Telegram vs Discord

Telegram9.3Visit Discord9.1Visit

Higher score Telegram #2 in Instant Messaging Software 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Telegram

vs

Discord #4 in Instant Messaging Software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Discord

• Telegram fits best

  Large communities and multi-device chat

• Discord fits best

  Community chat, voice and streaming

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Side by side

Feature	Telegram 9.3/10 Visit ↗	Discord 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	9.1
Ranking	#2 in Instant Messaging Software	#4 in Instant Messaging Software
Best for	Large communities and multi-device chat	Community chat, voice and streaming
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	$29.99/user/yr
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support	Tickets, Docs, Community	Email, Phone, Tickets, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Telegram 0/2 · Discord 0/2
End-to-end encryption	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Guest access	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Message history	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Max group size	200000 members	Not checked yet
File size limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Supported platforms	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Groups support up to 200,000 members, alongside broadcast channels Cloud synchronization keeps chats accessible across mobile, desktop and web Secret Chats offer end-to-end encryption, with self-destruct timers	Free voice, video, text chat, and community servers Screen sharing, game streaming, and Krisp noise suppression Web, desktop, and mobile apps with roles and permissions
Cons	Secret Chats are device-specific and are not stored in the cloud An account requires a phone number Premium subscription pricing varies by country, app store and payment provider	Nitro Basic file uploads are limited to 50 MB Nitro supports up to 200 servers HD video streaming requires the Nitro tier
Our verdict	Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app for individuals, communities, businesses and small teams. It combines private messaging, file sharing, voice and video calls, large groups, broadcast channels, usernames and bots. Its free plan… Read the review →	Discord combines voice channels, video calls, text chat, direct messages, screen sharing, game streaming, and community servers. It is designed for gaming communities and online groups, while its listed company-size fit spans solo users… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Telegram — where it wins

  • Groups support up to 200,000 members, alongside broadcast channels
  • Cloud synchronization keeps chats accessible across mobile, desktop and web
  • Secret Chats offer end-to-end encryption, with self-destruct timers

  Where it doesn't

  • Secret Chats are device-specific and are not stored in the cloud
  • An account requires a phone number
  • Premium subscription pricing varies by country, app store and payment provider

• Discord — where it wins

  • Free voice, video, text chat, and community servers
  • Screen sharing, game streaming, and Krisp noise suppression
  • Web, desktop, and mobile apps with roles and permissions

  Where it doesn't

  • Nitro Basic file uploads are limited to 50 MB
  • Nitro supports up to 200 servers
  • HD video streaming requires the Nitro tier

• Telegram9.3/10 · Free plan

  A free, cloud-synced messenger built for large groups and access across devices.

  Visit TelegramFull verdict →
• Discord9.1/10 · Free plan

  A flexible community chat platform with free voice, video, text, and streaming.

  Visit DiscordFull verdict →