In today’s fast-evolving digital marketing landscape, instant messaging apps have become vital channels for brands seeking direct, personal, and real-time engagement with their audiences. Among the leading players in this space are Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal. Each platform offers unique features, user demographics, and approaches to data privacy that influence how marketers can leverage their data for campaigns.
This article explores the similarities and differences between Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal with a focus on data availability, privacy, marketing opportunities, and challenges — helping marketers understand telegram data which platform best suits their strategies.
Overview of the Platforms
Telegram
Telegram, launched in 2013, is a cloud-based messaging app famous for its speed, large group chats, and extensive bot ecosystem. It boasts over 800 million active users worldwide, especially popular in regions like Eastern Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.
Telegram’s open API and bot-friendly architecture allow marketers to automate communications, collect data, and build engaging campaigns with a high degree of customization.
WhatsApp
WhatsApp, acquired by Meta (Facebook) in 2014, is the most popular messaging app globally, with over 2 billion users. It’s deeply embedded in everyday communication, especially in markets like India, Brazil, and Europe.
WhatsApp emphasizes end-to-end encryption, personal contacts-based messaging, and recently, business features like WhatsApp Business API, which enable brands to reach customers directly.
Signal
Signal is a privacy-first messaging app with a smaller user base (~50 million), known for its strict security protocols, open-source transparency, and strong encryption. Its popularity surged during privacy concerns related to other apps.
While Signal has fewer business tools, it appeals to users valuing privacy and security above all.
Data and Privacy: The Core Marketing Considerations
Understanding how much and what type of data marketers can access on these platforms — and the privacy constraints around it — is essential for shaping marketing tactics.
Data Access on Telegram
User Data: Telegram collects phone numbers, usernames, contacts (if synced), profile pictures, and metadata such as last seen timestamps.
Channels and Groups: Telegram channels allow one-way broadcast messaging to unlimited subscribers, while groups can hold up to 200,000 members. Both provide valuable engagement data such as message views, reactions, and forwards.
Bots and APIs: Telegram’s Bot API is highly flexible, enabling marketers to create bots that collect user inputs, track interactions, and send automated messages. Marketers can gather data on user behavior, preferences, and engagement in near real-time.
Data Storage: Telegram stores messages in the cloud (except secret chats), allowing users and bots to access message history and metadata for analytics.
Privacy Constraints: Telegram does not sell data but does keep some metadata. End-to-end encryption is only available in secret chats, not in groups or channels, which affects data security considerations.