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Communication · head to head

Novu vs Telegram

Novu logo

Novu

Communication

Open-source notification infrastructure for multi-channel messaging

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: Novu free plan activity feed retention is limited to 24 hours, restricting how far back teams can debug delivery issues.; Telegram end-to-end encryption applies only to Secret Chats; private and group Cloud Chats use server-client encryption, so Telegram holds the data
  • They diverge on capability: Novu covers Multi-channel workflows, Telegram covers Cloud-based messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Novu and Telegram actually diverge.

Attributes where Novu and Telegram differ
AttributeNovuTelegram
Platformsweb, apiWeb, 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 Novu

  • Multi-channel workflows
  • Advanced email editor
  • Activity feed
  • Multi-environment support
  • Role-based access control
  • Self-hosting

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.

Novu

  • Building multi-channel notification workflows for a SaaS productnot Telegram
  • Self-hosting notification infrastructure for data controlnot Telegram
  • Managing separate notification environments for staging and productionnot Telegram
  • Tracking notification delivery history and activitynot Telegram

Telegram

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

Where each one falls short

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

Novu

  • Free plan activity feed retention is limited to 24 hours, restricting how far back teams can debug delivery issues.
  • Overage on Pro and Team plans is billed at $1.20 per 1,000 additional workflow runs, which can add up at scale.
  • HIPAA BAA compliance and dedicated SSO are Enterprise-only and require custom pricing.

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

Novu

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10,000 workflow runs/month
    • All channels included
    • Up to 20 workflows
  • Pro$30/month
    • 30,000+ workflow runs/month
    • Advanced email editor
    • Remove Novu branding
  • Team$250/month
    • 250,000+ workflow runs/month
    • Up to 10 environments
    • 90-day activity feed retention

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 Novu if

  • You need multi-channel workflows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want advanced email editor.
Novu 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 Novu or Telegram better?
Neither clearly leads. Novu 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, Novu or Telegram?
Novu starts at Free and Telegram at Free.
Does Novu or Telegram run on more platforms?
Novu runs on web, api. Telegram runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
Can I use Novu for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Novu best used for?
Novu is most often used for building multi-channel notification workflows for a saas product, self-hosting notification infrastructure for data control, managing separate notification environments for staging and production, tracking notification delivery history and activity. Of those, building multi-channel notification workflows for a saas product and self-hosting notification infrastructure for data control are not what Telegram is typically brought in for.
What can Novu do that Telegram cannot?
Novu covers Multi-channel workflows, Advanced email editor, Activity feed, Multi-environment support. Telegram covers Cloud-based messaging, End-to-end encryption, Self-destructing messages, Large group chats.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Novu: What does Novu cost?

Novu offers a Free plan for 10,000 workflow runs per month, Pro from $30/month for 30,000+ runs, Team from $250/month for 250,000+ runs, and custom Enterprise pricing for 10M+ runs.

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
Novu: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Yes, the Free plan includes 10,000 workflow runs per month, all messaging channels, up to 20 workflows, 2 environments, and up to 3 team members.

Source
Novu: How is usage metered?

Billing is based on the number of workflow runs per month rather than per user or per message, with overage on paid plans charged at $1.20 per 1,000 additional runs.

Source
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