# Zalo vs Telegram Messenger

The clearest difference is rating: Telegram Messenger at 4.0 against Zalo's 2.1. Telegram Messenger also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (34% vs 6%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Zalo sells 20 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 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 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Telegram Messenger has 285K ratings behind it against 8.5K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 6% of Zalo's written reviews are positive against 34% of Telegram Messenger's.

Zalo ships an update every 10 days, Telegram Messenger every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zalo | Telegram Messenger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (8.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zalo/id579523206/reviews) | **[4.0 (285K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telegram-messenger/id686449807/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8.5K | **285K** |
| Positive reviews | 6.2% of reviews | **34.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #186 | **#3** |
| Size | 276 MB | 232 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Zalo Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/822220029) | [Telegram FZ-LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/686450210) |

## What reviewers say

### Zalo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zalo/id579523206)

**Currently charting:** #186 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

This messaging app offers fast and private communication with friends. Send text, voice, and group messages, share your location, and discover new people nearby. It also allows for in-app games and expressive emoticons.

**Highlights:** Fast messaging with instant notifications, Expressive emoticons and stickers, High-quality voice messaging, Discover and connect with nearby friends, Easy group messaging, In-app games, Location sharing

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases (20)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| zCloud Mini | $0.99 | per month |
| zStyle - 1 Month | $0.99 | per month |
| zStyle - 1 Month | $0.99 | per month |
| zStyle - 6 Months | $3.99 | per 6 months |
| zStyle - Annual | $5.99 | per year |
| zStyle - 12 Months | $6.99 | per year |
| zStyle - 12 Months | $6.99 | per year |
| zCloud Mini | $9.99 | per year |
| Pro 1 month | $9.99 | per month |
| zCloud Standard | $22.99 | per year |
| zCloud Standard | $24.99 | per year |
| zCloud Family | $79.99 | per year |
| Pro 12 months | $99.99 | per year |
| Pro 12 months | $99.99 | per year |
| Sticker zStyle - 29K | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sticker zStyle - 9K | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sticker zStyle - 19K | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gift zStyle - 3M | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gift zStyle - 6M | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gift zStyle - 12M | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient messaging
- 🚀 Good call quality
- 💡 Customizable features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🔒 Privacy and security concerns
- 🔋 High data and battery usage
- ⚠️ Difficult account recovery

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to receive verification codes
- Inconsistent performance on different devices
- Deleted accounts and lost data
- Unreliable video/audio calls

**Requested features**

- Ability to use on multiple devices simultaneously
- Improved cloud sync and backup
- Better translation and language support
- Option to disable unwanted notifications


### Telegram Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Social Networking, #4 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #29 Top Free, #41 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 Zalo free?

Zalo 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, Zalo or Telegram Messenger?

Telegram Messenger is rated higher. Zalo averages 2.1 out of 5 from 8.5K ratings, while Telegram Messenger averages 4.0 from 285K ratings.

### Do Zalo or Telegram Messenger have ads?

Zalo shows ads; Telegram Messenger does not.

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

Zalo ships an update every 10 days, and Telegram Messenger every 2 weeks. Most recently, Zalo was updated on October 29, 2026 and Telegram Messenger on October 29, 2026.

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

Zalo currently peaks at #186 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.*