There are both strengths and weaknesses to both Signal and Telegram.
To interact with friends and strangers, many people have turned to alternative free messaging apps after a significant exodus from WhatsApp occurred in 2021 Both Signal and Telegram, two of the most well-known and dependable alternatives, are included in our list of the top encrypted chat applications. Signal and Telegram
It’s important to note that Signal and Telegram aren’t exactly the same. To see how they measure up, let’s compare them.
Which is more secure, Signal or Telegram?
If you’re concerned about security, Signal is the obvious choice.
When it comes to security, Signal is the hands-down victor. The first thing to note is that all Signal communications are by default encrypted from the sender to the receiver, meaning that no one except you and the individuals with whom you’re conversing can read them.
Telegram, on the other hand, only offers end-to-end encryption for certain of its messages and voice conversations. Telegram staff, police enforcement, and others may be able to see the remainder of it. Below, we’ll go into further depth about the various communication formats.
Signal’s open-source encryption system means that problems may be discovered and repaired rapidly, making it a more secure option. WhatsApp also makes advantage of this encryption.
Telegram employs its proprietary MTProto 2.0 protocol, which is open-source on the client side, for its encrypted Secret Chats. Telegram’s “homegrown encryption technology” has a limited track record, according to several information security experts, although it seems to be more safe than MTProto 1.0.
The MTProto 2.0 protocol of Telegram was evaluated in an academic study report released in December 2020 and found to be sound. This protocol suite must, however, undergo “additional examination” before it can be deemed “absolutely secure,” according to the report.
Less information about its users is gathered by Signal than Telegram. Only the date and time when you last logged in are kept in Signal’s database. It is possible that Telegram’s metadata includes your IP address (and hence, your location) as well as the names of the people with whom you are communicating. Having a search warrant is important when the authorities come up at the service provider’s premises
Telegram, on the other hand, requires access to your contacts before you may send a message to anybody.
Signal is once again the superior alternative for individuals who are worried about big tech eavesdropping on private chats.
Telegram was founded by Russian billionaires Pavel and Nikolai Durov, who founded Russia’s most popular social network, VK, whereas Signal is controlled by a non-profit charity. Despite the fact that their firm is headquartered in London, the brothers no longer reside in Russia, and many of its core activities are located in Dubai.
Telegram vs. Signal: Which App Supports More Devices?
A Chrome browser plugin, as well as a web-based version of Telegram, give it an advantage in this area. Both Telegram and Signal may be accessed on these platforms:
- iOS (Signal, Telegram)
- MacOS (Signal, Telegram)
- Android (Signal, Telegram)
- Windows (Signal, Telegram)
- Linux (Debian-based distros for Signal, 32-bit and 64-bit versions for Telegram)
In terms of setup and use, how do Signal and Telegram compare?
Both applications may be set up in the following ways: Use your phone number to sign up and get an SMS with a verification code. Then install the app on your selected platform. If Telegram doesn’t call you with the code, it will email it to you.
In order to complete your profile on either platform, you must provide a first name, but you are not required to use your actual name in this instance. If you’re using Signal, you may use an emoji instead of an alias. You’ll be prompted whether you want to give the app access to things like your contacts when you first install it.
You’ll next be asked to enter a PIN code. As an extra layer of security and privacy for Telegram, you may enable Passcode Lock under Settings > Privacy & Security > Advanced Security Options.
A desktop version of either Signal or Telegram can only be activated after setting up an account on mobile. The QR code in the Signal app may be used to connect to other devices. Telegram has a QR code as well, but you can also use your phone number and an SMS verification code to verify your account as an authorised user.
When you updated your phone number, Signal prompted you to register a new account. If you’re still using the same phone, you may now move your account to a new one. When transferring from one Android phone to another, be sure the new phone has the same phone number as the previous one.
In Telegram, changing phone numbers is a lot simpler and can be done directly from the software itself. Since numerous devices may use the same phone number to sign in to a single Telegram account, switching phones is no difficulty at all. Keep your Telegram password safe, but don’t reveal it to anybody!
Features of Signal and Telegram
When it comes to chat features, both applications are quite similar.
This means that Signal’s message encryption is built in, whereas Telegram’s is not, unless you specifically enable it. A Secret Chat must be set up if you wish to secure your Telegram chats from Telegram itself.
Both systems allow users to communicate with others in a group chat. Again, Signal’s end-to-end encryption is superior than Telegram’s. When it comes to groups, there’s no such thing as a Secret Chat. Up to 1,000 participants may be included in a Signal group, whereas 200,000 individuals can be included in a Telegram group.
Voice and video calls are available on both platforms. Signal’s encrypted calls may be made by a single person or by a group of up to forty people.
A voice-chat function that enables big groups to have discussions where members may come and leave is also included in Telegram’s end-to-end encrypted video calling. Only from the client device (i.e., a phone or desktop) to the server are Telegram’s group voice conversations encrypted. As a result, anybody with access to Telegram’s servers may hear what’s going on.
In each individual or group discussion, Signal communications may be programmed to vanish at any time between five seconds and one week. There is a self-destruct option in Telegram as well, but it is not limited to Secret Chats any more.
There are a few differences in the additional privacy features, and Signal offers less of them. Fortunately, there’s an image-blur function that makes it easy to remove people’s faces from images and movies. A password or biometric access is required to launch the app if the screen is locked. One exists at Telegram as well.
As a Telegram user, you may choose to erase payment or shipping information from your conversations, unsend messages (which deletes them for both the sender and the receiver), and allow your account to self-destruct after it has not been used for a defined length of time.
With its Channels feature and a slew of additional options we’ll cover below, Telegram also functions more like a social media network.
An infinite number of people may subscribe to channels, which enable users to broadcast messages such as text, photographs and videos as well as files, podcasts, and other media. Subscribers are unable to reply to channel messages since the communication is one-way, like a radio station. You have the option to make a channel public or private.
User experience with Signal vs. Telegram
In terms of personalization, Telegram is the clear winner here, thanks to its extensive set of settings. Font size and colour themes; emojis and animations; and alerts may all be customised.
If you transmit numerous music files at once and open them in the app’s built-in media player, the app will generate playlists. People Nearby lets you conduct polls and quizzes, edit photographs and videos, and see other nearby users (not a privacy-friendly feature).
Animated stickers and new emojis have just been added to Signal’s emoji library, which makes it a far more straightforward tool for exchanging basic text, media, and voice conversations. Overall, Signal is simple to use and doesn’t need a lot of customising to get the best out of it.
In the battle of the messaging apps, the winner is…
Signal and Telegram both have their advantages and disadvantages. No matter what other features you utilise, Signal is the best solution if you are concerned about security and encryption.
Telegram may be a better choice if you just need to send encrypted communications occasionally and utilise social network-style features. When using Telegram’s Secret Chat feature, bear in mind that the encryption of your messages is only complete if you choose to activate it.
Added support for Signal’s new number-changing functionality, as well as the comparable Telegram capabilities. In February 2021, this battle was first published. Source