The Telegram Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Telegram in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Telegram
The Insider’s Guide
Cloud-based messenger with large groups, channels and bots
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among team communication apps, read from Telegram’s own pages.
Made by Telegram FZ-LLC · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Telegram’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Telegram’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 45 of the 50 other team communication apps we grade
Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app for chats, calls, groups and broadcast channels, with chats synced across devices. Groups hold up to 200,000 members, and a free Bot API lets developers add bots. Its Premium subscription raises limits and adds extra features.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Telegram, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for large group chats and public channels
Telegram is a free cloud messenger with groups of up to 200,000 members, channels, calls and a free Bot API.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $4.99 (Premium; billing period not shown in the listing).
- 3
There is a free plan
Messaging, calls, groups and channels are free; Telegram says features that existed before Premium stay free.
- 4
It runs on 6 platforms
Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 5
Large groups and channels
Groups can have up to 200,000 members with replies, mentions, hashtags and forum-style topics; channels broadcast to unlimited audiences.
- 6
Cloud sync
Chats are stored in the cloud and open on several devices at once, with files of up to 2 GB each (4 GB with Premium).
- 7
Secret Chats
Device-specific Secret Chats add end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages; ordinary chats are not end-to-end encrypted.
- 8
A 3.2 GPA, above 45 of 50
That is against the other team communication apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Telegram you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Telegram at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $4.99 (Premium; billing period not shown in the listing)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Telegram FZ-LLC
- Category
- Team Communication
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for large group chats and public channels
Telegram is a free cloud messenger with groups of up to 200,000 members, channels, calls and a free Bot API. Ordinary chats are not end-to-end encrypted, it has no team admin console, and the App Store rating is 4.0.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Messaging, calls, groups and channels are free outright. Premium is $4.99 on the US App Store, with the billing period not shown. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free groups of 200,000, channels and files up to 2 GB. Premium adds limits, not the basics. |
| Features | C | Large groups, channels, cloud sync, calls and bots. Regular chats are not end-to-end encrypted and there are no workspace tools. |
| Ease of use | C | 4.0 on the US App Store from about 286,000 ratings. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux, with a free Bot API. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Telegram is for
- Fits if you run a big public group or broadcast channel
- Works for developers who want to build bots for free
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need end-to-end encryption on every chat, as only Secret Chats have it
- Not for you if you want a team workspace, because it has no admin console or team plan
- Tight if you want Premium, as the $4.99 listing price omits the billing period and varies by country
- Watch out: a 4.0 store rating is below most messengers we have graded
Good to know
Good for
- Large communities and broadcast channels
- People who want chats synced across phone, desktop and web
- Developers building bots for chat
Worth knowing
- Regular chats and groups are not end-to-end encrypted; only Secret Chats, which work per device, are.
- It has no workspace admin console or team plan; Premium is a per-account subscription.
- Premium prices vary by country and by where it is bought; the $4.99 figure is the US App Store listing, which omits the billing period.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.99
To start. There is a free plan too
Telegram has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.99 (Premium; billing period not shown in the listing).
Messaging, calls, groups and channels are free outright.
Free
$0
Messaging, groups of up to 200,000 members, channels, calls, and files up to 2 GB each.
Telegram Premium
$4.99
US App Store listing; billing period not shown
Doubled limits, 4 GB file uploads, voice-to-text and no ads. Bought in the app or via @PremiumBot.
Telegram Premium Annual
$35.99
per year
The same Premium features billed yearly; the listing labels it Premium Annual.
The free plan
Messaging, calls, groups and channels are free; Telegram says features that existed before Premium stay free.
Read from apps.apple.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
Cheaper Premium through @PremiumBot
Telegram says subscriptions bought through @PremiumBot cost less because Apple and Google fees do not apply; yearly plans are also discounted.
Stated on telegram.org
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Cloud-based messenger with large groups, channels and bots. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, AI features, team chat, video calls.
Large groups, channels, cloud sync, calls and bots.
- Large groups and channels
- Groups can have up to 200,000 members with replies, mentions, hashtags and forum-style topics; channels broadcast to unlimited audiences.
- Cloud sync
- Chats are stored in the cloud and open on several devices at once, with files of up to 2 GB each (4 GB with Premium).
- Secret Chats
- Device-specific Secret Chats add end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages; ordinary chats are not end-to-end encrypted.
- Voice and video calls
- End-to-end encrypted voice and video calls, plus group calls for up to 200 participants and voice chats in groups.
- Bot API
- A free Bot API lets developers build bots, including AI bots; bots can charge for services in Telegram Stars.
- Telegram Business
- Business features include opening hours, quick replies, automatic greeting messages and chatbots, without coding.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Telegram is made by Telegram FZ-LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
45/50
Other team communication apps it is graded above
Telegram's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 45 of the 50 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 43 of 50) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 51 team communication apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Telegram’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 41 of 50
- AFree plan and trialAbove 43 of 50
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 50
- CEase of useAbove 7 of 50
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 28 of 50
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Telegram you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 45 of the 50 other team communication apps we grade.
What you could not
- Chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
- Video calls.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- An API that other software can build on.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Telegram’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Signal, Discord, Element, Wire and Slack
The 5 tools Telegram is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Signal
Free
Nonprofit messenger with end-to-end encrypted chats and calls.
- Only Telegram lists a web app.
- Signal is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 3.6GPA
Discord
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Free text, voice and video chat built around servers.
- Discord also covers file sharing.
- 2.8GPA
Element
Free plan
End-to-end encrypted chat and calls on the Matrix standard.
- Element is open source, self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Element also covers file sharing.
- 2.0GPA
Wire
Free plan · from €7.45/mo
End-to-end encrypted messaging and calls for organizations.
- Wire is open source, self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Wire also covers file sharing.
- 2.8GPA
Slack
Free plan · from $7.25/mo
Channel-based team messaging with huddles, workflows and AI.
- Slack also covers workflow automation, documents and file sharing.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
10
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Telegram free?
Telegram has a free plan. Messaging, calls, groups and channels are free; Telegram says features that existed before Premium stay free.
How much does Telegram cost?
Telegram lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Telegram work on?
Telegram is available on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Telegram offer any discounts?
Telegram publicly lists the following: Cheaper Premium through @PremiumBot.
Is Telegram open source?
Telegram is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Does Telegram have an API?
Yes. Telegram offers a public API, according to its own site.
Who makes Telegram?
Telegram is made by Telegram FZ-LLC.
What are the alternatives to Telegram?
The closest alternatives to Telegram in our directory are Signal, Discord, Element, Wire and Slack.
How does Telegram compare with other team communication apps?
Telegram's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 45 of the 50 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 2.
Could I make my own version of Telegram?
To replace Telegram you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Telegram’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Telegram's own pages on 12 November 2026, and its App Store rating. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Telegram FZ-LLC. Prices change, so check telegram.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Telegram, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/telegram
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Telegram: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/telegram
Know someone choosing between team communication apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/telegram/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded team communication apps after Telegram, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Team Communication Insider's GuideEvery one of the 51 team communication apps we grade, compared
- Discord Insider's GuideFree text, voice and video chat built around servers3.6 GPA
- Pumble Insider's GuideTeam chat with unlimited message history on the free plan3.6 GPA
- Zoho Cliq Insider's GuideTeam chat, calls and meetings from the Zoho suite3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Telegram’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Telegram is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Telegram FZ-LLC. Prices and plans change: check telegram.org before you buy.