# WhatsApp vs Telegram Messenger

The clearest difference is rating: WhatsApp at 4.7 against Telegram Messenger's 4.0. WhatsApp also leads on ratings volume (19M vs 286K) and review sentiment (50% vs 34%). Telegram Messenger's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WhatsApp sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.00 per month and Telegram Messenger sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

WhatsApp holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WhatsApp has 19M ratings behind it against 286K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of WhatsApp's written reviews are positive against 34% of Telegram Messenger's.

WhatsApp ships an update every 4 days, Telegram Messenger weekly. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhatsApp | Telegram Messenger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (19M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp/id310633997/reviews)** | [4.0 (286K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telegram-messenger/id686449807/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19M** | 286K |
| Positive reviews | **50.4% of reviews** | 34.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | #3 | **#2** |
| Size | 392 MB | 244 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [WhatsApp Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/310634000) | [Telegram FZ-LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/686450210) |

## What reviewers say

### WhatsApp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whatsapp/id310633997)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Social Networking, #20 Top Free, #39 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through messaging, voice, and video calls. Organize groups, share moments, and make plans with features like polls and live location sharing. Enjoy private conversations with end-to-end encryption across multiple devices.

**Highlights:** Group messaging and calling, End-to-end encryption, Live location sharing, Polls for decision making, HD photo and video sharing, Disappearing messages, Cross-device compatibility

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No ads (1 account) | $4.00 | per month |
| No ads (4 accounts) | $21.99 | per month |
| No ads (5 accounts) | $26.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Great communication tool
- 🌍 Connects people globally
- 🔒 Secure and private messaging
- 📱 Versatile features (calls, video, groups)
- 🆓 Free to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches (freezing, crashing, notification issues)
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data sharing
- 🙈 Lack of customization and control (status, groups)
- 📤 Backup and restore issues
- 🚫 Arbitrary account bans

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing and crashing issues
- Notification problems (missing, delayed)
- Backup and restore failures
- Arbitrary account bans with poor support

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve group management features
- Allow more customization of status and notifications
- Enhance backup and restore functionality
- Provide better customer support and appeal process


### Telegram Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telegram-messenger/id686449807)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Free · Social Networking, #4 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #15 Top Free, #45 Top Grossing (US App Store)

A fast, secure, and powerful instant messaging app that syncs across all your devices. It offers unlimited media and file sharing, robust encryption, and advanced features like group chats for up to 200,000 members and bots.

**Highlights:** Fast and secure instant messaging, Cross-device synchronization, Unlimited media and file sharing, Large group chats and bots, End-to-end encrypted secret chats, Customizable themes and stickers

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Telegram Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Telegram Premium Annual | $35.99 | per year |
| 1x Telegram Premium (One Week) | $1.19 | one-time |
| 100 Telegram Stars | $1.99 | one-time |
| 250 Telegram Stars | $5.09 | one-time |
| 500 Telegram Stars | $9.99 | one-time |
| 750 Telegram Stars | $14.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Telegram Stars | $19.99 | one-time |
| 1500 Telegram Stars | $29.99 | one-time |
| 2500 Telegram Stars | $50.90 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 Customizable and user-friendly
- 💡 Innovative features like channels and bots
- 🌟 Great overall messaging experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable at times
- 🔋 Battery life issues
- 🚫 Lack of video calling feature
- 📂 Issues with media uploads and downloads
- 🔍 Inadequate search functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard issues and cursor placement problems
- Frequent app crashes, especially in large group chats
- Inaccurate 'last seen' timestamps
- Notification issues and duplicate messages
- Problems with media auto-save and download

**Requested features**

- Add video calling feature
- Improve search capabilities
- Implement a story/status feature
- Allow more customization options
- Segregate channels, bots, and individual chats


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WhatsApp free?

WhatsApp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Telegram Messenger free?

Telegram Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, WhatsApp or Telegram Messenger?

WhatsApp is rated higher. WhatsApp averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19M ratings, while Telegram Messenger averages 4.0 from 286K ratings.

### Do WhatsApp or Telegram Messenger have ads?

WhatsApp shows ads; Telegram Messenger does not.

### Which is updated more often, WhatsApp or Telegram Messenger?

WhatsApp ships an update every 4 days, and Telegram Messenger weekly. Most recently, WhatsApp was updated on November 9, 2026 and Telegram Messenger on November 9, 2026.

### Which is more popular, WhatsApp or Telegram Messenger?

WhatsApp currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and Telegram Messenger at #2. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*