If you have an iPhone and are unsure between use iMessage or Telegram on iPhone as the main messaging appYou're not alone. Many users are debating the exact same thing, especially when issues like security, privacy, and everyday convenience come into play.
Plus, with features like the Apple's advanced data protection enabled in iCloudIt's normal to wonder if iMessage is objectively safer than Telegram (in its normal chats, not secret ones) and if it's worth sacrificing some advantages of one app or the other to talk, for example, with your partner or your group of friends.
iMessage on iPhone: what exactly it is and how it works
iMessage is the Apple's own messaging service integrated into the Messages app It's for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch; it's not a separate app that you download from the App Store, it comes pre-installed on the system.
In practice, it works like any other modern chat application: You can send text, photos, videos, voice notes, stickers, GIFs, files, your location and react to messages. The unique aspect is that it shares an interface with classic SMS and MMS, which sometimes causes confusion with the familiar blue and green notification balloons.
When you write to someone, the system automatically decides whether the message is sent as iMessage (blue bubbles, no additional cost) or as SMS/MMS (green bubbles, cost depends on your operator)In the background, Apple fully manages iMessage traffic, while SMS and MMS depend on your phone company.
Although iMessage was launched in 2011 with iOS 5, its current version is closely tied to the latest system updates. Apple's native apps are only updated when you update iOS, iPadOS, or macOS.Therefore, it's advisable to keep your iPhone up to date to enjoy all its features.
On which devices can you use iMessage
The biggest differentiating factor between iMessage and Telegram is that it is closed to the Apple ecosystemYou can only use this service in:
- iPhone
- iPad
- Mac
- Apple Watch
Although devices like HomePod or AirPods do not have the Messages appYes, they can intervene in sending iMessages through Siri because they are linked to your Apple account. You can tell the speaker "Hey Siri, send a message to..." and the system will use iMessage in the same way it would from the iPhone.
Officially, It is not possible to use iMessage on Android, on a Windows PC, or via the webProjects like Beeper Mini and similar ones have appeared that tried to "bypass" Apple's servers to offer iMessage on Android, but Apple has been blocking them one after another for security reasons and to protect its platform.
Apple has announced the adoption of the standard. RCS for messages between iPhones and other mobile phonesHowever, this will affect the replacement of SMS, not iMessage itself. The service will remain closed and exclusive to the Apple ecosystem.
iMessage cost: free to use, but be aware of activation costs.
Sending and receiving iMessages is completely free at the service levelJust like WhatsApp, Telegram, and others. The only requirement is an internet connection, either via Wi-Fi or mobile data.
However, some operators charge a small amount (around 0,60-0,80 €) To Activate iMessage and FaceTime using silent SMS messages abroadApple doesn't handle the billing; your phone company does. It's a good idea to check with your carrier before activating the service or when switching iPhones, as carrier terms and conditions can change over time.
Another point to watch out for is that, if due to lack of internet connection or writing to someone without iMessage, The message comes out as an SMS (green bubble)Yes, there might be a cost, depending on your plan. It's easy to tell at a glance by the color of the bubble and also because, right below the message, the system indicates whether it was sent as a "Text Message" instead of an "iMessage".
Differences between iMessage, SMS and MMS
Within the same Messages app on iPhone, there are three types of messages that are visually differentiated only by subtle details: iMessage, SMS, and MMS.
- iMessageBlue bubbles appear when sending messages. These are messages managed by Apple, pass through their servers, and are... end-to-end encryptionThey don't have any additional cost beyond your internet connection.
- SMSGreen bubbles appear when sending. These are managed by your phone carrier and usually only contain text. They can have a unit cost according to your contract.
- MMSThere are also green bubbles, but these are for images and videos sent over the traditional mobile network. They are usually more expensive than SMS and are practically obsolete, because almost everyone now uses apps like WhatsApp or Telegram for multimedia.
In the case of SMS/MMS, Apple only provides the interface.It doesn't control the route or the encryption. In iMessage, however, Apple manages the communication from beginning to end and applies its encryption system.
Key features of iMessage on iPhone and Mac
Beyond serving to “send messages”, iMessage offers a fairly extensive feature set that competes head-to-head with other popular messaging apps.
On one hand, you have the basics: Text messages with emojis, sending photos, videos, GIFs, stickers, voice notes and files stored in the Files app or iCloud Drive. You can share both saved content and capture photos on the spot using the camera built into the Messages app.
On the other hand, it incorporates features that are very typical of Apple, such as Animoji and Memoji On iPhones with Face ID, you can create animated avatars that mimic your facial expressions. You can also send Hand-drawn illustrations, full-screen effects (confetti, fireworks, hearts…) and specific effects for certain words or emojis.
The Voice notes can automatically self-destruct Shortly after they're played, this is useful if you want to save space or prefer they aren't permanently saved in the chat. All of this is controlled from the Messages settings on iOS.
Regarding conversation management, you can Create groups of up to 32 participants, pin important chats to the top to always have them on hand, use reactions to messages (heart, thumbs up, question mark, etc.) and enjoy a iMessage's own App Store with minigames and extensions (surveys, stickers, complementary apps…).
Since iOS 16, iMessage allows Edit messages already sent and undo sendingBut only within the first 15 minutes and with some limitations. Additionally, you can reply in a thread to a specific message within a conversation, something that greatly improves readability in groups.
Privacy and security in iMessage: how secure is it
In terms of privacy, iMessage is one of Apple's greatest strengths. All messages sent between Apple devices through this service are end-to-end encryptionwhich means that only the sender and receiver have the necessary keys to read them.
In theory, neither Apple nor third parties can access the content of your chats while they travel across the network. That clearly distinguishes iMessage from SMS and MMS, which They do not have end-to-end encryption and can be intercepted or read by the operator or by someone with access to the network.
Two important nuances:
- Si You save your messages in an iCloud backup without Advanced Data ProtectionThat copy is encrypted with a key that Apple controls, so, if necessary, it could hand it over to the authorities.
- Historically, they have been discovered serious vulnerabilities in iMessage (cases like the Pegasus spyware or the exploits reported by Project Zero in 2019). Apple usually reacts quickly and patchBut it shows that no platform is untouchable.
With the Advanced data protection enabledEnd-to-end encryption extends to many more elements of iCloud (including Messages in iCloud), so that Apple does not have access to the content of those copies. This significantly improves iMessage's security model, bringing it closer to what apps like Signal offer in terms of user control over their data.
Finally, from the Messages settings you can customize your chats are automatically deleted every 30 days or every yearThis reduces the time during which a potential attacker could access old conversations if they managed to get into your device.
Telegram on iPhone: much more than a messaging app
Telegram, for its part, is a messaging application cross-platform, free, and heavily focused on speed and the cloudYou can use it on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows, and Linux, with near-instant synchronization across all your devices.
Unlike iMessage, Telegram is based on a decentralized infrastructure with data centers spread around the worldensuring you connect to the nearest server to minimize latency. The result is a very fast app when opening, sending messages, and loading content.
One of its strengths is that your The phone number functions as the primary identifier.But then you can use the account on any device, even if it's not a phone. You can, for example, work on your Mac and reply to messages without touching your iPhone, use it on Android, on a PC… without depending on whether your phone is turned on or connected, which is the case with WhatsApp Web.
In addition, the app is updated very frequently. The new features arrive quickly and fairly uniformly. iOS, Android and desktop, making the experience very consistent across platforms.
Telegram features that can replace many apps
Telegram is not limited to offering basic chats. With a little creativity, It can replace several apps on your iPhone. or at least complement them.
For example, you can use a chat with yourself like simple music playerBy sending MP3 files (such as demos from musician friends who aren't on Spotify or Apple Music), you always have them at hand and can even play them with the app running in the background.
Another real use is turning Telegram into a “Read later” very practicalYou create a group just for yourself or use "Saved Messages," sending links to articles you find, and when you read them, you delete them or save them as favorites. It's a quick way to avoid losing interesting things without relying on specific apps.
It is also very useful as timely reminderBy scheduling messages in "Saved Messages," Telegram changes the label "schedule message" to "create a reminder." This is perfect for specific things like "call X at 18:00 PM" or "buy potatoes tomorrow morning," knowing that the notification will pop up in the app you use most.
To that we must add bots, such as those that allow Download TikTok videos without a watermark simply by pasting the link, or AI assistants like LuzIA, which can help you with recipes, Excel formulas or answer quick questions without needing to open another specific app.
Security and privacy in Telegram: normal chat vs secret chat
Telegram is making a serious effort in terms of securityBut its model is quite different from that of iMessage and, above all, from that of Signal.
By default, Regular Telegram chats (in the cloud) are not end-to-end encryptedThey use client-server encryption and are stored on Telegram's servers. This has clear advantages: you can access your entire history from any device, you don't depend on external backups, and the service works even if you frequently change phones.
The downside is that, in an extreme scenario (massive leak or legal pressure), Someone with access to the servers could analyze the content of those messagesAlthough Telegram claims to encrypt them securely, the company uses its own cryptographic protocol, MTProto, which does not have the same level of academic scrutiny as Signal's protocol.
When you want maximum confidentiality, Telegram offers the secret chatsThese are the ones who use them end-to-end encryptionThese features are not stored in the company's cloud and are limited to the specific devices on which you launch them. They also allow you to activate self-destruct timers for messages, content that disappears after being viewed, and more.
Beyond encryption, Telegram offers advanced privacy options: Lock with a code or biometrics, very fine control over who sees your last seen time, the possibility of hiding your number in certain interactions, a remote session that you can close from another device and a self-destruct function for the account after a period of inactivity (1, 3, 6 months or 1 year).
In short: if you're very concerned about the privacy of your content on Telegram, Use secret chats for sensitive conversations and reserve regular chats for everything else, taking advantage of the cloud and synchronization.
Security comparison: iMessage with advanced protection vs Telegram
If you limit the comparison to what's important —iMessage with Advanced Data Protection enabled versus Telegram in regular chats—, the photo becomes clearer.
With this configurationiMessage messages:
- Are end-to-end encryption in transit between Apple devices.
- They are stored encrypted on your devices, and if you use Messages in iCloud with advanced protection, also end-to-end encryption in the cloudwhere not even Apple can access the content.
- They are enhanced by an operating system (iOS, iPadOS, macOS) pretty well protected in terms of sandboxing and permissions, which reduces the impact of certain threats.
In response to this, the normal Telegram chats:
- They use client-server encryption, but They are not end-to-end by default..
- They are stored on Telegram's servers, which is very convenient, but centralizes the risk in case of a breach or strong legal pressure.
- They rely on their own cryptographic protocol which, although it has not been publicly broken, It does not have the same level of security consensus as the Signal protocol. or the highly audited implementations used by Apple.
If we stick to the question "which is more secure, iMessage with advanced protection or Telegram in normal chat?", the technical answer is that iMessage has an advantage in content confidentialityprovided that everyone involved uses Apple devices and you have iCloud protection properly configured.
Now, if you compare iMessage with secret Telegram chatsThe difference is no longer so clear. Both offer end-to-end encryption, self-destructing messages, and robust threat models. In that scenario, the choice depends more on your trust in Apple versus Telegram and on usability considerations.
User experience: pros and cons of iMessage versus Telegram
Beyond pure security, choosing between iMessage and Telegram on iPhone involves evaluating the day-to-day: audio quality, stickers, speed, desktop apps and small details that make one app feel more comfortable than another.
On the Telegram sideSome common strengths include:
- Very good audio quality in voice notes, better than iMessage for many users.
- Dark mode is well integrated into iOS and with many visual options.
- Reply, edit and delete messages in a very flexible way, both in individual chats and in groups.
- Many more free stickers, with complete packages without the need for extra apps.
- Powerful and up-to-date desktop applications on macOS and other platforms, with instant sync.
On the debit sideUsers often comment on things like:
- Emojis that take a little longer to arrive on Telegram Desktop on Mac rather than mobile platforms.
- Messages containing only emojis are displayed in a relatively small bubble compared to the giant emojis in iMessage when you send few.
- La Quick response from notifications on iOS isn't that great like iMessage, where you can better see the context of the chat.
- It is not a native system app And, although it is very well integrated, it does not reach the level of deep integration of iMessage with all of iOS.
Regarding iMessageIts key advantages on iPhone and Mac are:
- Es Apple nativewhich means full integration with notifications, CarPlay, Apple Watch, Siri, etc.
- Offer Animated stickers, Memoji, and screen effects very well made.
- Emojis always updated daily on iOS, iPadOS and macOS, without delays.
- Third-party apps integrated into the iMessage toolbar (surveys, games, GIFs…) that can enrich chats.
- La The quick response from notifications is very polishedYou see the entire thread, you can continue writing, reply in the thread, etc. without opening the app.
Their weaknesses They focus primarily on the Mac and certain usage details:
- La The Messages app on macOS is still quite limited: simple interface, some features that arrive later than on iOS and a feeling of an "old app" compared to Telegram Desktop.
- Although it already allows editing and deleting messages, It doesn't have the same flexibility as Telegram nor the same long deadlines.
- La The quality of the voice notes is perceived as worse. by many users compared to Telegram.
- The management of Real-time location is less intuitiveFor example, when sharing your location for an hour, the other person doesn't always receive as clear a notification as on Telegram, where it's sent as a message with a more obvious warning.
- Most Stickers come from external apps which you have to install and maintain, something less convenient than Telegram's native packages.
Other secure messaging apps: where they fit in the comparison
Although we focus here on iMessage and Telegram, in any discussion about privacy names like Signal, WhatsApp, Threema or Session.
Signal is, to this day, the reference in security and privacy For general use: it's free, open source, with end-to-end encryption for everything, minimal metadata storage, and no advertising-based business model. Its main practical problem is that Many people around you probably don't use it., something you may have verified yourself.
WhatsApp also relies on Signal protocol for end-to-end encryption And it's the dominant messaging app in many countries, but it belongs to Meta, with all that implies in terms of data collection and privacy concerns.
Telegram falls somewhere in the middle: A large number of features, good speed, very usable, and with some transparency in its code.But with the important nuance that end-to-end encryption is not the norm but the exception (secret chats).
Other apps like Threema or Session They go a step further in anonymity and data control, in exchange for a smaller user base and some added complexity. They're useful if your threat is very high, but for most people's daily use, they're not as practical as iMessage, Telegram, or WhatsApp.
In this context, if you've already tried unsuccessfully to convince your friends and family to use Signal, it makes a lot of sense. stick with iMessage and Telegram as your two mainstaysadjusting according to the sensitivity of each conversation and the devices you use.
The decision between iMessage and Telegram on iPhone comes down to finding a balance. realistic security, convenience, ecosystem, and who you're talking toIf everyone in your inner circle uses Apple devices and you prioritize end-to-end protection with Advanced Data Protection, iMessage is hard to beat as your primary option. If you need to switch between iPhone, Android, and PC, manage channels, bots, and massive groups, and want a tool that's almost like a digital Swiss Army knife, Telegram is in a different league. Many users end up adopting a hybrid strategy: iMessage for "pure Apple" contacts and more personal conversations, and Telegram for groups, community, automations, and creative uses, taking advantage of the best of both worlds without giving up anything important.
