Telegram Messenger

Communication

8.2~~/10~~

Our score

★ 3.8 Google Play·1B+ installs

Reviewed by Editorial Team, ScoredApps editorial · updated 2026-09-05

Screenshots

Chat list with folder tabs for groups, work and bots above a stories row

Group of 2,003 members with an anonymous poll showing 345 votes

Photo-heavy chat with the animated emoji keyboard open

Secret chat with a self-destruct timer and a screenshot notice

Chat with live location sharing, a dice roll and a video message

About Telegram Messenger

Telegram is a messenger built around the cloud rather than the phone: chats, photos and files live on its servers with no storage limit, so every device shows the same history and nothing is lost with a handset. Groups run to thousands of members with polls and broadcasts. Premium costs $4.99 a month, and the encryption story is more complicated than the marketing suggests.

App information

DeveloperTelegram FZ-LLC

Version12.10.0 (Android) · 12.9.3 (iOS)

Size69.6 MB (Android) · 243 MB (iOS)

Price / In-appFree

Contains adsNo

In-app purchasesYes

Content rating13+

Requires (Android)Android 5.0+

Requires (iOS)iOS 13.0+

Offline modeCached chats read offline; sending and loading media need a connection

Interface languagesAR, BE, CA, NL, EN, FR + 13 more

Store rating (Google Play)3.8 from 17,280,958 ratings

Installs1B+

Updated by developer2026-08-21

Data checked2026-09-07

Specs come from the official store listings and were last checked on 2026-09-07. Developers change pricing and requirements — check the store page before installing.

Telegram Review: Cloud Chats, Secret Chats, $4.99 Premium

Secret Chats Are the Encrypted Ones

Ordinary chats here are stored on Telegram's servers and encrypted in transit, which is precisely what makes unlimited history and instant sync across devices possible. End-to-end encryption applies to Secret Chats, started deliberately per conversation: those carry a self-destruct timer, are tied to one device and notify you when the other person takes a screenshot. Both appear in the store screenshots, and the difference matters — anyone assuming every message is end-to-end encrypted by default is describing a different app, such as WhatsApp or Signal. The distinction is visible in the interface: a secret chat carries a lock in its title bar, an ordinary one does not.

Groups of Thousands, Polls and Folders

Scale is the second reason people move here. A group can hold thousands of members — the store example shows one with 2,003 — with anonymous polls counting hundreds of votes inside the conversation, plus broadcast channels for one-way updates. Chat folders sort the mess into tabs such as Work, Groups and Bots, which is the feature that keeps a busy account usable. Around that sit voice messages, video notes, live location sharing, animated stickers and a bot platform that runs small services inside chats. None of it costs anything, which is why community groups that outgrow other messengers tend to land here.

Premium at $4.99, Stars up to $50.90

The app is free and the Play listing carries no advertising badge. Telegram Premium costs $4.99 a month, $1.19 for a week or $35.99 for a year, lifting upload limits and adding cosmetic extras. Separately, Telegram Stars are sold in packs from $1.99 to $50.90 as an in-app currency for paying creators and bots. Google Play lists seven collected categories with no third-party sharing declared, and the Android rating is 3.8 across 17.2 million reviews — low for an app with a billion installs. That gap between a billion installs and a 3.8 score is worth reading before installing: the complaints concentrate on moderation and spam rather than on the app itself.

Pros

Unlimited cloud storage for chat history and files
Groups run to thousands of members with polls built in
Folders sort chats into tabs like Work and Groups
No advertising badge on the Google Play listing
Secret Chats add end-to-end encryption and self-destruct timers

Cons

Ordinary chats are stored on Telegram's servers, not end-to-end encrypted
Android rating of 3.8 across 17.2 million reviews
Stars packs reach $50.90 as an in-app currency
Seven collected data categories, including precise location

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Verdict

The best messenger for groups, channels and anyone who wants their entire history on every device — folders and unlimited cloud storage are genuinely hard to leave once you rely on them. Just be precise about the security claim: the default chats are stored on Telegram's servers, and end-to-end encryption is a per-conversation choice called a Secret Chat. Know which one you are in before sending anything sensitive.

Core function9.0Messaging, huge groups, channels and file transfer all work faster than rivals on weak networks.

Ease of use8.5Folders, search and a clean chat list keep hundreds of conversations manageable.

Monetisation8.0Free with no ads badge; Premium is $4.99 and nothing essential sits behind it.

Performance8.5Light on data, quick on poor connections, and media loads faster than in most messengers.

Privacy & permissions6.0Cloud chats sit on Telegram's servers; only Secret Chats are end-to-end encrypted.

8.2out of 10 · weighted average of the five scores above

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Frequently asked questions

Is Telegram free?

Yes, with no advertising badge on the Play listing and nothing essential paywalled. Premium at $4.99 a month raises upload limits and adds cosmetic features, and Telegram Stars are an optional currency for tipping creators and paying bots, sold from $1.99 to $50.90.

What is a Secret Chat?

A conversation with end-to-end encryption, started deliberately rather than by default. It lives on one device only, supports a self-destruct timer measured in seconds or minutes, and tells you if the other person screenshots it. Ordinary chats do not work this way.

What does Telegram Premium include?

Larger file uploads, faster downloads, longer captions, extra stickers and profile badges, for $4.99 a month, $1.19 a week or $35.99 a year. None of the core messaging features require it, which is why most users never subscribe.

Are all Telegram messages encrypted?

Not end-to-end. Cloud chats — the default — are encrypted between your phone and Telegram's servers, where they are stored so any device can load the full history. Only Secret Chats are encrypted end-to-end. If default end-to-end encryption is the requirement, WhatsApp or Signal are the honest answers.

What are the alternatives?

WhatsApp encrypts every personal chat by default but caps groups and stores less in the cloud. Signal is stricter still and collects almost nothing. Telegram wins on group size, channels, bots and having every message on every device.