saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

secure messaging app · Telegram FZ-LLC

Telegram

Free cloud messenger with open-source apps and groups of up to 200,000; end-to-end encryption for messages only in secret chats.

54/100

#9 of 12 secure messaging apps
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

Telegram suits people who want big groups, multi-device sync and open-source apps1,2. Its bug bounty pays $100 to $100,000 or more3. The catch: everyday chats are not end-to-end encrypted, and a phone number is required to register1.

Best for: People who want very large groups and sync across devices and accept that normal chats are not end-to-end encrypted.

Where the points come from

Encryption0 of 20
Source and audits12 of 26
Sign-up and identity4 of 16
Chats and calls14 of 14
Systems16 of 16
Price8 of 8

Encryption 0 of 20 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
End-to-end encrypted by defaultNoCloud chats, private and group, use server-client encryption; end-to-end encryption is for secret chats only1,5.0 / 12
Post-quantum key exchangeNot publishedNot published on the vendor's MTProto page5.0 / 4
Encrypted backupsNoChat history syncs through cloud chats, which use server-client encryption rather than end-to-end1.0 / 4

Source and audits 12 of 26 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Open-source appsYesThe apps page says Telegram apps are open source; Desktop is GPLv3 with an OpenSSL exception2,8.8 / 8
Independent audit since 2022Not publishedNot published on the vendor's MTProto page5.0 / 10
Public bug bountyYesBug bounty active since 2014, paying $100 to $100,000 or more; reports go to Telegram directly3.4 / 4
Transparency reportNot publishedThe privacy policy says quarterly reports are published at t.me/transparency; no report covering 2025 or later is shown on the vendor's pages4.0 / 4

Sign-up and identity 4 of 16 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
No phone number neededNoFAQ: accounts can only be connected to a mobile number; the privacy policy says phone numbers are the unique identifiers1,4.0 / 12
Contacts by usernameYesWith a username, anyone can find and contact you without knowing your phone number7.4 / 4

Chats and calls 14 of 14 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Disappearing messagesYesAuto-delete timers of 24 hours or 7 days can be enabled in all chats, with secret chats keeping their own timers6.5 / 5
Largest group chat200000FAQ: Telegram groups can have up to 200,000 members1.4 / 4
Encrypted voice and video callsYesFAQ: voice and video calls, and group calls, are end-to-end encrypted1.5 / 5

Systems 16 of 16 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
AppsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, WebApps page lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone and iPad, Android, and web apps WebK and WebA; no beta labels2.12 / 12
Windows works without the phoneYesFAQ: you can log in from as many devices as you like, all at the same time, with cloud chats synced1.4 / 4

Price 8 of 8 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Cost for one person$0FAQ: private messaging on Telegram is free and will stay free; Premium is optional and ignored1.8 / 8

The rule behind each line: how we score secure messaging apps.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

PlanPrice as listedPer monthNotes
Telegram1 personFree1$0Private messaging is free; Premium is optional

Telegram Premium is an optional paid subscription and is not counted in the price1.

Strengths

  • Groups of up to 200,000 members1.
  • Apps for all six platforms, with open-source code and reproducible builds2.
  • Auto-delete timers can be set in all chats, not only secret chats6.
  • Voice and video calls, including group calls, are end-to-end encrypted1.
  • Public bug bounty paying from $100 to $100,000 or more3.

Limits

  • Cloud chats use server-client encryption, not end-to-end1,5.
  • A phone number is required to create an account1.
  • Synced chat history is not end-to-end encrypted1.
  • In 2016 an Iran-linked attack collected public data on about 15 million accounts, Telegram said9.

Concerns on record

  • On 2 August 2016 Telegram said about 15 million accounts were implicated in an Iran-linked attack that collected publicly available data, and said no accounts were directly accessed9.

What Telegram FZ-LLC says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

  • Telegram says it has disclosed 0 bytes of user messages to third parties, including governments1.

Other secure messaging apps

  1. 1
    SimpleX ChatPeople who want a messenger that holds no account identifier or phone number
    86/100
    $0cost for one person
  2. 2
    ThreemaPeople who want a messenger with no phone number and no subscription
    79/100
    $6/yrcost for one person
  3. 3
    WirePeople who want default encryption and open-source apps without handing over a phone number
    78/100
    $0cost for one person
  4. 4
    ElementPeople who want open-source apps on every platform and no phone number
    69/100
    $0cost for one person

All 12 secure messaging apps

Sources

  1. Telegram FAQ, Telegram. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  2. Telegram apps, Telegram. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  3. Telegram Bug Bounty, Telegram. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  4. Telegram Privacy Policy, Telegram. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  5. MTProto Mobile Protocol, Telegram. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  6. Auto-Delete, Widgets and Expiring Invite Links, Telegram. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  7. Usernames and Secret Chats 2.0, Telegram. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  8. telegramdesktop/tdesktop, GitHub. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  9. Telegram explains what really happened from its massive hacker attack, VentureBeat. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: telegram.org · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Telegram FZ-LLC.