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Software · head to head

Remote vs Telegram

Remote logo

Remote

Software

The new standard for global employment

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Telegram logo

Telegram

Software

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: Remote employer of Record costs $699 per employee per month, charged per head with no volume tier published; 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: Remote covers Global Payroll, Telegram covers Cloud-based messaging.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Remote and Telegram actually diverge.

Attributes where Remote and Telegram differ
AttributeRemoteTelegram
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android
Founded20192013

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

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 Remote

  • Global Payroll
  • EOR Services
  • Contractor Management
  • Compliance
  • Benefits
  • Equity Management
  • HRIS
  • BambooHR

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Remote

  • Employing staff in countries where you have no legal entity through an employer of recordnot Telegram
  • Paying and managing international contractors with compliant agreementsnot Telegram
  • Running payroll and HR records for a distributed workforcenot Telegram

Telegram

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

Where each one falls short

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

Remote

  • Employer of Record costs $699 per employee per month, charged per head with no volume tier published
  • Global Payroll carries an implementation fee to set up entities plus a recurring payroll delivery fee on top of the $29 per employee per month rate
  • Contractor Management Plus is $99 per contractor per month against $29 for the standard tier
  • The Equity product is limited to Delaware C-Corps
  • The PEO product bills in USD only and requires a US bank account
  • Remote states it collects reserve payments in high risk circumstances, so an upfront deposit is possible

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

Remote

Free
  • Contractor Management$29/month
    • Contractor Payments
    • Compliance
    • Contracts
  • Employer of Record$599/month
    • Global Employment
    • Payroll
    • Benefits

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 Remote if

  • You need global payroll.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want eor services.
Remote 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 Remote or Telegram better?
Neither clearly leads. Remote 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, Remote or Telegram?
Remote starts at Free and Telegram at Free.
Does Remote or Telegram run on more platforms?
Remote runs on Web, Ios, Android. Telegram runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
Can I use Remote for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Remote best used for?
Remote is most often used for employing staff in countries where you have no legal entity through an employer of record, paying and managing international contractors with compliant agreements, running payroll and hr records for a distributed workforce. Of those, employing staff in countries where you have no legal entity through an employer of record and paying and managing international contractors with compliant agreements are not what Telegram is typically brought in for.
What can Remote do that Telegram cannot?
Remote covers Global Payroll, EOR Services, Contractor Management, Compliance. Telegram covers Cloud-based messaging, End-to-end encryption, Self-destructing messages, Large group chats. Both handle Web support.
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