# Telegram Messenger vs BatChat

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BatChat at 86% against Telegram Messenger's 35%. Telegram Messenger's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (280K vs 99). 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 BatChat sells 27 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Telegram Messenger holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Telegram Messenger has 280K ratings behind it against 99, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 35% of Telegram Messenger's written reviews are positive against 86% of BatChat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Telegram Messenger ships an update weekly, BatChat every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Telegram Messenger | BatChat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (280K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telegram-messenger/id686449807/reviews)** | [3.5 (99 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/batchat-encrypted-messenger/id1661048017/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **280K** | 99 |
| Positive reviews | 34.6% of reviews | **85.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 232 MB | 276 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Telegram FZ-LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/686450210) | [ChengDu Ciyuan zhishi Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1661048019) |

## What reviewers say

### Telegram Messenger

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

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Social Networking, #4 Top Grossing · Social Networking, #34 Top Free, #43 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


### BatChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/batchat-encrypted-messenger/id1661048017)

This secure messaging app offers end-to-end encrypted communication for both personal and professional use. It features private chat modes, encrypted file storage, and high-definition calls, ensuring data security and privacy.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Private chat mode with screenshot alerts, Encrypted local file storage, Multimedia file transfer, HD encrypted voice and video calls, Multi-device synchronization, Virtual avatar creation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (27)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1月的免广告服务 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1个月靓号服务 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 200MB月容量套餐 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 50BF币 | $6.99 | one-time |
| 500MB月容量套餐 | $7.99 | one-time |
| 蝙蝠1个月VIP | $9.99 | one-time |
| 12个月聊天气泡 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1024MB月容量套餐 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 1月自动签到服务 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 3个月VIP | $29.99 | one-time |
| 198Bat币 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 1年靓号服务 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 形象月卡 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 200M收藏容量 | $39.99 | one-time |
| 1个月群机器人 | $39.99 | one-time |
| 终身免广告服务 | $45.00 | one-time |
| 6个月VIP | $59.99 | one-time |
| 398Bat币 | $59.99 | one-time |
| 6个月的自动任务服务 | $69.99 | one-time |
| 588Bat币 | $79.99 | one-time |
| 500M收藏容量套餐 | $89.99 | one-time |
| 1年SVIP | $99.99 | one-time |
| 1年自动签到服务 | $129.99 | one-time |
| 3个月群机器人 | $129.99 | one-time |
| 1024M收藏容量 | $149.99 | one-time |
| 6个月群机器人 | $249.99 | one-time |
| 12个月群机器人 | $499.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Strong privacy and security
- 👍 Simple and clean interface
- 🚀 Fast and efficient performance
- 💡 Unique features like screenshot alerts and self-destructing messages
- 💬 Good for social interaction and making friends

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Login issues and network errors
- 🐛 App not working or crashing
- 🐛 Some users report it's a scam or phishing software
- 🐛 Paid features for encryption
- 🐛 Frequent ads for non-members

**Reported bugs**

- Cannot log in
- Network connection issues
- Cannot send messages
- App not opening
- Login registration fails for Chinese phone numbers

**Requested features**

- Adapt to landscape mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Telegram Messenger free?

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

### Is BatChat free?

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

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

Telegram Messenger is rated higher. Telegram Messenger averages 4.0 out of 5 from 280K ratings, while BatChat averages 3.5 from 99 ratings.

### Do Telegram Messenger or BatChat have ads?

Neither Telegram Messenger nor BatChat shows ads.

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

Telegram Messenger ships an update weekly, and BatChat every 2 weeks. Most recently, Telegram Messenger was updated on September 24, 2026 and BatChat on September 21, 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.*