Telegram hit 950 million users in 2025, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why. I’ve been using it since 2019, and what started as just another messaging app has become my go-to for pretty much everything digital.
Most folks I know jumped ship from WhatsApp after the Facebook buyout. Remember that privacy panic? Good times. But Telegram stuck around because it does way more than just message swapping.
The thing about Telegram is it works on literally everything – your iPhone, Android, Windows laptop, Linux machine, whatever. No need to keep your phone nearby like with WhatsApp Web. That alone was enough to convert half my friends.
Pavel Durov built this thing back in 2013, and it’s grown into something closer to its ecosystem than just another chat app. Let’s break down why so many people swear by it today.
Superior User Experience
I can’t count how many times I’ve heard people call Telegram “bloodily well made” – and they’re right. The interface makes other messaging apps look like they were designed in 2010.
What strikes me most is how smooth everything feels. Click a chat, and it opens instantly. Send a photo, and it uploads in seconds. No lag, no weird glitches, just pure speed. For people who message constantly, this responsiveness makes a huge difference.
The desktop app deserves special mention. Unlike WhatsApp, where your phone needs to be online and connected, Telegram’s desktop version works completely independently. My phone can be dead, and I’m still getting messages on my laptop. Game changer for work.
For those starting new channels or groups, building an audience can be challenging at first. Many creators get telegram members from SocialPlug to kick-start their community presence, which helps new channels gain traction much faster than starting from zero. Having an initial audience makes a huge difference in how quickly your content spreads within the Telegram ecosystem.
Customization Options
Telegram lets you personalize pretty much everything. Black dark mode, not that weird dark blue some apps use. Custom chat backgrounds for each conversation. Even message text formatting.
But the stickers. my god, the stickers. They’re not just better than other platforms – they’re in a completely different league. Animated, high-quality, and seemingly endless. My friend group has about 200 custom stickers that perfectly capture our inside jokes.
One small thing I love: Telegram lets you mute notifications for specific periods. Not just “forever” or “an hour” like some apps – you can set exact times. Mute your noisy group chat precisely until your meeting ends at 3:30 PM. Small touch, huge difference.
Cloud Storage Benefits
The cloud storage on Telegram is ridiculous. I can send 2GB files without compression. Try that on WhatsApp and watch it shrink your 4K video down to something that looks like it was filmed on a potato.
Everything stays in the cloud forever. I regularly scroll back to find photos from 2020 without having to worry about backups or storage space on my phone. It’s like having an infinite photo album.
A guy on Reddit summed it up perfectly: “The fact that I can upload up to 4GB files and find them years later if needed is fantastic.”
I’ve created about 5 private channels just for myself. One for work documents, one for memes, one for recipes. It’s like having Google Drive built into my messaging app. Some people even use Telegram as their primary cloud storage solution. Why pay for Dropbox when Telegram gives you unlimited storage for free?
Privacy and Security Features
Privacy fears drove many to Telegram after the WhatsApp-Facebook deal. I remember the mass exodus – everyone suddenly asking “you got Telegram?” in early 2014.
The username feature is brilliant for privacy. I can chat with people without ever sharing my phone number. Try joining a WhatsApp group without everyone immediately getting your number – impossible.
Message deletion is another huge win. Delete any message, anytime, without those annoying “[Message was deleted]” placeholders that WhatsApp leaves behind. Clean, like it never existed.
Secret Chats and Encryption
Let’s be real about the encryption thing. Yes, you need to manually enable Secret Chats for end-to-end encryption. No, it’s not as secure as Signal by default. But for 99% of users, the regular encryption is secure enough.
I’ve had long discussions with tech-savvy friends about Telegram’s security. The consensus? Unless you’re planning a revolution or handling state secrets, the default security level is fine. For anything truly sensitive, enable Secret Chats or use Signal.
The privacy stance has earned Telegram some serious street cred. They’ve been banned in multiple countries for refusing to hand over user data. When governments hate an app this much, they must be doing something right.
Username Feature
The username system changes everything about how you connect with people. Share your @username instead of your phone number at networking events. Join groups without exposing personal contact info.
One Reddit comment caught my eye: “Police can’t get your phone number either. Signal will release your phone number if subpoenaed EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. Telegram doesn’t even reply to three-letter agencies over general crime.”
Is that 100% accurate? Probably not. But it captures the vibe Telegram users have about the platform – a place where privacy means something.
Advanced Group and Channel Features
The group size limit is insane – 200,000 people in one group chat. WhatsApp caps at 256. I’m in several groups with over 1,000 members that function perfectly. Try that on any other platform.
Channels are where Telegram truly shines. They’re basically one-way broadcasting to unlimited followers. I follow about 30 news channels that replace traditional news apps entirely. Tech news, local updates, sports – all in the same app I use to message friends.
The admin controls for groups are next-level too. Fine-grained permissions, slow mode to prevent spam, admin approval for new members. It’s like Discord but simpler and more mobile-friendly.
Bots and Automation
The bot ecosystem on Telegram is mind-blowing. There are bots for everything – file converters, YouTube downloaders, weather updates, AI image generators, music identification. The list goes on forever.
I have a bot that reminds me of birthdays, another that tracks my workouts, and a third that notifies me when specific keywords appear in my news channels. Try getting that functionality on WhatsApp.
Developers love Telegram for this reason. One commented: “I love the full API access which allows me to do so much with bots I create, including integrating other services to Telegram.” The open API means anyone can build powerful tools that integrate seamlessly.
Content Availability
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – Telegram is where you find stuff that’s hard to find elsewhere. Some of it is legitimate, some less so.
For music collectors, Telegram is heaven. I’ve found rare albums and unreleased tracks through music-sharing channels that I couldn’t find on any streaming service. The high file size limits make sharing FLAC files a breeze.
Educational content thrives here too. I’m in channels that share programming courses, language learning resources, and academic papers. A good writing assistant can help organize and synthesize this wealth of information. It’s like a massive, decentralized library of knowledge.
Music and Media Sharing
The audio player in Telegram is surprisingly good. It supports background playback and displays album art. I sometimes use Telegram exclusively for listening to music that friends have sent.
Video quality stays high too. WhatsApp compresses videos so aggressively they often become unwatchable. On Telegram, a 1-minute 4K video stays crisp and clear.
One friend uses Telegram solely for its media capabilities: “I only joined because my band shares our rehearsal recordings here, but now I use it more than any other app.”
Independence from Big Tech
There’s something refreshing about using a platform not owned by Meta, Google, or Apple. Telegram feels like one of the last independent platforms standing.
The lack of algorithmic manipulation is noticeable. On Instagram or TikTok, you’re at the mercy of whatever the algorithm decides to show you. On Telegram, you see everything from the channels you follow, in chronological order. No tricks, no hidden filtering.
As one user put it: “Not owned by Meta, was developed with the right principles for proper and correct use in private communications (which actually seem to stay private), my information is not being sold to huge private and public entities.”
No Advertising
The absence of ads makes for a cleaner experience. No sponsored posts, no “suggested” content, no interruptions. Just your messages and the content you’ve chosen to follow.
Telegram Premium launched in 2022, offering extra features for $5 monthly. I held off initially but eventually subscribed – not even for the features, just to support a platform that respects users enough not to bombard them with ads.
It’s nice using an app that doesn’t constantly try to monetize your attention. The focus stays on communication, not consumption.
Read More: Top Dofollow Bookmarking Submission Sites List for with High DA
Closing Thoughts on Telegram’s Appeal
After years of daily Telegram use, it’s hard to imagine switching to anything else. It’s found the sweet spot between powerful features and usability that most apps miss entirely.
Yes, Telegram has faced legal troubles. Durov’s arrest in France raised eyebrows. The content moderation issues are real. But for most users, these concerns are outweighed by the practical benefits the platform provides.
As messaging continues to evolve, Telegram seems to stay one step ahead. While other platforms rush to copy each other’s features, Telegram carves its own path. That independent spirit, more than anything, explains why millions continue to choose this platform in a crowded marketplace dominated by tech giants.
