# Telegram Messenger vs DatChat

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DatChat at 91% against Telegram Messenger's 35%. DatChat also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.0). Telegram Messenger's advantage is ratings volume (280K vs 944) and chart position (#4 vs unranked). 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 DatChat sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

DatChat holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Telegram Messenger has 280K ratings behind it against 944, 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 91% of DatChat's.

Telegram Messenger ships an update weekly, DatChat every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Telegram Messenger | DatChat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (280K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/telegram-messenger/id686449807/reviews) | **[4.8 (944 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datchat-social-network-plus/id999516973/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **280K** | 944 |
| Positive reviews | 34.6% of reviews | **90.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#4** | — |
| Size | 232 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Telegram FZ-LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/686450210) | [Myseum, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/999516972) |

## 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


### DatChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datchat-social-network-plus/id999516973)

This app offers a private social network and messenger with self-destructing, screenshot-protected, and end-to-end encrypted posts and messages. Users can control messages even after sending, create private social groups, and secure photos with advanced encryption.

**Highlights:** Self-destructing messages and posts, Screenshot protection with notifications, End-to-end encrypted communication, Nuke conversations to erase both sides, Private social groups, Multiple accounts, Encrypted hidden photo storage

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro (Monthly) | $0.99 | per month |
| Pro (Yearly) | $9.99 | per year |
| Remain Anonymous | $1.99 | one-time |
| DatChat Pro Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Privacy and security
- 🚀 Innovative features
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Blockchain technology
- 🔒 Anti-screenshot protection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔧 Needs more feature development
- 👎 Dated UI design
- 🔍 Difficulty finding recent messages

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Inconsistent message delivery
- Notifications not always working as expected

**Requested features**

- Video chat functionality
- Ability to like/react to messages
- Improved message search and sorting
- Customizable notification settings
- Integration with other platforms


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Telegram Messenger free?

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

### Is DatChat free?

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

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

DatChat is rated higher. Telegram Messenger averages 4.0 out of 5 from 280K ratings, while DatChat averages 4.8 from 944 ratings.

### Do Telegram Messenger or DatChat have ads?

Neither Telegram Messenger nor DatChat shows ads.

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

Telegram Messenger ships an update weekly, and DatChat every 9 days. Most recently, Telegram Messenger was updated on September 24, 2026 and DatChat 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.*