Softwr

Communication · head to head

Chanty vs Telegram

Chanty logo

Chanty

Communication

Simple, easy to use, all-in-one team collaboration tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Telegram logo

Telegram

Communication

Pure instant messaging — simple, fast, secure, and synced across all your devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Chanty free plan caps at 5 team members; Telegram end-to-end encryption applies only to Secret Chats; private and group Cloud Chats use server-client encryption, so Telegram holds the data
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chanty and Telegram actually diverge.

Attributes where Chanty and Telegram differ
AttributeChantyTelegram
PlatformsWebWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Communication).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Chanty

Nothing recorded that Telegram does not also cover.

Only in Telegram

  • Cloud-based messaging
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Self-destructing messages
  • Large group chats
  • Voice and video calls
  • Bot platform
  • Channels and broadcasts
  • Cross-platform sync

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Chanty

  • Team communication and collaborationnot Telegram

Telegram

  • Group messaging and large channels with files of any type and sizenot Chanty
  • Private device-bound conversations with self-destructing messagesnot Chanty
  • Running bots and broadcast channels for an audiencenot Chanty

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Chanty

  • Free plan caps at 5 team members
  • Enterprise tier publishes no price and requires contacting sales
  • Monthly billing costs roughly 33% more per seat than annual billing on the Business plan, based on the vendor's own comparison of monthly versus annual per-user rates

Telegram

  • End-to-end encryption applies only to Secret Chats; private and group Cloud Chats use server-client encryption, so Telegram holds the data
  • Secret Chats are device-specific and are not part of the Telegram cloud, so they can only be read on the device they started on
  • Logging out destroys all of your Secret Chats
  • The Secret Chat self-destruct timer applies only to messages sent after the timer is set and has no effect on earlier messages
  • Telegram states screenshot detection cannot be guaranteed on some Android and Windows Phone devices, so screenshots of Secret Chats can be taken silently
  • Messages cannot be forwarded out of Secret Chats
  • The self-destruct timer in cloud chats covers media only, not text

Pricing, plan by plan

Chanty

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited public and private chats
    • Voice messages and searchable history
    • One-on-one calls
  • Business$12/month
    • Everything in Free plan
    • Unlimited group calls and screen sharing
    • Employee onboarding
  • Enterprise$null/month
    • All Business features
    • White-labeling
    • Directory sync and SCIM provisioning

Telegram

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited messages
    • 2GB file sharing
    • Group chats up to 200K members
  • Telegram Premium$4.99/month
    • Everything in Free
    • 4GB file uploads
    • Faster downloads

Which should you pick?

Choose Chanty if

  • You want to start without paying.
Chanty review

Choose Telegram if

  • You need cloud-based messaging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
  • You also want end-to-end encryption.
Telegram review

Questions people ask

Is Chanty or Telegram better?
Neither clearly leads. Chanty starts at Free and Telegram at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chanty or Telegram?
Chanty starts at Free and Telegram at Free.
Does Chanty or Telegram run on more platforms?
Chanty runs on Web. Telegram runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
Can I use Chanty for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Chanty best used for?
Chanty is most often used for team communication and collaboration. Of those, team communication and collaboration is not what Telegram is typically brought in for.
What can Chanty do that Telegram cannot?
Telegram covers Cloud-based messaging, End-to-end encryption, Self-destructing messages, Large group chats.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Chanty: How much does Chanty cost?

Chanty is free with up to 5 team members. The Business plan costs $12 per user per month with annual billing or $16 per user per month with monthly billing. Enterprise plan pricing requires contacting sales. Nonprofits and educational institutions receive a 50% discount.

Source
Telegram: Does Telegram cost money?

Telegram is a completely free messaging application. There are no subscription plans, in-app purchases, or ads. The service is funded through cryptocurrency investments.

Source
Chanty: Is there a free version of Chanty?

Yes, Chanty's free plan includes unlimited public and private chats, voice messages, searchable history, one-on-one calls, task management, and 20GB storage. It supports up to 5 team members plus 1 guest user.

Source
Chanty: What does the Chanty Business plan add?

The Business plan ($12-16/user/month) adds unlimited group calls, screen sharing, employee onboarding, per-user storage at 20GB, calendar, polls, forms, customizable permissions, HIPAA compliance, SSO/2FA, IP allowlist, 99.9% uptime SLA, 24/7 support, and 3 free guest seats per member.

Source
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