--- title: "Telegram Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about Telegram Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Team Communication products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/180347/Telegram/" page_type: "product" language: "en" --- # Telegram Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on February 15, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Users](#users)[Pros and Cons](#pros-cons)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Telegram ## What is Telegram? Telegram is a messaging app that offers end-to-end encrypted chats, the ability to send files and media without size limits, group chats with up to 200,000 members, and customizable apps across mobile and desktop platforms. The app is secure and fast and offers features like self-destructing messages, synchronized messaging across devices, an open API, and servers spread worldwide in secure data centers. ## What is Telegram used for? [Team Communication](https://www.capterra.com/team-communication-software/)[Customer Communications Management](https://www.capterra.com/customer-communications-management-software/) Recognitions Shortlist Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 6,430 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 96% Neutral 4% Negative 1% Pros & cons Unlimited large file sharing Completely free communication platform Limited and unreliable video calling Prevalence of spam and scams ### Starting price Free trial not available Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... - Team Communication / 2025 Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Telegram?[Manage this product listing](https://digitalmarkets.gartner.com/get-listed/claim-bx?url=https://telegram.org&name=Telegram) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Telegram 4.7 (6,430) VS. [4.7 (24,167)](https://www.capterra.com/p/135003/Slack/reviews/) Starting Price Contact vendor Starting Price $8.75 Per User, Per Month Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.7 (6,426) Ease Of Use 4.6 (11,090) Value For Money 4.7 (4,548) Value For Money 4.5 (6,814) Customer Service 4.3 (4,356) Customer Service 4.4 (6,569) ## Telegram alternatives [4.6 (5,304)](https://www.capterra.com/p/153140/Connecteam/reviews/) Starting price $29.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 96% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.3 (672)](https://www.capterra.com/p/141842/Weave/reviews/) Starting price $199.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 85% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.2 (999)](https://www.capterra.com/p/113540/Bitrix24/reviews/) Starting price $69.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 82% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Microsoft Teams](https://www.capterra.com/p/168668/Microsoft-Teams/) [4.5 (11,113)](https://www.capterra.com/p/168668/Microsoft-Teams/reviews/) Starting price $4.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 90% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/168668/Microsoft-Teams/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/180347/Telegram/alternatives/) ## FAQs about Telegram Overview ### What problems does Telegram solve? Telegram solves slow team communication, file-size limits, and scattered updates by letting teams share large documents, media, and code instantly across devices with cloud-synced history. Remote teams, educators, developers, client-facing staff, and community managers use it to automate alerts with bots, organize channels, and keep discussions accessible and secure. Answer based on 1901 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Telegram? Telegram is most used by students, freelancers, business owners, and technical teams who need fast, flexible communication. Managers and project leads coordinate groups and updates, developers and engineers share files and troubleshoot quickly, while educators, designers, and consultants use channels and chats to collaborate, broadcast information, and stay connected across devices. Answer based on 6421 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is Telegram built for? Telegram is built for small businesses and distributed teams, with 71% of reviewers from small businesses and Computer Software and Information Technology and Services each representing 9%. It also serves enterprises at 18% and midsize companies at 12%, with additional use in Marketing and Advertising at 5%, primarily for instant messaging and chat. Answer based on 6427 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Telegram? Telegram includes core messaging features like real-time chat, group messaging, and file sharing, plus differentiators such as large chat groups, channels, bots through its API, and multi-device cloud sync. Reviewers also focus on security controls, including secret chats, two-step verification, and encrypted messaging for private communication. Answer based on 3208 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does Telegram integrate with? Telegram integrates with WhatsApp and Instagram in its official catalog, and reviewers also reference Slack, YouTube, Gmail, Google Drive, and WordPress. It also connects with automation tools like Make and IFTTT, covering messaging, social media, email, file storage, content publishing, and workflow automation. Answer based on 1398 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on Telegram? Telegram is quick to onboard for most team members because the interface is familiar and setup is simple. Reviewers say nontechnical users usually handle messaging, groups, file sharing, audio rooms, and video meetings quickly, while admins, bot builders, and privacy-focused users need more time. Training is mostly self-serve through in-app tutorials, update guides, video tutorials, and documentation. Answer based on 55 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does Telegram offer, and how do users rate the experience? Telegram offers email/help desk, FAQ/forum, and chat support. User feedback on support is mixed: some describe prompt responses and helpful service, while others report slow or missing replies, difficulty resolving account or app issues, and limited guidance when trying to reach the right support path. Answer based on 564 reviews Security ### How does Telegram handle data security and access control? Telegram uses encryption, secret chats with end-to-end encryption, self-destructing messages, two-step verification, app locks, and privacy controls such as usernames instead of phone numbers, hidden last-seen, blocked users, and configurable calling or profile visibility. Reviewers also note security depends on privacy setup, with concerns about scams, unsolicited group adds, and encryption not always enabled by default. Answer based on 2011 reviews Chat groups ### How well does Telegram handle group chats? Telegram handles group chats well for communities, work teams, and interest-based channels by keeping messaging fast and organized. Many users like large groups, file sharing, topics, and cross-device access, though heavy notifications, search limitations, and crowded chat lists can make busy group communication feel harder to manage. Answer based on 3208 reviews ## Who uses Telegram? Based on Capterra reviews from the past 2 years Talk to a software expert to get a free software list tailored to your business needs ## Pros and Cons Unlimited large file sharing 93% positive reviews out of 500 Most users report file sharing enables sending large files of any type, with no size restrictions or quality loss. Sven S. Prokurist, 51 - 200 employees. "I especially appreciate the large group features, channels, and the ability to share files easily, since these functions make Telegram more than just a simple messaging app." Limited and unreliable video calling 49% negative reviews out of 423 Some reviewers find video calls lacking, mentioning missing features, poor quality, and no group video options. Anonymous User communcation systems, 51 - 200 employees. "The lack of a built-in video calling feature was a drawback for me. While Telegram offered voice calling, the absence of video calling limited the options for face-to-face communication with friends and colleagues." Completely free communication platform 97% positive reviews out of 202 Most reviewers find pricing highly attractive, noting Telegram is free, ad-free, and lacks subscription fees. Prevalence of spam and scams 91% negative reviews out of 318 Most reviewers describe spam and scammers as a major issue, citing fake accounts, unsolicited messages, and weak moderation. Nava B. Owner, 1 employee. "So I don't trust Telegram one bit because they allow all this fraud to go on and their reporting process does nothing." Extensive API and bot integrations 94% positive reviews out of 181 Most reviewers appreciate integrations, highlighting robust API, automation, and easy connection with business tools. Annoying and unreliable notifications 73% negative reviews out of 300 Most users comment notifications are overwhelming, delayed, or difficult to manage, especially in busy groups and channels. Anonymous User Student Intern, 10,001+ employees. "I didn't liked the notification system of telegram , because it failed to notify me of some important messages." ## Features AI summary Based on 17,845 Team Communication reviews Capterra reviewers highlight these as the features buyers value most when choosing team communication software: - **Mobile Access** (**52%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Meeting Management** (**50%**) - **Real-Time Chat** (**51%**) Telegram supports **Real-Time Chat**, giving teams a fast way to share updates and communicate as work happens. However, it does not include **Mobile Access** or **Meeting Management**. Instead, it offers **Collaboration Tools** (**47%**), which can still support group coordination and shared discussions. Together, these features help businesses keep conversations active, improve team coordination, and respond more quickly to day-to-day work. Real-Time Chat 4.7 (2,060) 62.62% of 2060 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important With Telegram’s real-time chat, you can instantly exchange messages, media, and files across devices, even in large groups. Reviewers appreciate its speed, seamless syncing, privacy, and intuitive interface, though some mention occasional delays or missing message status indicators. Collaboration Tools 4.4 (731) 48.97% of 731 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Provides a channel for team members to share AI models, media files, communicate, and work together Alerts/Notifications 4.5 (2,013) 58.07% of 2013 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Telegram gives you customizable alerts and notifications for messages, calls, and group mentions. Users value the flexibility to mute, prioritize, or personalize tones, but some report delayed notifications or annoyance with alerts for new users joining. File Sharing 4.7 (1,956) 60.63% of 1956 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Telegram offers robust file sharing, letting you send large files of any type—up to 2GB or more—without quality loss. Users highlight its unlimited cloud storage, easy access across devices, and fast uploads, noting it outperforms WhatsApp and Google Drive for file transfers. Search/Filter 4.4 (1,244) 52.73% of 1244 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Telegram helps you quickly find messages, files, or contacts with its powerful search and filter tools. Users appreciate searching by keyword, media type, or date, though some wish for better group discovery and bulk download options. Audio Calls 4.5 (1,176) 54.68% of 1176 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Telegram enables secure, high-quality audio calls over data, even with weak internet. Reviewers value the clear sound, encryption, and cross-device calling, but some mention occasional dropped calls or delayed ringing, especially if the app isn’t open. Telegram 26 features ### All Features - Alerts/Notifications: Telegram gives you customizable alerts and notifications for messages, calls, and group mentions. Users value the flexibility to mute, prioritize, or personalize tones, but some report delayed notifications or annoyance with alerts for new users joining. - API: Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases - Audio Calls: Telegram enables secure, high-quality audio calls over data, even with weak internet. Reviewers value the clear sound, encryption, and cross-device calling, but some mention occasional dropped calls or delayed ringing, especially if the app isn’t open. - Batch Communications: Send messages, notifications, or documents to an entire customer base at the same time - Chat/Messaging: Communicate using direct chat or messages within the system - Collaboration Tools: Provides a channel for team members to share AI models, media files, communicate, and work together - Contact Management: Manage, organize, and store contact information - Discussions/Forums: Online forums/groups where users can ask questions, share ideas, best practices, etc. - Document Storage: Store and organize documents in a centralized system - Drag & Drop: Assemble applications and processes by dragging over and arranging pre-built components - File Sharing: Telegram offers robust file sharing, letting you send large files of any type—up to 2GB or more—without quality loss. Users highlight its unlimited cloud storage, easy access across devices, and fast uploads, noting it outperforms WhatsApp and Google Drive for file transfers. - Group Messaging: Group messaging lets multiple people carry on a group conversation - Interaction Tracking: Track interaction history by documenting conversations for contacts - Multi-Channel Communication: Allows communication with customers or users via multiple channels such as phone, email, live chat, etc. - Multi-Language: Manage and support multiple languages - On-Demand Communications: Generate personalized communications upon request to meet customer needs - Personalization: Adjust communications based on previous interactions or personal preferences - Project Management: Plan and coordinate all the resources, costs and time needed to execute assignments - Real-Time Chat: With Telegram’s real-time chat, you can instantly exchange messages, media, and files across devices, even in large groups. Reviewers appreciate its speed, seamless syncing, privacy, and intuitive interface, though some mention occasional delays or missing message status indicators. - Reminders: Timed notification for any upcoming task, deadline, appointment, or activity - Screen Sharing: Digitally share screen view with others - Search/Filter: Telegram helps you quickly find messages, files, or contacts with its powerful search and filter tools. Users appreciate searching by keyword, media type, or date, though some wish for better group discovery and bulk download options. - Secure Data Storage: Securely stores data to prevent data loss or breaches - SSL Security: Security protocol that ensures secure, encrypted communication over the internet, safeguarding sensitive data from unauthorized access - Video Conferencing: Connect with meeting participants remotely over video - Video Support: Supports various video file formats --- Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.6 (6,426) 4.6 Based on 6,426 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.7 (4548) ### Starting price Free trial not available Value for money 4.7 (4,548) 4.7 Based on 4,548 reviews ## Integrations [ WhatsApp](https://www.capterra.com/p/180345/WhatsApp/)[ Instagram](https://www.capterra.com/p/210721/Instagram/) Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.3 (4356) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.3 (4,356) 4.3 Based on 4,356 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.7 Based on 6,430 reviews Filter by rating 5(4591) 4(1559) 3(243) 2(24) 1(13) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent AN Anonymous User Creative Director Media Production ### "Superior gifs and emojis" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 August 6, 2026 Pros What I like most about Telegram is its ease of use. Also they have superior gifs and emojis compared to other telecommunication apps. Cons What I like least about Telegram is the spam texts I get from sleezy people around the world. They would have a better defense system against this spam. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Lexus K. Cleaner Hospitality ### "Decent online messenger service " 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 4/10 August 6, 2026 Pros I like Telegram because it's fast, easy to use, and works well across all my devices. I can send messages, photos, videos, and large files without much hassle, and everything stays synced. I also like the group chats and channels, which make it easy to stay connected with different people and communities. Overall, it feels simple and reliable for everyday messaging. Cons One thing I don't like about Telegram is that some of its features can be a little confusing at first because there are so many settings and options. I also wish end-to-end encryption was enabled by default for all chats instead of only Secret Chats. While it's a great messaging app overall, it can take a bit of time to learn everything it has to offer. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AN Anonymous User Accessories Designer Retail ### "Easy and secure to use" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 July 21, 2026 I would recommend Telegram to anyone requiring a secure messaging app that they can feel safe using to speak to people privately, and transfer sensitive information without security being compromised. Pros Telegram is extremely easy to use, with a simple but brilliant interface. It's secure for users who use it for messaging and transferring money. Cons There have been no cons that have stood out to me in my time of using Telegram. Maybe more personalisation features could be added. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. VENUS K. TRADER CRYPTO Financial Services ### "Easy to set-up and use but can get noisy" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 2.0 2.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 July 12, 2026 I used Telegram intermediately for joining premium groups that offer crypto advice. signals. While I enjoy the interface, the number of notifications, the lack of privacy, and spam and fake accounts can be overwhelming. Pros I appreciate that it is free to use, has fast messaging, and is easy to create and join groups. Channels make it easy to follow the content that I am specifically interested in. I noticed that subscribing to paid subscriptions by content creators is automated and easy through Telegram. Cons Spam activity, lots of notifications (some of them unnecessary), and I don't like the fact that there are no limits on the number of people in a group. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. SE Stephane E. Développeur fullstack Java - Angular Insurance ### "Telegram communication" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 July 2, 2026 Pros Telegram offre de nombreuses possibilités de communication avec l'envoi de fichiers volumineux et la création de communautés importantes. L'application est simple à utiliser Cons Telegram demande plus de premium l’ors de la création d’un nouveau compte actuellement meme pour un ancien comptes Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. PG Parsa G. Sr AI Analyst Information Technology and Services ### "Best Messaging Platform" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 June 10, 2026 Seamless and very reliable. With a close to non downtime so far using it, while using the amazing features. Pros By far and huge gap, THE BEST messenger platform. So many features, easy to use, most of features are free and amazing for different types of communication. Channels, groups, direct messages, archives, disappearing messages, access management and many more are just perfect. Cons No cons, thus adding to its pros: It has one of the strongest security measures unlike some other competitors in the market. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. TB Themba Bongani N. Publisher Broadcast Media ### "Best private messenger " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 June 9, 2026 Even though last year things didn't work out very fine for others atleast they didn't bother the old users and for that i appreciate it Pros Guys this app is the only private messenger app i prefer, I've been using this app for long,i never came across any error.. Cons What was wrong with you guys last year cos everyone i recommended this app to , was Complaining about the Subscription stunt you pulled, they couldn't signed up because of that Subscription page was stacked on first page sign.up menu. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. JH Jamie H. Freelance Photographer and Graphic Designer Education Management ### "Easy to Manage Conversations" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 June 9, 2026 Pros Telegram offers a powerful solution. It is always easy to find messages or important information again, even with a large volume of conversations. Its groups are very important. Cons On the other hand, the accumulation of groups, channels, and chats can make navigation more complicated if no organization is put in place. But it is very easy to archive others for better organization. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. DM Demi M. Community Manager Computer Games ### "Talk even withoud a phone number " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 1.0 1.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 June 4, 2026 Beyond using personnaly, Telegram is a good application for managing a community for promoting and event, crypto especially. Pros I like Telegram for being more secure and strict regarding your personal data.There calls are encrypted and we can talk without a phone number. That is perfect for big conversational groups or channels. Cons Some activities on there are not very reputable and now, Telegram is doing everything to make us pay for Premium. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. DS Davide S. Impiegato Consumer Electronics ### "Indispensabile" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 June 4, 2026 Lo amo, lo utilizzo tantissimo, soprattutto per potermi confrontare con altri utenti su argomenti di mio imteresse Pros Mi piace l'idea di potermi interconnettere con utenti senza dover salvare il numero di telefono. In più lo trovo super utile per gruppi inerenti ai più disparati argomenti in generale Cons A volte le troppe notifiche lo rendono dispersivo, e poi la facilità in cui un utente di un gruppo può spammare il tuo account aggiungendoti in altri gruppi improvvisamente Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/180347/Telegram/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. 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