Telegram
FreeA cloud-based messaging app with large groups, channels, bots and open source clients.
About Telegram
Telegram is a messaging service that stores chats in the cloud so you can pick up the same conversation on a phone, tablet, desktop or the web. It supports private chats, groups of very large size, broadcast channels, voice and video calls, file sharing and a bot platform that developers use to build automated tools.
The desktop client is open source under the GPL, and the app is free to use with an optional paid Premium subscription that adds extras. Ordinary chats are encrypted between your device and Telegram's servers, while end-to-end encryption is available through Secret Chats rather than being on by default for every conversation.
It suits communities, channel publishers and people who value fast sync and large file limits across many devices. If your top priority is default end-to-end encryption for all messages, compare it with Signal. Google Play lists more than a billion downloads, and the iOS app lists about 282,000 ratings.
Use Secret Chats for sensitive one-to-one conversations. Group and channel privacy settings are worth checking after you sign up.
Version history
2 releases tracked- Windows: Fixes some incorrect Lottie animation rendering
- iOS: Bug fixes and minor improvements
Frequently asked
Is Telegram free?
Yes. There is an optional paid Premium subscription for extra features.
Does it need an account?
Yes. You sign up with a phone number.
Is every chat end-to-end encrypted?
No. Only Secret Chats are end-to-end encrypted. Regular chats use client-server encryption.
Where does the download link go?
Directly to telegram.org or the official app store for your platform. PlanetSofts never rehosts installers or adds wrappers, and these links were last verified Oct 6, 2026.