# Telegram Messenger vs Crait Lite

The clearest difference is rating: Crait Lite at 4.7 against Telegram Messenger's 4.0. Crait Lite also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 22). Telegram Messenger's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (280K vs 10). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Telegram Messenger sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Crait Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

Crait Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Telegram Messenger has 280K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Telegram Messenger ships an update weekly, Crait Lite every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and July 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Telegram Messenger | Crait Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (280K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telegram-messenger/id686449807/reviews) | **[4.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crait-lite-secure-chat/id1450357437/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **280K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 34.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#4** | — |
| Size | 232 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Telegram FZ-LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/686450210) | [Crait Technology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1375280315) |

## What reviewers say

### Telegram Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #4 Top Free · Social Networking, #5 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #33 Top Free, #47 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

**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


### Crait Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crait-lite-secure-chat/id1450357437)

This secure messaging tool enhances workgroup productivity with encrypted calls, self-destructing messages, and file sharing. It protects digital assets by offering end-to-end encryption for sensitive business communications.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Self-destructing messages, Secure voice and group calls, Large group chat support (up to 1000), Secure file sharing, Secure email for users

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Telegram Messenger free?

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

### Is Crait Lite free?

Crait Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Telegram Messenger or Crait Lite?

Crait Lite is rated higher. Telegram Messenger averages 4.0 out of 5 from 280K ratings, while Crait Lite averages 4.7 from 10 ratings.

### Do Telegram Messenger or Crait Lite have ads?

Neither Telegram Messenger nor Crait Lite shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Telegram Messenger or Crait Lite?

Telegram Messenger ships an update weekly, and Crait Lite every 3 months. Most recently, Telegram Messenger was updated on September 25, 2026 and Crait Lite on July 9, 2026.

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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.*