6 Telegram Features That WhatsApp is Missing (#1’s Amazing)


6 Telegram Features That WhatsApp is Missing (#1's Amazing)Pin

Telegram recently surpassed 500 MILLION downloads in the Google Play store. And in this post, we’ll show six awesome Telegram features that make it better than WhatsApp


WhatsApp is the biggest IM app in the world. It has over five billion downloads to date, meaning almost two-thirds of the global population are actively using the app right now. Given this huge number, you’d think most companies would just give up and let WhatsApp rule the roost, right?

Wrong! There are plenty of alternatives to WhatsApp available, and one of the best ones is Telegram, an IM app that recently surpassed half a billion downloads inside the Google Play Store, or Signal which is the most secure IM on the planet. And in this post, I’ll detail a bunch of Telegram features that not only make it extremely useful as an IM but also better than WhatsApp in some cases.

Telegram Features (That WhatsApp Doesn’t Have)

  • Multiple Phone Numbers – You know how WhatsApp will only let you use one phone number? Even though many phones support dual-SIMS? It sucks, right? Well, Telegram gets around this by letting its users use multiple phone numbers, so you could have a personal and business account inside the same Telegram account. Nice!
  • Secret Chats – If you care about your privacy, or you don’t want your chats stored and saved on a server, Telegram is a great option. Inside Telegram, you can have secret chats that self-destruct after a certain period of time and are not stored on Telegram’s servers. This ensures all sensitive chats remain completely secure and secret.
  • Telegram Bots – Like Slack, Telegram features thousands of bots that you can use to make your life easier. It has bots for the weather, for finding out what music is playing, and pretty much everything else in-between. All you have to do is download the ones you want to use and put them to work.
  • Share Live Location – Telegram gives you the ability to share your location with your contacts. All you have to do to share your location in Telegram is open the attachment setting and select share location. This is a great feature for kids and anyone that lives in a rough area. It’ll give your contacts peace of mind and, if the worst happens, help the authorities track you down. It’s also handy for finding your friends in the park as well.
  • Proxy Servers – Are you ULTRA conscious about your online security and privacy? If so, you’ll love the fact that Telegram lets you set up proxy servers that will hide your location just like a VPN. To set up a proxy server in Telegram, go to Settings > Data Storage > Proxy Settings and then enter your details.
  • Telegram Runs Natively on Windows, macOS & Linux – Regardless of what PC/Laptop you’re using, you will be able to download Telegram for it. Telegram has a native application for macOS, Linux, and Windows. And it all syncs up with your phone’s app too.

Also: Telegram Isn’t Owned By Facebook

This is a big one. If you care about the internet, you should care than more and more internet is being sucked into fewer and fewer pockets. Facebook owns Instagram and WhatsApp. Alongside its actual social network, Facebook controls way too much internet activity. And the company isn’t exactly trust-worthy at the best of times.

TelegramPin

For this reason, I think it is good for the general health of the internet to have and use viable alternatives to things like WhatsApp and Instagram; this is why TikTok and Telegram are great – they pull some of the power away from Facebook.

I use WhatsApp, so I’m not saying DO NOT use it, but I do think it is great that viable alternatives to it are now readily available. The less power Facebook accumulates in the coming years, the better. Telegram is a relatively new upstart, but its growth is impressive – zero to half a billion in a few short years is no joke.

Let’s just hope that Facebook doesn’t try and snap it up as it does with everything else!

Who Owns Telegram Then?

Telegram is owned by the same people – Nikolai and Pavel Durov – that founded Russia’s #1 social network, VK. Telegram was first launched in 2013 but is not based in Russia anymore, apparently this was done to evade “problematic regulations”, and the company now has headquarters in Dubai, following brief residencies in London, Berlin, and Singapore.

On the subject of whether Telegram is safe, the company claims its platform is more secure than WhatsApp – both in terms of encryption and from a data-perspective. Here’s the official line via Telegram on the security measures it uses on its platform:

 All Telegram messages are always securely encrypted. Messages in Secret Chats use client-client encryption, while Cloud Chats use client-server/server-client encryption and are stored encrypted in the Telegram Cloud (more here). This enables your cloud messages to be both secure and immediately accessible from any of your devices – even if you lose your device altogether.

Is it safer and more secure than Signal? No, but that’s not exactly a deal-breaker. Both platforms, given WhatsApp’s recent changes, are infinitely preferable to Facebook-owned WhatsApp.

Things To Keep In Mind…

Here’s the thing, Telegram is arguably better than WhatsApp; it has more features, is more secure, and is generally more useful as an IM – both for individual chats and group chats.

But the one area where it CANNOT beat WhatsApp is the numbers. Everybody uses WhatsApp, so when you use WhatsApp, you know you’ll be able to connect with all your contacts and friends. Conversely, Telegram is newer and no way near as popular.

Key Telegram Stats – Users, Market Share & Future Plans

  • Telegram is aiming for 1 billion users by 2022
  • Telegram app has been downloaded 365 million times (2019)
  • Iran has 50 million Telegram users
  • Telegram is popular in Hong Kong; In 2019, there was a 323% increase year-on-year during the pro-democracy protests
  • 15 billion Telegram messages were sent in a single day (February 2019)

This means that if you download Telegram today, most of your contacts will not have it or use it. This means you’ll have to send an invite to them and hope they accept it. If they don’t, you’ll have to continue using WhatsApp alongside Telegram to speak to certain contacts.

TelegramPin

Even with 500 million installs, Telegram is still EONS behind WhatsApp in terms of users. This will change with time, of course, as Telegram continues to grow but the gap between Telegram and WhatsApp, at least right now, appears to be insurmountable – we’re talking about 4.5 BILLION additional users.

And even with the best features in the world, as well as market-leading security and privacy, that gap just looks too big for Telegram to cause any issues for the facebook-owned WhatsApp.

You never know though, maybe things will change – maybe by 2025, it’ll be Telegram that is number one? WhatsApp came out of nowhere, after all, and look where it is now?

Who’s to say that can’t happen again?

Telegram Download

Telegram is available for iPhone and Android – you can download Telegram for iPhone here and Telegram for Android here.

And check out How To End-To-End Encrypt WhatsApp Backups! And take a look at How To Make Your Sent WhatsApp Messages Disappear!

Latest Smartphone Releases


  • Xiaomi 15S Pro

    The Xiaomi 15S Pro didn’t come with a flashy launch, but it brings some seriously heavy hardware to the table. A custom 10-core chip, Leica-engineered cameras, and one of the brightest displays on the market

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

    At just 5.8mm thick, it’s one of the thinnest Android phones ever made—but don’t let the slim profile fool you. This phone is all flagship under the hood.

  • Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

    It’s got the same slick design and OLED display, but adds a periscope zoom camera and a 50MP front-facing shooter.

  • Nothing Phone (3a)

    The Nothing Phone (3a) nails the formula: give people what they actually want, keep the price low, and make it look cooler than anything else in its class.

  • Motorola EDGE 60 Pro

    With a bold design, flagship-like display, and surprisingly refined camera system, it’s one of the most interesting mid-range phones of 2025.

  • Google Pixel 9

    I’ve been using the Pixel 9 for a few weeks now, and honestly? It nails all the basics—and a bit more. Killer stuff all round!

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro

    I’ve used the Pixel 9 Pro as my daily device, and it’s hands-down the best balance of power, practicality, and photography you’ll find on Android right now.

  • OnePlus 13

    I’ve been using the OnePlus 13 as my daily driver for a few months now—and I’ve got to say, it’s easily one of the best Android phones I’ve tested this year.

  • Xiaomi 15 Ultra

    After using the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for over a week, I can confidently say: this phone is an absolute beast. It’s made for camera nerds, power users, and creators.

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

    If you’ve been holding out for a truly complete iPhone, the 16 Pro Max delivers—hard. After using it daily, I won't be going back…

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

    Big screen, big battery, and even bigger brains—this is the Pixel to get if you want Google’s best hardware and longest support.

  • Google Pixel 9a

    The Pixel 9a brings Google’s flagship-level smarts to a budget-friendly package, and it’s easily one of the best-value Android phones of 2025.

Best SIM-Only Plans & Deals


  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Premium Plan

    Boost’s top-tier option brings the heat: 50GB of premium data, hotspot, North America roaming, global talk & text, and $430 off select devices. All-in at $60/month with no contract.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (50GB premium speed)

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited+ Plan

    Level up with 40GB of premium data, hotspot access, global calling, and up to $300 in device savings. All for just $50/month. No contracts and flexible phone options included.

    +

    Data: Unlimited; Speed Caps After 40GB

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan

    Start strong with 30GB of premium data, unlimited everything, and a killer intro offer: just $15/month for the first 3 months, then $25/month forever. No contracts. No fluff. Big value.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (Speed Caps Over 30GB)

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    Another high-data, low-cost option with no contract. 108GB for just £9, full 5G access, and the same goodies you get with 12-month deals.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 20GB

    The lowest price option. 20GB for £6 with all the same perks as pricier plans. Great if you don’t use much data and want to save every penny.

    +

    Data: 20GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 110GB

    This plan gives you big data and zero commitment. 110GB for just £10 with all perks intact. If you need more data but want the freedom to cancel, this is the one.

    +

    Data: 110GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    More data, same price. For just £8/month, you get 60GB on a no-strings 1-month rolling plan. Ideal for users who stream often but don’t want long commitments.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 40GB

    Perfect if you want full flexibility. You get 40GB and all of iD Mobile's perks with no lock-in, annual increases, or setup fees. Great for short-term users.

    +

    Data: 40GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    One of the best pound-per-GB plans around. You get 60GB for £8 with £25 cashback, which means you’re effectively paying closer to £6/month. Includes roaming and data rollover.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    This deal gets you a healthy 108GB of 5G data for less than a tenner, with no upfront costs and £24 cashback. All the perks are included too: data rollover, roaming, and loyalty rewards.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: Unlimited Data

    This iD Mobile plan doesn’t just compete on price, it’s up there with the best of them. Unlimited everything, a year-long lock-in with no price rises, and £42 cashback straight to your pocket. It’s like getting nearly 3 months free.

    +

    Data: Unlimited, No Speed Caps

  • Mint Mobile 20GB Plan

    If you're looking to save some cash on your bills, this plan is an awesome option. You'll get 20GB of data per month and 20GB hotspot data allowance. For moderate to heavy users, that should be more than enough. I seldom use more than 10GB of data a month, and I'm always using my phone

    +

    Data: 20GB