Telegram Review: What Is Telegram?

Have you ever wanted to communicate in a secure and private manner, without worrying about data breaches and other security risks? You don’t have to stick to popular messaging apps that your grannies use. Use Telegram.org instead. It’s already more popular than WhatsApp or Messenger in some countries, anyway. The Telegram messaging app allows users to communicate securely with one another, protecting their data from any malicious actors. In this Telegram review, I’ll tell you why the features that make Telegram great - from its encryption system to its group chat capabilities and more.

What Is Telegram?

Telegram is a cross-platform cloud-based instant messaging service. It provides end-to-end encryption for security and privacy. Telegram also offers "Secret Chats" which are chats that self-destruct after a certain time period.

Telegram was founded in 2013 by brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov, who is also the founder of VKontakte, a popular Russian social networking site. Telegram is now headquartered in British Virgin Islands and UAE.

As of 2022, Telegram has over 700 million monthly active users. Telegram is available in 12 languages and is accessible worldwide.

Why Is Telegram Good?

Telegram is reliable because it promises that it takes privacy seriously and never gives third parties access to your data. This is important for all SNS users in the world, where their details are unknowingly sold by the networks. It keeps your messages safe from hacker attacks by using end-to-end encryption to make sure that only you and the person you're communicating with can read what's been sent.

There are quite a few reasons that you should choose Telegram over other messaging applications. Here they are;

• Not only does it allow you to send images and videos but it also allows you to send any type of file, including zip.
• Telegram allows you to access via all your devices at the same time - your messages sync seamlessly across any number of your phones, tablets or computers. 
  
• It allows you to create groups for up to 200,000 people or channels. You can broadcast to an unlimited number of subscribers. 
• It’s free, although, for $3.99 per month, you can enjoy premium features such as a wider selection of emojis and animated profile images.
• You can share photos and videos up to 2GB in size (premium version up to 4GB), set up bots for specific tasks, and execute commands.
• Telegram delivers messages extremely fast compared to any other messaging application.

How to Use Telegram

The Telegram app first needs to be installed on your mobile device. If you want to use it on your PC/Mac/Linux, then you can install the app for free, and connect it to your mobile app via a QR code or by confirming your phone number. 

You can also access Telegram’s chat screen on your web browser, but you’ll first need to get your mobile app to give permission to your browser. An easy instruction will pop up, and the connection won’t take a few seconds.

Here's a quick rundown of how to use it: 

1. Open the app and create an account using your mobile number.
2. Once you're logged in, you'll be taken to the main screen where you can see all of your conversations (chats) in one place.
3. To start a new conversation, tap on the compose icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
4. Enter the name or phone number of the person you want to chat with and tap on their name when it appears in the drop-down menu.
5. Now just start typing your message in the text field at the bottom of the screen and hit send when you're done!

You can also use Telegram to make audio and video calls, share photos and videos, or even send money to other users. For more detailed instructions on how to do those things, check out Telegram's official website or explore the app yourself!

Telegram Features

There are quite a few features that make Telegram stand out. For one, it’s very user-friendly and easy to use. The interface is straightforward and simple, which makes it great for those who are not very tech-savvy.

Telegram also offers a lot of features that other messaging apps don’t have, such as the ability to create group chats with up to 200,000 people, send files of up to 2GB, and set self-destruct timers for messages.

Another great thing about Telegram is that it is highly secure and private. All conversations and messages are encrypted end-to-end, so only the sender and receiver can see them. Telegram also doesn’t store any messages on its servers, so even if the government or hackers were to get their hands on the servers, they wouldn’t be able to read any of the messages.

Lastly, Telegram is completely free and does not have any ads except on public channels. There are no subscription fees or paid features; everything is available for free. This makes it a great alternative to other messaging apps like WhatsApp or Rakuten Viber, which charge monthly fees or have ads.

Other useful features include;

• Save to Gallery: Incoming media can be saved automatically in your gallery (data storage.)
• Not allowing voice/video messages: If you don't want to speak to particular people, you can do so by fading out the voice and video buttons. They will know that you prefer text messages.
• Aggressive Anit-Spam: If you are an administrator of a group of 200 members, you can enable the "Aggressive Anti-Spam" feature to stop spammy behaviors.

Premium Features

However, just by paying $3.99 per month, you can enjoy a lot more features on Telegram, such as;

• Doubled limits - Up to 1,000 channels, 20 folders, 10 pins, 20 public links, and 4 accounts.
• Animated Emoji - Include animated emojis from different packs in any message you send.
• 4GB upload size and unlimited storage. This is great particularly for design professionals who want to quickly send a very large file like an hours-long film to other editors.
• Even faster download speed.
• Voice-to-text conversion. This is good when you are not able to listen to a voice message. You can get the transcript and read it instead.
• No ads anywhere, not even in public channels where free users see ads.
• Infinite reactions - It allows you to react with thousands of emoji, using multiple reactions per message.
• You’ll get enlarged stickers with additional effects. These stickers are added and updated every month.
• Advanced Chat Management - Tools to set the default folder, auto-archive and hide new chats from non-contacts.
• Profile Badge - a badge will be displayed next to your name in the chat list, chat headers, and member lists so others know that you are a premium member.
• Animated Profile Pictures - Your profile pictures can be video-animated in the lists, and you are also allowed to use additional self-expressions.
• Gifting Telegram Premium: If you are a Premium user, you can send a prepaid subscription to someone for 3, 6, or 12 months to another user at a discount.

Pros and Cons of Telegram

There are many messaging apps out there, but Telegram has some features that make it stand out from the rest. Here are some pros and cons of using Telegram:

Pros:

• Telegram is fast and secure, making it ideal for sending important messages.
• You can set up Telegram to work with your other messaging apps, so you don't have to switch between them.
• It's easy to find people to chat with on Telegram, thanks to its large user base.

Cons:

• Telegram doesn't have as many users in the USA as WhatsApp and Messenger.
• It can be difficult to keep track of your conversations on Telegram if you're talking to multiple people at once.

Is Telegram Safe?

Yes, that’s the point of Telegram. It was created primarily for users to message and make calls without compromising security or privacy.

All Telegram messages are always securely encrypted end-to-end. This way, only you and the person you're communicating with can read what's sent, and nobody in between can access your data.

On top of that, optional end-to-end encryption ensures that no third party (not even Telegram’s admin) can read your messages. End-to-end encryption is available when you and the person you're communicating with are using the latest version of the app. 

When end-to-end encrypted, your message will have a lock icon next to it and it will only be visible after you open the chat secret conversation with that person.

Does Telegram Offer an Affiliate Program?

No, Telegram does not offer an affiliate program. The messaging app has been praised for its privacy-focused features, and the company wants to keep it that way. Affiliate programs are typically used by businesses to generate more revenue, but Telegram is content with the number of users it has.

By not commercializing the app that way, Telegram is able to maintain its focus on providing a good, secure messaging experience for its users. This is in line with Telegram's overall philosophy of putting user privacy and security first.

Telegram Review: Conclusion

Telegram is a great messaging app with plenty of features that can make communication fun and efficient. With its end-to-end encryption, Telegram ensures your privacy remains secure at all times. Meanwhile, the wide array of sticker packs and emojis adds a playful touch to conversations. 

Its Voice Calls feature also allows you to stay connected with friends and family while on the go. Overall, Telegram is a must-have messaging application for any mobile user who wants an enjoyable chatting experience without compromising their safety or security online.