# 微博 vs Telegram Messenger

The clearest difference is rating: Telegram Messenger at 4.0 against 微博's 2.3. Telegram Messenger also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (285K vs 7.7K). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 微博 sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Telegram Messenger sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Telegram Messenger holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Telegram Messenger has 285K ratings behind it against 7.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of 微博's written reviews are positive against 34% of Telegram Messenger's.

微博 ships an update weekly, Telegram Messenger every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | 微博 | Telegram Messenger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (7.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id350962117/reviews) | **[4.0 (285K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telegram-messenger/id686449807/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7.7K | **285K** |
| Positive reviews | 26.9% of reviews | **34.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #141 | **#3** |
| Size | 405 MB | 232 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [SINA Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/291478092) | [Telegram FZ-LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/686450210) |

## What reviewers say

### 微博

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id350962117)

**Currently charting:** #141 Top Free · Social Networking, #166 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Discover the world with our app, where you can stay updated on news, trends, and share your thoughts through text, photos, and videos. Join now to connect with people, explore various channels, and enjoy exclusive privileges!

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 连续包月会员 | $1.99 | per month |
| 按月订阅微博高级会员 | $3.99 | per month |
| 按月订阅微博高级会员 | $3.99 | per month |
| 连续季度会员 | $4.99 | per 3 months |
| 半年微博会员 | $8.99 | per 6 months |
| 连续包年会员 | $17.99 | per year |
| 微博问答一元围观 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1个月微博会员 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 升级1个月微博会员 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 稀缺装扮1个 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 3个月微博会员 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 高级会员1个月 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 1年微博会员 | $17.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Entertaining and educational content
- 👍 User-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and inconsistent
- 💩 Excessive ads and monetization
- 🤫 Censorship and lack of transparency
- 🤬 Poor customer service and account management

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Unreliable login and verification process
- Inconsistent behavior across devices and platforms

**Requested features**

- Improved translation and language support
- Better content moderation and user control
- Enhanced privacy and data protection


### Telegram Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Social Networking, #4 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #28 Top Free, #42 Top Grossing (US App Store)

A fast, secure, and powerful instant messaging app synced across all devices. It offers unlimited media and file sharing, robust encryption, and extensive group chat capabilities. Enjoy a simple, private, and customizable communication experience.

**Highlights:** Cross-device synchronization, Unlimited file and media sharing, End-to-end encrypted secret chats, Large group chats (up to 200,000 members), Customizable themes and stickers, Bots for task automation, Photo and video editing tools

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

**In-app purchases (19)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Telegram Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Telegram Premium Annual | $35.99 | per year |
| 50 Telegram Stars | $0.99 | one-time |
| 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 |
| Telegram Premium (3 Months) | $14.99 | one-time |
| 750 Telegram Stars | $14.99 | one-time |
| Telegram Premium (6 Months) | $19.99 | one-time |
| 1x Premium (6 Months) | $19.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Telegram Stars | $19.99 | one-time |
| 1500 Telegram Stars | $29.99 | one-time |
| Telegram Premium (1 Year) | $35.99 | one-time |
| 1x Premium (1 Year) | $35.99 | one-time |
| 2500 Telegram Stars | $50.90 | one-time |
| 5x Premium (3 Months Each) | $74.99 | one-time |
| 10x Premium (3 Months Each) | $149.99 | one-time |
| 5x Premium (1 Year Each) | $179.99 | 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 微博 free?

微博 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, 微博 or Telegram Messenger?

Telegram Messenger is rated higher. 微博 averages 2.3 out of 5 from 7.7K ratings, while Telegram Messenger averages 4.0 from 285K ratings.

### Do 微博 or Telegram Messenger have ads?

微博 shows ads; Telegram Messenger does not.

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

微博 ships an update weekly, and Telegram Messenger every 2 weeks. Most recently, 微博 was updated on October 29, 2026 and Telegram Messenger on October 29, 2026.

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

微博 currently peaks at #141 in the App Store charts, and Telegram Messenger at #3. 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.*