Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging apps that enables users to send and receive messages, files up to 2GB in size, photos, videos, and audio. Telegram offers features like voice and video calls, messages that delete themselves, and group chats with up to 200,000 users. “Secret chats” that are completely encrypted are another feature. Among other platforms, Telegram can be used on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Wickr is also a safe instant messaging app that encrypts all messages, even group chats, from end to end. The app uses AES256 encryption with perfect forward secrecy and doesn’t collect any user data or metadata. Wickr has features like messages that delete themselves after a certain amount of time, voice and video calls, group video calls with up to 30 people, file sharing of up to 5 GB, screen sharing during calls, and tools for working together like whiteboards and document editing. Wickr is available on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux, among other platforms.
Telegram vs Wickr: Comparison Table
Criteria | Telegram | Wickr |
---|---|---|
Encryption | End-to-end encryption in secret chats only | End-to-end encryption for all messages |
Security | Uses MTProto protocol with advanced encryption methods | Uses AES256 encryption with perfect forward secrecy |
Privacy | Collects some user data for the purpose of improving service | Does not collect any user data |
Group chats | Supports groups with up to 200,000 members | Supports groups with up to 10,000 members |
Self-destruct messages | Supports self-destruct timer for messages | Supports self-destruct timer for messages |
Video calls | Supports group video calls | Supports group video calls |
Open source | Partially open source | Closed source |
Cost | Free | Offers both free and paid versions |
Platform support | Available on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux | Available on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux |
Official link | Visit Website | Visit Website |
Telegram vs Wickr: User interface
Both Telegram and Wickr have easy-to-use interfaces, but there are some differences in how they look and what they can do. The interface of Telegram is clean and easy to use, with a focus on messaging. The app is light in color, and the chat window takes up most of the screen. Chats and contacts can be accessed from a column on the left. Telegram also has a media editor with lots of features that lets users change photos and videos before sending them and add stickers and emojis.
Wickr has a darker color scheme and focuses on security and privacy in its interface. The app has tabs for messaging, contacts, and settings. On the messaging tab, messages are shown in a format that looks like a conversation. For media, you can switch to a grid view. Wickr also has a media editor that lets users change photos and videos before sending them, but it doesn’t have a built-in sticker or emoji library.
Telegram vs Wickr: Features
Telegram offers a wide range of features, including:
- Chats in groups with up to 200,000 people
- Encryption from end to end in “secret chats”
- Messages that vanish on their own at a time you choose
- Voice and video calls
- Up to 30 people can join a group video call.
- Ways to send messages to a large number of people
- Bots can be used to automate tasks and communicate with services.
- A library of stickers and emoji
- Media editor is used to edit pictures and videos.
- You can share files up to 2 GB
Wickr offers the following features:
- All messages, even group chats, are encrypted from start to finish.
- Messages that vanish on their own at a time you choose
- Voice and video calls
- Up to 30 people can join a group video call.
- You can share files up to 5 GB
- Sharing your screen during a call
- Tools for working together, like whiteboards and document editors
- Setting up a safe place for a team to talk
Telegram vs Wickr: Ease of use
With a clean and easy-to-understand interface, Telegram is made to be simple and easy to use. The app is easy to set up and use, and people can start sending messages to their contacts right away. Stickers and the ability to edit media are two other ways that Telegram makes messaging more fun and interesting. But some users may find the large number of features too much or not necessary.
Wickr’s interface is also easy to use, but the app was made with security and privacy in mind, so some features may be harder to find or use. Wickr’s self-destructing messages and end-to-end encryption, for example, need a few more steps to set up and use. But the app has a number of tools that make it easy for teams to work together, like whiteboards and document editing.
Telegram vs Wickr: Security and privacy
End-to-end encryption is only available in “secret chats,” which are not turned on by default and can only be used for one-on-one chats. The default setting for group chats is not end-to-end encryption, but messages are still encrypted while in transit. Telegram has its own MTProto protocol, which uses advanced encryption methods. However, security experts have said that the protocol has not been fully audited, which is a problem.
Wickr, on the other hand, encrypts all messages, even group chats, from end to end. The app uses AES256 encryption with perfect forward secrecy. This means that even if a message is intercepted and the encryption key is found, it can’t be used to decrypt past or future messages. Wickr also doesn’t collect any information about its users, like their contact lists or the timestamps on their messages.
Telegram vs Wickr: Platform Support
Telegram and Wickr can be used on a variety of devices, including desktop computers and mobile phones. There are versions of Telegram for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux. On mobile devices, you can get the app from the app store, and on desktop devices, you can get it from the Telegram website. Users can access their chats and messages from any device they use because Telegram keeps everything in sync.
Wickr works on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. On mobile devices, you can get the app from the app store, and on desktop devices, you can get it from the Wickr website. Wickr also lets you have the same experience on all of your devices, so you can switch between them without losing your chat history or contacts.
Telegram vs Wickr: Performance
Telegram is known for being fast and reliable, even when it comes to large group chats and conversations with lots of media. The app sends messages quickly and efficiently even on slower networks because it uses a cloud-based infrastructure. Telegram also has servers all over the world, which helps make sure messages get sent quickly and keeps downtime to a minimum.
Wickr is also fast and reliable, but for some users, it might not be as fast as Telegram. Because Wickr’s messages are encrypted from end to end, they take more processing power to encrypt and decrypt, which can slow down the app on some devices. Wickr, on the other hand, has features like sharing your screen and tools for working together that require more processing power but can help your team communicate and get work done.
Telegram: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Larger user base
- More extensive feature set
- Cloud-based infrastructure for fast messaging
- Easy to use with a simple interface
Cons
- End-to-end encryption only available in “secret chats”
- Data is stored on Telegram’s servers
Wickr: Pros and Cons
Pros
- More secure collaboration tools
- End-to-end encryption for all messages
- Self-destructing messages with customizable timers
- Screen sharing during calls
Cons
- Smaller user base
- May require more effort to use due to security features
- Messages may be slower due to encryption
Which one should you consider?
Both Telegram and Wickr are secure messaging apps that encrypt messages from end to end and let messages disappear on their own. Telegram has more users and more features, like bigger group chats and file sharing of up to 2 GB. Wickr, on the other hand, has more secure tools for working together, like whiteboards and document editing.
Telegram is easier to use because it has a simple interface. Wickr, on the other hand, may be harder to use because it has more security features. Overall, both apps are great for messaging and are available on a number of different platforms. Whether a user chooses Telegram or Wickr depends on their needs and preferences.
FAQs
Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging app that people all over the world can use on a variety of platforms. It is also known for its video phone calls and chats with end-to-end encryption.
Wickr is a free app that lets you send encrypted text, picture, audio, and video messages that are as strong as those used by the military. The person who sends the message decides who can read it and for how long. Messages that are encrypted are stored on our servers and are deleted after the devices of the recipients have downloaded them.