Telegram Messenger vs WhatsApp Messenger

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

1. [R6] Telegram Messenger 3/5 · US Search bar ain’t working: I tried to use the the global search it doesn’t work anymore
2. [R9] Telegram Messenger 3/5 · US Notifications: When will stable notifications be restored?... · translated
3. [R12] Telegram Messenger 3/5 · US Has potential but is a buggy mess: Two longstanding bugs make this app downright unusable. 1. is that airpods announced messages are repeated over and over if not actioned. This is not how it works for other messaging apps btw. 2. is that autocorrect suggestions are auto-accepted on send but somehow the user input gets interspersed into the completion. Also not the case for other messaging apps. I
4. [R22] Telegram Messenger 1/5 · US Doesn’t load onto my phone: Stopped working on my iPhone 16 Pro Max, white screen, that’s all. Then I deleted and have been trying to reload but it does not! Am I the only one? This is the only app that does this!
5. [R8] Telegram Messenger 5/5 · US What's wrong with video messages: My favorite messenger, but with the latest update, video messages have become much worse. They used to be smooth, but now they seem accelerated, and the front camera zoom is gone. Please fix it 🙏🏻 · translated
6. [R17] Telegram Messenger 5/5 · US Best for everyone: I’ve been using it since 2016 and it’s been great
7. [R21] Telegram Messenger 3/5 · US Extremely inconvenient feature: I'm sure everyone hates the right swipe on the main screen that brings up the camera. I ask, I beg, I demand, and I cry for the ability to remove this function through the settings. · translated
8. [R24] Telegram Messenger 3/5 · US Doesn't show premium reactions in a Telegram Premium group: Convenient messenger, BUT premium reactions are not shown on posts in a Telegram group. · translated
9. [R25] Telegram Messenger 1/5 · US SCAMMERS PLAYGROUND: You would get contacted by a bunch of random offering you money etc. they’re all scammers
10. [R31] Telegram Messenger 1/5 · US Scammer: Too many scammers peoples
11. [R34] Telegram Messenger 1/5 · US DO NOT USE! Privacy Settings Are A Lie!: I regret installing this garbage app more than anything else ever. It's a trojan horse! It's a Spam platform. I've been getting garbage and criminal spam since I made the mistake of putting my phone number on this app. The "privacy" settings are a total lie. How these scum got my phone number? This scummy app! This should be criminal!
12. [R43] Telegram Messenger 1/5 · US Predators: App for predators to share explicit content of abuse and rape videos. Telegram provides a platform for monsters to share unspeakable imagery with no concern for human beings. Telegram should be removed from the App Store, permanently. And all other app downloading platforms shame on you TELEGRAM. Should be included in the Epstein Files too… BOO. Tomato TOMATO.
13. [R7] Telegram Messenger 1/5 · US Support system: I havent seen such terrible support team in a long time. They just blocked my number when couldnt help.
14. [R37] Telegram Messenger 1/5 · US Complaints: I received a temporary restriction for sending 'Hello' to a user. The Telegram bot deemed the complaint valid, even though my text contained no insults, spam, or any prohibited content. What's most upsetting isn't the restriction itself, but the lack of transparency. The user doesn't see what exactly was considered a violation and is forced to appeal without understanding what they did wrong. · translated
15. [R44] Telegram Messenger 5/5 · US !!: Please stop deleting and clearing chats for no reason, and please have your technical support (volunteers) respond as well. · translated
16. [R61] WhatsApp Messenger 1/5 · US Keeps suspending my account for no reason: If I could put a zero star I would this app constantly suspends or “investigates” my account for no clear reason it happens every few days and I have to wait to text my family back while I’m in a whole other country by myself it’s a huge hassle to try and find other apps to use to communicate with my family and they never give me a clear reason onto why m
17. [R10] Telegram Messenger 1/5 · US Why does China charge a fee? · translated
18. [R13] Telegram Messenger 2/5 · US Telegram Is Turning Into a Paywall Factory: Telegram used to be a solid messaging app, but lately it feels like they’re charging for anything they can get away with. Basic features like message translation are now locked behind limits unless you pay, and the “free” translations run out almost immediately. It’s ridiculous watching a once‑great app nickel‑and‑dime users for features that were standa
19. [R27] Telegram Messenger 3/5 · US Story problem: Why my friend is able to post stories every day But im not?? It says you need to make premium
20. [R35] Telegram Messenger 5/5 · US Huge thank to telegram team: I don’t know if this massage will reach telegram team but I am really thanking you guys for making the sms fee free. in the last 6 month I was struggling with that fee because I was an student and it was difficult to reach the lessons and the exercises but making it free will make my life easy and my education also easy so thank youuuuu really much.
21. [R70] WhatsApp Messenger 1/5 · US WhatsApp Ban for NO REASON: it keeps getting my account under review over and over and over again despite not violating any terms of services. it’s costing me my important work. I’m so done with What’sApp at this point. Nothing like this ever happened before. Please FOR GOD SAKE fix your problem WhatsApp with my account. Also the AI-generated responses from WhatsApp are extremely USELESS and SUPPO
22. [R82] WhatsApp Messenger 1/5 · US Couldn’t even get started: Literally tried to use the app once and account was immediately locked after sending one message while on vacation. Filed the appeal and got unlocked. Then tried to send one message to confirm my airport transfer (reputable company) and got locked again. Beyond frustrated. Couldn’t use the app my entire vacation because it was always locked. I’ll be going elsewhere and
23. [R97] WhatsApp Messenger 1/5 · US False Bans: Within the past month WhatsApp has banned me twice out of nowhere. I have only used the app to message my classmates on my study abroad trip and my bannable messages were essentially “I’d love to join you on the field trip with our friend x” and sending a friend a recipe she asked for. I’m assuming their ban system is built on an AI model flagging content, but it seems to be broken an
24. [R40] Telegram Messenger 1/5 · US ??: My telegram isn’t opening cause I’m being asked to pay something I don’t want to.