In the year 2013, WhatsApp already ruled the world... and without no trouble at all. It was establishing itself as the most used mobile instant messaging and chat application in the world, increasing its distance in terms of users with all its rivals and alternatives such as Skype, LINE or Kik Messenger. However, that year we could also download Telegram Messenger for PC, a messaging application developed by the Russian brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov. It was first released on mobile phones and a year later as a multiplatform version, offering a model that didn't go against WhatsApp but was slightly different. In fact, many of its features have later been implemented by the messaging giant purchased by Facebook, as well as other similar apps.

The safe and private instant messaging and chat client

And although now all apps of this kind have gradually incorporated more security layers to their developments, it was the first important messenger to include encryption to its messages, allowing its users to hold completely private conversations. And with Telegram Desktop, they launched a native client for PC. Once we download Telegram Messenger for PC we can run the program as a standalone without having to resort to the web.

If there were a WhatsApp killer, this would be it.

Main features

It comes along with a wide range of features and functions that are common to all its different developments, whether in its Android APK, its versions for iOS devices, such as iPhone, its app for macOS, the online version of Telegram or even its Linux client:

• Chat with all your contacts.
• Groups with up to 5,000 members at the same time.
• Synchronization of individual and group chats on all your devices.
• Locate users by means of their username without needing to have them on your contact list.
• Send documents of any type and in any format.
• Encrypt conversations with a 256-bit AES encryption.
• Destroy messages thanks to a timer.
• Store your files on the cloud with their history.
• API available for developers.
• Possibility to chat with yourself (useful to share files or links to be read later on).
• Broadcast channels.
• A platform of bots that can be used for all sorts of services.
• Send emoticons and stickers.
• Desktop notifications.

Definitely one of the instant messaging bargains.

Which one's better? Telegram or WhatsApp?

The truth is that WhatsApp seems to have to take a step forward, mainly because its users demanded the implementation of features that were already present in apps like this Telegram Messenger. In any case, you should know that in the world of messaging applications there's plenty of flexibility and choosing one over another doesn't mean that you can't use them both.

But if you want us to convince you that you should go for the application developed by the Durov brothers, here are a few reasons to do so:

• Private messages can be self-destroyed.
• Free forever and without adverts or subscriptions.
• Messages protected against cybercriminal attacks.
• No size limits when it comes to sending files.

Telegram's secret chats

This privacy feature is one of its most acclaimed functions. You can establish private and ephemeral chats with other users using end-to-end encryption that can only be read by the user that has the authentication key and only once. It became quite controversial because members of ISIS used it to communicate.

All in all, the desktop client brings together all the different functions that we can make use of on other devices, but adapted to Microsoft's operating system, and with perfect synchronization with the rest of our gadgets.

What's new in the latest version

• Telegram Premium has started rolling out.

Requirements and additional information:

• Requires that you associate a mobile phone number to the application.