According to French media reports, on August 24, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was detained at the Paris airport. At the time of writing, he had already been released from custody, but was ordered to pay €5 million in bail (to avoid pre-trial detention) and report to the police twice a week.
The Russian-born billionaire was accused of failing to take adequate measures to prevent his platform from being misused for criminal activity.
The French service Ofmin, which protects minors from violence, issued an arrest warrant for Durov on charges of organized crime, drug trafficking, fraud, and terrorist propaganda on his platform.
According to preliminary information, he faces up to 20 years in prison. The trial is scheduled for Saturday.
Why Durov ended up in France is an open question, since, despite having French citizenship, he knew that he was wanted and avoided visiting the country for a long time. This is due to the EU’s rather strict censorship regulations. Telegram is positioned as a free platform with a low level of moderation, which, according to French law enforcement, makes it a favorable environment for criminal activity.
It’s no secret that Telegram has become very popular among Ukrainians since the beginning of the full-scale war. According to data from 2023, 75% of Ukrainians used Telegram to communicate, and 72% received news from it. And today, it is one of the most popular messengers in Ukraine, despite the fact that it has a “Russian trace.”
But we have another important question on our agenda: what are the alternatives? The market is full of different messengers, but which one can fully replace Telegram? Let’s try to figure it out.
Signal
Advantages:
- End-to-end encryption (E2E);
- Open source;
- Stores a minimum amount of data;
- Does not store user IP addresses;
- No advertising or user tracking;
- Free.
Disadvantages:
- Limited popularity compared to other messengers.
Our list starts with a messenger with a sounding name Signal. It was developed by an enthusiastic developer, Moxie Marlinspike, back in 2014, and is funded by a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The product is published as free and open source software.
Signal itself is a free and extremely secure messaging messenger that uses end-to-end encryption to send and receive any kind of communication with other Signal users. This has made the messenger popular among privacy and security advocates.
The messenger supports basic functionality such as encrypted text messages, voice and video calls, temporary messages, and encrypted group chats. One of the interesting features is screen protection, which blocks the ability to take screenshots in the application, preventing unauthorized copying of message text.
Despite its excellent security, Signal still has less advanced features for managing large groups and communities, which may be a drawback for those looking for a messenger with powerful group management tools.
Signal’s interface is simple and minimalistic, with a focus on functionality and usability. The app has a clean design with intuitive navigation, making it easy to learn even for new users.
When using Signal, your data is stored on your devices in an encrypted form. The only information stored on Signal’s servers for each account is the phone number you used to sign up, the date and time you joined the service, and the date you last logged in.
This ensures a high level of privacy, as no one can get more information without physical access to your device or the devices of the people you’re communicating with.
Interestingly, Roskomnadzor blocked the Signal messenger in early August 2024 due to violations of Russian law.
All in all, Signal is a worthy alternative to Telegram because it provides a high level of privacy and security through end-to-end encryption of all messages and calls. The app does not store metadata and does not track user activity, which makes it attractive to those who value privacy. However, if you need flexible administration of large groups and channels, I recommend looking at the next candidate.
Advantages:
- Extremely popular;
- Wide functionality (voice and video calls, group chats);
- Free.
Disadvantages:
- Problem with trust in Meta due to privacy scandals;
- Some features can store data without end-to-end encryption (depending on settings).
WhatsApp was developed by Ukrainian-Jewish American programmer Jan Koum and his colleague Brian Eckton in 2009. Later, in October 2014, Meta (formerly Facebook) acquired the messenger for a whopping $19 billion at the time. This purchase was the largest deal in the startup industry, surpassing Facebook’s previous largest acquisition, the $1 billion purchase of Instagram. As of 2024, the number of active users exceeded 2.7 billion, which is a significant achievement. It is worth noting that a significant share of these users are located in China. Formally, the messenger is blocked there, but it works through a VPN.
WhatsApp is a popular messenger that allows you to exchange text messages, voice messages, photos, videos, and files.
Despite its modern security technology, it has a long history of vulnerabilities. In 2020, the United Nations recommended against using the app for work-related correspondence. And in June 2023, ESET discovered an updated version of GravityRAT spyware for Android that can intercept WhatsApp backups and receive commands to delete files. In addition, the threat is capable of intercepting call logs, contact list, SMS messages, device location, general device information, and files with special image extensions, as well as photos and documents.
WhatsApp goes to great lengths to earn your trust, including the use of end-to-end E2EE encryption, which ensures that messages cannot be read by anyone but you and the intended recipient. However, this does not eliminate the fact that Meta has long faced scandals for leaking its users’ metadata in order to sell this information to third-party companies. This may be the main drawback of WhatsApp.
Of course, it’s worth noting that WhatsApp operates independently of Meta and has its own privacy policy, although this does not negate the fact that it is still part of Meta.
In terms of functionality, WhatsApp is very similar to Telegram. It allows you to send text messages, voice messages, photos, videos, and documents in both private and group chats. It also supports voice and video calls, including group calls with up to 32 participants. Additional features include Cellular Chats, where users can exchange messages that automatically disappear after a specified time. In addition, it is possible to create channels to disseminate information among subscribers.
The WhatsApp interface is very user-friendly with simple navigation, where all the main functions such as chats and calls are available through clear tabs at the bottom of the screen. The app’s design is minimalist and clean, making it easy to find the chats and messages you need without any distractions. The main focus of the interface is on chats, which makes viewing and managing them intuitive.
WhatsApp, with all its advantages, such as wide functionality and strong encryption, can be a worthy alternative to Telegram. A big plus is the wide reach among users, which can make the transition easier. However, it is not without its drawbacks, as the app has already been involved in scandals with the merger of user metadata. Therefore, if you need more privacy, then it makes sense to pay attention to Signal; if this is not a priority for you, WhatsApp may be your choice.
Facebook Messenger
Advantages:
- Wide popularity and functionality;
- Integration with other services (Facebook, Instagram);
- Support for chatbots;
- Availability of secret chats with end-to-end encryption.
Disadvantages:
- Privacy concerns.
While the previous messenger is not directly related to Meta and has its own privacy policy, our successor is directly a child of Meta (Facebook). And I’m talking about Facebook Massenger, which has gained immense popularity around the world in recent years.
Facebook Messenger, originally known as Facebook Chat, was launched in 2008 as part of the main Facebook social network. At the time of its launch, it was a simple real-time text-based communication platform that allowed users to exchange messages with friends without leaving the main site. However, as it grew in popularity, in 2011 Facebook decided to spin it off as a separate app for mobile devices. This allowed to expand the functionality, which, in turn, contributed to the rapid growth of Messenger’s popularity. In 2014, Facebook took another important step by separating Messenger from the main Facebook application, which allowed it to focus on improving chat features and integrating new technologies.
The result is one of the most recognized messaging apps in the world. According to Meta’s quarterly reports for 2023, the number of daily active users has exceeded 2 billion. Obviously, its popularity is driven by integration with other Facebook services.
Messenger offers a wide range of features, making it a versatile communication tool and a worthy replacement for the existing Telegram. Users can send text messages, make voice and video calls, and share photos, videos, and documents. Integration with Stories allows you to share temporary content. There is also the ability to create group chats that support adding participants, organizing events, and sharing media.
Facebook Messenger also supports chatbots, which allow you to get information or perform actions by talking to them. They can be found in a special suggestions section that opens when you tap the search bar.
The interface is quite user-friendly and intuitive. The main screen consists of a list of chats, with the ability to quickly search by contacts and messages. At the top are buttons for creating a new message, starting a video call, and accessing settings. Integrations with stickers, GIFs, and other media are also available to enhance communication.
In terms of features, it is worth paying attention to the integration of Messenger with other Facebook services such as Instagram and Marketplace. This allows users to easily switch between platforms, namely, to exchange messages between services without changing the application.
The best thing about Facebook Messenger is that it is extremely popular. Unlike almost any other messenger, you don’t have to spend time searching for your friends or inviting them to join the Facebook ecosystem, because chances are they’re already part of it. And even if they’re not part of Facebook, you can still use the messenger’s SMS feature, which means you can send them messages seamlessly from within the app.
Despite all the advantages of Facebook Messenger, we’ll talk about its disadvantages below, because it’s undoubtedly a good messenger with wide functionality and reach among the population, but is it really that perfect?
On the one hand, Meta confirmed that regular messages sent via Facebook Messenger are encrypted during transmission to avoid interception, but Facebook manages the encryption keys. This means that it can decrypt them if necessary. On the other hand, Meta supports the Secret Conversation feature, which is similar to Telegram’s Secret Chats. It allows users to conduct secure chats with end-to-end encryption. By the way, the protocol was borrowed from Signal.
As a result, we have one of the most developed and popular messengers on the market thanks to its multifunctionality and integration with the Facebook platform. Its advanced communication capabilities, including text, voice, and video calls, along with unique features such as bots and message encryption, make it a great replacement for Telegram. However, privacy issues may be a drawback for some users. If security and privacy is a priority for you, I advise you to consider other options in this article, otherwise, you will not be disappointed with Facebook Manager.
Viber
Advantages:
- Viber Out platform;
- Extensive functionality (stickers, voice and video calls, group chats);
- Popular among Ukrainians;
- Availability of secret chats with end-to-end encryption.
Disadvantages:
- Ads;
- There is no way to transfer chat history between platforms;
- Slower updates and innovations compared to other messengers.
The next messenger is the well-known Viber, although its choice may be controversial due to certain features that we will discuss below. Nevertheless, it has a large reach among Ukrainians and wide functionality.
Viber originated in Tel Aviv, where Talmon Marco wanted to create a convenient way to communicate with his girlfriend, as they were in different countries at the time and phone calls were expensive.
Thus, in 2010, the first version of Viber was released that worked only on iOS. Later, the Japanese company Rakuten, Inc. bought the rights to Viber. The deal amounted to $900 million.
Since then, Rakuten Viber has been actively developing and in 2018 its audience exceeded 1 billion users in 190 countries.
As of 2020, Viber is one of the most popular mobile apps and one of the most popular messengers in Ukraine. The company claims that 97% of Ukrainian smartphone owners have downloaded Viber to their devices.
In terms of security, Viber is pretty standard: it supports end-to-end encryption (E2EE), secret chats, and auto-delete messages. The lock icon means that your message is protected.
In terms of functionality, in addition to personal messaging, Viber supports group and public chats, channel creation, and media sharing. The service supports emojis, but pays more attention to stickers that liven up the conversation.
You can also make audio and video calls. The app uses your regular phone number and you can call anyone around the world for free if they also have the app.
One of the distinctive features of Viber that sets it apart from other messengers is the ability to call landlines for an additional fee using Viber Out. The app allows you to replenish your Viber Out credit through a tiered tariff plan, notifying you of the cost of a call to different countries before you spend.
Viber Rakuten’s interface is user-friendly and well-organized, offering easy access to the main functions through tabs at the bottom of the screen, allowing you to quickly switch between chats, calls, and other sections. The design has a minimalist style with clear icons and large text, which ensures complete ease of use.
Among the disadvantages, I would like to highlight the presence of advertising, in particular, advertising messages that may appear in chats, groups, or when using some of the messenger’s functions. In addition, unlike most other messengers, Viber does not have the ability to transfer chat history and messages when switching from Android to iOS and back.
In addition, last year, Viber Plus was introduced as a paid subscription that provides access to certain benefits, such as no ads, the ability to change the style of the app’s icons, voice-to-text transcription, invisible mode, and access to all sticker packs. These benefits are offered for $1.99 per month.
To summarize, Viber offers good functionality for text and video messaging, and supports end-to-end encryption and channels. It is also worth noting its wide reach among users in Ukraine.
Threema
Advantages:
- High level of security;
- Anonymity;
- Special versions for business and education;
- Open source.
Disadvantages:
- Low user coverage;
- Fee for use;
- No backup in the cloud.
The last messenger we’re going to look at today is Threema. I want to warn you right away that it is unlikely to be a complete replacement for Telegram, but it offers something else – complete anonymity.
Threema was founded in 2012 in Switzerland by Threema GmbH. The messenger was created with a focus on user privacy and security. It was created in response to growing concerns about data privacy on the Internet. Threema quickly gained popularity in Europe among users who were looking for a secure alternative to the main messengers. As of 2023, the number of users exceeded 12 million, which is certainly not as many as the other messengers in this article.
Threema is fairly easy to use and has the full set of features you’d expect from a secure messaging program. The messenger offers text and voice messaging, voice and video calling, groups and mailing lists, and the ability to share files, media, and locations. Everything is encrypted end-to-end, including the items you share.
Threema was designed with security in mind. All forms of communication on the platform – messages, photos, videos, files, voice calls, and even status messages – are encrypted end-to-end. Because users control the key exchange, no third party can decrypt your messages.
Furthermore, Threema does not store your information on its servers. Your contact lists are managed on your device and messages are not stored after they are delivered. No log files are created in the process and no personal information is collected.
Threema doesn’t require phone numbers or email addresses for registration, just a one-time purchase that can be paid for through the app store or anonymously with bitcoin. Threema also owns all servers, which are physically located in two secure data centers. These data centers are located in Zurich, Switzerland, which means that they are subject to Swiss data protection laws.
It will be interesting to know that in January 2022, Switzerland banned the military from using Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal messengers to switch to Threema. The Swiss army covered the cost of using the messenger.
All this makes Threema extremely reliable in terms of security.
Currently, there are 4 additional versions of Threema. Although they are not the focus of this review, they are also worth mentioning, as you might find one of them useful.
Threema Work is designed for secure messaging in a business environment. It provides centralized account management and integration with enterprise systems. Threema Broadcast allows you to broadcast to mailing lists, centrally managed groups, channels (dynamic newsletters), and bots that can receive information through Threema. Threema Gateway allows you to integrate encrypted messaging into third-party applications and websites via an API that provides secure data exchange. Threema Gateway allows you to send messages from your own software to Threema users. Threema Education is actually a variant of Threema Work. The difference is that the company offers special prices for educational institutions.
As for the interface, Threema’s is quite simple and functional, with an emphasis on user-friendliness. The main screen contains a list of contacts and chats, similar to other messengers. At the top are icons for searching, creating a new chat, and accessing settings.
Among the disadvantages of Threema is its low popularity compared to other messengers. Although it has gained popularity among privacy-conscious users, if you want to switch to this messenger, you will need to convince your friends and acquaintances to use it. Also, unlike apps like Signal, Whatsapp, Viber, and Messenger, Threema is not a free program. To download it, you will have to pay a one-time fee of $6.99 in the Apple AppStore or 264.99 UAH in Google Play, which may be a good reason for some not to use it.
To summarize, Threema is a good choice for those looking for the most secure and confidential messenger. It focuses on privacy and security, but its low reach and paid basis are the main obstacles to choosing it as a primary platform.
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As a result, each of the analyzed messengers has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger offer a wide user base and convenient functionality, but there are issues with data privacy. Viber is a great choice for those looking for a universal communication tool with additional features such as public chats and a wide user base among Ukrainians. Threema, while less popular, stands out for its security and anonymity, making it ideal for users who value privacy above all else. Depending on your priorities – be it security, convenience, or affordability – each of these messengers can be a good substitute for Telegram.
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