Telegram

Telegram is a messaging app from Telegram FZ-LLC that puts most of its weight on speed and syncing. Your regular chats live in the Telegram cloud, so the same conversation shows up on your phone, tablet and computer. The desktop and web apps are standalone, which means your phone does not need to stay online for them to work.

On Android, the app is free and has passed one billion installs on Google Play. It covers several jobs at once: one-on-one messaging, group chats, public channels, bots and file transfer. Those modes behave differently from what you may know from other messaging apps for Android, and knowing where each one fits makes the app much easier to use day to day, especially if you join a lot of communities.

Version and compatibility

• Updated: September 25, 2026
• Version: varies with device
• Requires Android: varies with device
• Developer: Telegram FZ-LLC
• Installs: 1,000,000,000+

Google Play data as of September 26, 2026

Cloud chats and secret chats are not the same thing

A regular Telegram chat is stored on the company’s servers and synced to every device where you are logged in. That is why you can switch phones and see your full history right away, without restoring a backup file the way WhatsApp users do. These chats are encrypted, but they are not end-to-end encrypted by default, because the cloud copy is what makes syncing possible.

Secret Chats work differently. They use end-to-end encryption, exist only on the two devices involved and do not appear in your other sessions. You can set a self-destruct timer so messages, photos, videos and files disappear from both sides after they are read. If you need a conversation that only the recipient can read, start a Secret Chat from the contact’s profile.

Telegram also lets you delete any message you sent or received for both sides, at any time. That applies to regular chats too, so it is not limited to Secret Chats. Keep in mind that the other person may already have read the message or saved a screenshot before you removed it.

Groups, channels and bots

Groups are shared conversations where every member can post, and Telegram allows up to 200,000 members in a single group. Admins get tools for member permissions, slow mode, pinned messages and moderation. For a small circle of friends, most of these settings can stay at their defaults, but larger public groups usually need rules and a few trusted admins.

Channels are one-way broadcasts. The owner and chosen admins publish posts, while subscribers read, react and, if the owner turns it on, comment in a linked discussion group. Channels are popular for news, creators and brands. If a channel gets too noisy, you can mute it or archive it rather than leaving, so it stays out of your main chat list.

Bots are small programs that run inside chats. People use them for reminders, polls, file conversion, customer support and many other tasks. Because anyone can build a bot through the free, documented API, check what a bot asks for before you give it access to your contacts, location or payment details.

Keeping storage and your account under control

You can send files of any type up to 2 GB each, and chat history does not have to take up space on the phone. Media you open is cached locally, though, and that cache can grow fast if you follow busy channels. Settings, then Data and Storage, lets you see storage usage, clear the cache and choose how long downloaded media is kept.

For account safety, turn on two-step verification so a login code alone is not enough to get in. Review Active Sessions from time to time and end any device you no longer use. Privacy settings let you decide who can see your phone number, last seen time and profile photo, and who is allowed to add you to groups.

What Telegram looks like

Frequently asked questions

Is Telegram free on Android?

Yes. The app and its core features are free, and Telegram says it does not use your data to show you ads. An optional paid subscription, Telegram Premium, adds extra features on top of the free version.

Are all Telegram chats end-to-end encrypted?

No. Only Secret Chats use end-to-end encryption. Regular cloud chats are encrypted but stored on Telegram servers so they can sync across your devices.

Can I use Telegram on a computer without my phone nearby?

Yes. Telegram desktop and web apps work on their own once you log in, so your phone does not need to be online or connected.