# Telegram Messenger vs Session

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Session at 63% against Telegram Messenger's 35%. Session also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (4.3 vs 4.0). Telegram Messenger's advantage is ratings volume (280K vs 4.6K) and chart position (#4 vs #97). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Telegram Messenger sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Session sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Session holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Telegram Messenger has 280K ratings behind it against 4.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of Telegram Messenger's written reviews are positive against 63% of Session's.

Telegram Messenger ships an update weekly, Session fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Telegram Messenger | Session |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (280K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telegram-messenger/id686449807/reviews) | **[4.3 (4.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/session-private-messenger/id1470168868/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **280K** | 4.6K |
| Positive reviews | 34.6% of reviews | **63.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#4** | #97 |
| Size | 232 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Telegram FZ-LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/686450210) | [The Loki Project](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465686521) |

## 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, #38 Top Free, #46 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


### Session

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/session-private-messenger/id1470168868)

**Currently charting:** #97 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

This secure messenger prioritizes your privacy with a decentralized network and end-to-end encryption. It offers anonymous account creation, IP address protection, and private group chats without collecting any metadata. Share messages and files with confidence, knowing your communications are truly private.

**Highlights:** Anonymous account creation, Decentralized server network, No metadata logging, IP address protection, End-to-end encrypted group chats, Secure file sharing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Session Pro | $4.49 | per month |
| Session Pro | $11.99 | per 3 months |
| Session Pro | $35.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Secure and private messaging
- 👍 Clean and intuitive user interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🔒 No phone number or personal data required
- 💡 Innovative use of blockchain and Tor network

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable notifications and message delivery
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Slow media file transfers
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 👎 Limited features compared to competitors

**Reported bugs**

- Messages not syncing across devices
- Inability to join or view group chats
- Attachments and media not loading properly
- Frequent app crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Add voice and video calling
- Implement self-destruct/ephemeral messaging
- Allow customization of chat backgrounds and themes
- Improve group chat functionality
- Add support for multiple accounts/identities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Telegram Messenger free?

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

### Is Session free?

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

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

Session is rated higher. Telegram Messenger averages 4.0 out of 5 from 280K ratings, while Session averages 4.3 from 4.6K ratings.

### Do Telegram Messenger or Session have ads?

Neither Telegram Messenger nor Session shows ads.

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

Telegram Messenger ships an update weekly, and Session fortnightly. Most recently, Telegram Messenger was updated on September 25, 2026 and Session on September 23, 2026.

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

Telegram Messenger currently peaks at #4 in the App Store charts, and Session at #97. 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.*