Telegram

Softonic review

Use Telegram for messaging and more

Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging app where users can communicate using their Wi-Fi or mobile data connections.  You can contact others via messages, share content and media, and maintain groups of up to 200,000 individuals. The messenger also supports Voice over IP calling, video calling, and more. The chats are end-to-end encrypted for secure communication.

What do I use Telegram for?

Telegram is a free messaging application where users can communicate with individuals or groups, share photos, videos, and audio media, broadcast messages to large groups of people, have free voice and video calling, and more. Beyond these basic functions that can be found in other messengers like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Hike, and more, Telegram also distributes content via Channels.

People can make their own Channels to distribute content. Users can follow the Channels of their preference, and creators can easily reach out to an unlimited number of followers through broadcast messages. When a new post is uploaded, subscribers get notified via message. In this sense, Telegram also competes with programs like YouTube (for video content) and Instagram (for video and photo content).

Telegram can be used both on mobiles and computers, and sync across devices. You’ll have access to media, chats, Channels, and more on as many devices as you want. Telegram is compatible with MacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux. It can also be used over the web if you don’t want to download it on your devices.

What are the top reasons to use Telegram?

The Translating Entire Chats feature has been one of the most popular additions to this messaging app. With real-time translation, you can now translate entire conversations, chats, groups, and channels into any of your preferred languages. However, all users can translate individual messages by selecting them and tapping the word Translate, but only premium users have access to The Entire Chats feature.

The Profile Photo Maker feature will allow users to quickly make profile pictures for their accounts out of any sticker or animated emoji. Even users without premium versions can use animated and custom emojis in their pictures. In addition to a wide variety of emojis, this tool also provides an Emoji Categories feature where you can get emojis and stickers sorted into categories.

In addition to its many other features, this messaging platform introduced network usage features to its users. With this app, users can see the amount of data used for each type—Wi-Fi or mobile—and how much total bandwidth has been consumed in a detailed pie chart. Users can also adjust their auto-download settings to accommodate the size of their data plan.

What are the biggest drawbacks of Telegram?

One of the biggest drawbacks of the app is that it is unclear how to add new contacts. When you click on the “add new contacts”, a window pops up, asking for the name and number of the individual. While on mobile there is an option to import the contacts from the phone to the desktop, you have to manually enter the contact details for the contact to be included.  This can be a bit cumbersome given that WhatsApp automatically adds contacts.

Also, while Telegram is considered to be safe, with a high level of privacy, the reach is still not as wide as WhatsApp or Facebook messenger. While you may want to distribute content to a large community, gathering enough Telegram users might be challenging.

How do I create an account on Telegram?

To create a Telegram account, you must need a valid phone number. Users can access the account using the same account on multiple devices, ensuring a seamless experience. These accounts can be created and deleted at any time. After six months of the account being inactive, they are removed from Telegram automatically. You can also customize the “Last Seen” message on the account. Authentication on the account is done through SMS, and the account will take you two minutes to create. 

What’s the user interface and Telegram experience like?

Once you sign up, a window opens up, displaying contacts on one side and chats in the middle. A menu opens up and you can see the functions of the app. You can create a new group, or a new channel, view contacts, go to settings, and go to Night Mode for the app. The program on Windows has a great UI and looks quite attractive. 

What’s the final verdict?

Telegram is a good alternative to popular messengers like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, and is an extremely safe instant messaging app. Even though other applications have end-to-end encryption, Telegram doesn’t have any in-app advertisements. There is no risk of data sharing with a third party. Features like Secret Chat and Channels make Telegram a unique messaging application. Using the mass broadcast feature, you’ll easily be able to share content with around 200,000 people at once (if you can get that many!). However, its reach is still not as wide as WhatsApp, and creating a large community for content distribution is in itself a challenge.