Comparison

Telegram Messenger vs Swiftgram

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Telegram Messenger

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
Read full description

Pure instant messaging — simple, fast, secure, and synced across all your devices. One of the top 5 most downloaded apps in the world with over 1 billion active users. FAST: Telegram is the fastest messaging app on the market, connecting people via a unique, distributed network of data centers around the globe. SYNCED: You can access your messages from all your phones, tablets and computers at once. Telegram apps are standalone, so you don’t need to keep your phone connected. Start typing on one device and finish the message from another. Never lose your data again. UNLIMITED: You can send media and files, without any limits on their type and size. Your entire chat history will require no disk space on your device, and will be securely stored in the Telegram cloud for as long as you need it. SECURE: We made it our mission to provide the best security combined with ease of use. Everything on Telegram, including chats, groups, media, etc. is encrypted using a combination of 256-bit symmetric AES encryption, 2048-bit RSA encryption, and Diffie–Hellman secure key exchange. 100% FREE & OPEN: Telegram has a fully documented and free API for developers, open source apps and verifiable builds to prove the app you download is built from the exact same source code that is published. POWERFUL: You can create group chats with up to 200,000 members, share large videos, documents of any type (.DOCX, .MP3, .ZIP, etc.) up to 2 GB each, and even set up bots for specific tasks. Telegram is the perfect tool for hosting online communities and coordinating teamwork. RELIABLE: Built to deliver your messages using as little data as possible, Telegram is the most reliable messaging system ever made. It works even on the weakest mobile connections. FUN: Telegram has powerful photo and video editing tools, animated stickers and emoji, fully customizable themes to change the appearance of your app, and an open sticker/GIF platform to cater to all your expressive needs. SIMPLE: While providing an unprecedented array of features, we take great care to keep the interface clean. Telegram is so simple you already know how to use it. PRIVATE: We take your privacy seriously and will never give any third parties access to your data. You can delete any message you ever sent or received for both sides, at any time and without a trace. Telegram will never use your data to show you ads. For those interested in maximum privacy, Telegram offers Secret Chats. Secret Chat messages can be programmed to self-destruct automatically from both participating devices. This way you can send all types of disappearing content — messages, photos, videos, and even files. Secret Chats use End-to-End Encryption to ensure that a message can only be read by its intended recipient. We keep expanding the boundaries of what you can do with a messaging app. Don’t wait years for older messengers to catch up with Telegram — join the revolution today. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Swiftgram

A modified Telegram client offering enhanced privacy, unlimited accounts, and advanced messaging features. Enjoy ad-free communication with tools like message filtering, real-time translation, and voice-to-text transcription.

Highlights
  • Unlimited accounts
  • Message filtering
  • Voice-to-text transcription
  • Real-time chat translation
  • Customizable interface
  • Apple Watch companion
  • Privacy-focused features
Features
Read full description

Swiftgram is a modded client for Telegram with Lots of features, focus on Privacy, No Limits, No Ads. Completelly Open Source and includes all latest updates from Telegram plus UNLIMITED ACCOUNTS: Add as many numbers as you want for FREE. ACCOUNTS BACKUP: Log-in to your accounts without SMS-code. Restore all Sessions that are still Active on Telegram servers. MESSAGE FILTER: Reduce visibility of SPAM, promotions and annoying messages. FORMATTING PANEL: Bold, Italic, Links? Formatting with just a single tap. VOICE-TO-TEXT: Transcribe audio messages to text for FREE. TRANSLATOR: Real-time translations for an entire chat. Translate messages you send with a single tap. STORIES: Hide stories or disable swipe for recording. APPLE WATCH COMPANION: Send and Receive Text and Voice messages on your Watch, only in Swiftgram! CHAT MANAGEMENT: Control Tabs, Hide "All Chats", move Folders to bottom and remember the last opened Folder to quickly jump into the discussion. HIDE NOTIFICATIONS: No more Pinned Messages or @mentions when you need some piece of mind. 50+ CUSTOMIZATIONS: Tabs, Chat List and Folders, Profiles, Stories, Translator, Better Photos, Stickers, Context Menu and much, MUCH MORE! SIMPLICITY: Swiftgram remains easy to use with no interface clutter. PRIVACY-FOCUSED: Instant Passcode Lock, Completelly Open Source, No Ads, No Trackers. Your messages and chats remain secure. ACCESSIBILITY: Improved VoiceOver support for Messages Sharing, cause A11y matters! Follow the news: @swiftgram Discuss: @swiftgramchat Swiftgram is an unofficial fork based on Telegram API. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Telegram Messenger4 screens
Swiftgram4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Swiftgram at 69% against Telegram Messenger's 35%. Swiftgram also leads on rating (4.2 vs 4.0). Telegram Messenger's advantage is ratings volume (280K vs 567) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Telegram Messenger sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Swiftgram sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Swiftgram holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Telegram Messenger has 280K ratings behind it against 567, 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 69% of Swiftgram's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Telegram Messenger ships an update weekly, Swiftgram monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Telegram Messenger versus Swiftgram: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTelegram MessengerSwiftgram
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (280K ratings)4.2 (567 ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.6% of reviews69.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings280K — better567
Update frequencyWeekly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#4 — better#210
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size232 MB239 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperTelegram FZ-LLCAkentech Ltd

Customer experience

Telegram Messenger

All ratings279,846 ratings
Positive73.4%
Neutral6.2%
Negative20.4%
Written reviews8,385 reviews
Positive34.6%
Neutral8.9%
Negative56.5%

Swiftgram

All ratings567 ratings
Positive78.8%
Neutral6.2%
Negative15.0%
Written reviews445 reviews
Positive69.4%
Neutral10.3%
Negative20.2%

User reviews

Telegram Messenger

From 280K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 🔒 Secure and private
  • 👍 Customizable and user-friendly
  • 💡 Innovative features like channels and bots
  • 🌟 Great overall messaging experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unstable at times
  • 🔋 Battery life issues
  • 🚫 Lack of video calling feature
  • 📂 Issues with media uploads and downloads
  • 🔍 Inadequate search functionality

Swiftgram

From 567 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and accurate translation
  • 🔒 Robust security features
  • 👍 Extensive customization options
  • 🚀 Lightweight and efficient
  • 👍 Feature-rich alternative to official Telegram

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🔒 Accounts sometimes get locked or banned
  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
  • 🐛 Unreliable voice message transcription

Bugs and requests

Telegram Messenger

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • Add video calling feature
  • Improve search capabilities
  • Implement a story/status feature
  • Allow more customization options
  • Segregate channels, bots, and individual chats

Swiftgram

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Search bar crashes the app
  • Forwarded messages disappear
  • Notification issues and unknown caller spam
  • Slow message loading and account switching
  • Crashes when accessing storage usage section

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add Thai language support
  • Integrate with iOS call features
  • Implement 'show restricted content' for entire chats
  • Add 'add to cloud' option for direct message saving
  • Allow custom app icon selection

In-app purchases

19 purchases

Telegram Messenger

Subscriptions2
  • Telegram Premium$4.991 Month
  • Telegram Premium Annual$35.991 Year
One-time17
  • 50 Telegram Stars$0.99
  • 1x Telegram Premium (One Week)$1.19
  • 100 Telegram Stars$1.99
Show 14 more
  • 250 Telegram Stars$5.09
  • 500 Telegram Stars$9.99
  • Telegram Premium (3 Months)$14.99
  • 750 Telegram Stars$14.99
  • Telegram Premium (6 Months)$19.99
  • 1x Premium (6 Months)$19.99
  • 1000 Telegram Stars$19.99
  • 1500 Telegram Stars$29.99
  • Telegram Premium (1 Year)$35.99
  • 1x Premium (1 Year)$35.99
  • 2500 Telegram Stars$50.90
  • 5x Premium (3 Months Each)$74.99
  • 10x Premium (3 Months Each)$149.99
  • 5x Premium (1 Year Each)$179.99
1 purchases

Swiftgram

Subscriptions1
  • Swiftgram Pro$3.991 Month

Questions

Is Telegram Messenger free?
Telegram Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Swiftgram free?
Swiftgram is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Telegram Messenger or Swiftgram?
Swiftgram is rated higher. Telegram Messenger averages 4.0 out of 5 from 280K ratings, while Swiftgram averages 4.2 from 567 ratings.
Do Telegram Messenger or Swiftgram have ads?
Neither Telegram Messenger nor Swiftgram shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Telegram Messenger or Swiftgram?
Telegram Messenger ships an update weekly, and Swiftgram monthly. Most recently, Telegram Messenger was updated on September 25, 2026 and Swiftgram on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Telegram Messenger or Swiftgram?
Telegram Messenger currently peaks at #4 in the App Store charts, and Swiftgram at #210. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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