iOS 9 and on) and Android(4.0.3 and later).

Additionally, it doesn’t support iPad, iPod, and Apple Watch and it is constricted to one device only. But it can be used on the web browser on the computer.

Moreover, the account is deleted after 120 days of inactivity. 

Telegram is also a messaging app that allows sending a text, picture, video, document, and so on. It is launched in 2013 and is available on iOS(iOS 9 and on) and Android(4.1 and later). Additionally, it supports the iPad and Apple Watch.

And one of the unique features of the telegram is that it allows editing after sending a message. Moreover, the account is not deleted as in WhatsApp and Signal. 

Signal is also a messaging app that allows sending a text, picture, video, document, and so on. It is launched in 2014 and is available on Android(4.4 and later) and iOS(11.1 and on).

Additionally, it doesn’t support iPad and iPods. One of the unique features of the signal, it allows users to add emoticon reactions to a message. 

Comparison Table

Parameters of comparison WhatsAppTelegram Signal 
Launched Whatsapp launched in 2009, while Telegram launched in 2013.Signal is launched in 2014. 
Availability WhatsApp is available on iOS(iOS 9 and on) and Android(4.0.3 and later).Telegram is available on iOS(iOS 9 and on) and Android(4.1 and later). Signal is available on Android(4.4 and later) and iOS(11.1 and on). 
Account Inactivity WhatsApp deletes an account after 120 days of inactivity.Telegrams delete the account after six months.Signal doesn’t really delete inactive accounts. 
SupportWhatsApp doesn’t support iPad, iPods, and Apple watches.Telegram supports iPad and Apple Watch.Signal supports iPod and iPad. 
Editing after sending a messageWhatsApp doesn’t allow editing after sending a message.Telegram enables editing a message after sending a message. Signal doesn’t allow editing after sending a message.

What is Whatsapp?

Nowadays, many messaging apps are trendy and one of them is WhatsApp which allows sending a text, picture, video, document, and so on. It is launched in 2009 in California by Brian Acton and Jan Koum.

But now, it is owned by Facebook. 

As for the compatibility, it is compatible with iOS(iOS 9 and on) and Android(4.0.3 and later). Also, it can be accessed by Mac or Windows PC through the WhatsApp web browser.

But, it is not compatible with the iPad, iPod, or Apple Watch. 

Apart from that, it is restricted to one device only and doesn’t allow to transfer of chat history from one platform to another. But, it can be exported through email attachments.

And it is also available in 60 languages on Android, but 40 languages are available on iPhones. 

Moreover, the account gets deleted after 120 days of inactivity. As for the features, it has basic features, such as text and voice messages, even voice and video call is available.

In addition to that, pictures, videos, and documents can be sent as well. 

Furthermore, there’s a size limit is of 100MB. Also, group chats are also available with up to 256 members.

It also allows them to have a voice and video calls with up to 8 individuals. 

whatsapp

What is Telegram?

Another messaging app, Telegram is a trendy app that allows sending text, pictures, video, documents, and so on. It is launched in 2013 in Russia by Nikolai and Pavel Durov.

It has more than 500 million active users. 

As for the compatibility, it is compatible with iOS(iOS 9 and on) and Android(4.1 and later). Also, it can be accessed by Mac or Windows PC through the desktop app and it can also be accessed through a web browser.

But, it is also compatible with the iPad, and Apple Watch. 

Apart from that, it is not restricted to one device only, so it can be accessed to as many devices simultaneously. Even, the chats will be synced and are available in 13 languages.

Moreover, the account gets deleted after six months of inactivity and the period can be changed through updating settings as well. Additionally, it’ll not delete locally stored content even after deleting the account.

 As for the features, it also has basic features, such as text and voice messages, even voice and video call is available. In addition to that, pictures, videos, and documents can be sent as well. 

Furthermore, there’s a size limit is of 2GB that is very high than any messaging app. Also, group chats are also available with up to 200,000 members and also have a unique feature of Telegram channels. 

telegram

What is Signal?

The signal is also a messaging app that allows sending a text, picture, video, document, and so on. It is launched in 2014 and is available on Android(4.4 and later) and iOS(11.1 and on).

Additionally, it doesn’t support iPad and iPods. One of the unique features of the signal, it allows users to add emoticon reactions to a message. 

Another messaging app, Signal is a trendy app that allows sending text, pictures, video, documents, and so on. It is launched in 2014.

It is a unit of two apps, the RedPhone voice calling app, and the TextSecure Texting Program. 

As for the compatibility, it is compatible with iOS(iOS 11.1 and on) and Android(4.4 and later). Also, it can be accessed by Mac or Windows PC through the desktop app.

But, it is also compatible with iPads, and iPods. Yet, it doesn’t have access to the Signal web. 

Apart from that, it is restricted to one device only, but it can be accessed by linking up to 5 signal desktops apps as well. Also, it is available in 12 languages.

Moreover, the account doesn’t get deleted even after inactivity. However, if a user wants to delete an account, then the user can unregister on the signal. 

 As for the features, it also has all essential features, such as text and voice messages, even voice and video call is available. In addition to that, pictures, videos, and documents can be sent as well. 

Furthermore, there’s a size limit is of 300kb which is very small than any messaging app. Also, group chats are also available with up to 1000 members.

signal app

Main Differences Between WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal

Messaging apps are quite popular as they allow to communicate with each other by sending texts, pictures, videos, and so on. Additionally, it allows sending voice texts, voice calls, and video calls.

WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal are some of the messaging apps that are well-known and popular. But, due to policy updates and privacy issues, people are wondering which to choose among all of them. 

  1. Whatsapp launched in 2009, while Telegram launched in 2013. Meanwhile, Signal is launched in 2014. 
  2. WhatsApp is available on iOS(iOS 9 and on) and Android(4.0.3 and later), while telegram is available on iOS(iOS 9 and on) and Android(4.1 and later). On the Other hand, Signal is available on Android(4.4 and later) and iOS(11.1 and on). 
  3. WhatsApp deletes an account after 120 days of inactivity, while Telegrams deletes the account after six months. On the other hand, Signal doesn’t really delete inactive accounts. 
  4. WhatsApp doesn’t support iPad, iPod and Apple watch, while telegram supports iPad and Apple Watch. In comparison, Signal supports iPod and iPad. 
  5. WhatsApp and Signal don’t allow editing after sending a message, while the telegram enables editing a message after sending a message. 

References 

  1. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-77889-7_16
  2. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/845021/

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023

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