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Software · head to head

Telegram vs Wise Business

Telegram logo

Telegram

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wise Business logo

Wise Business

Software

The smart way to send and receive business payments

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Telegram has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Telegram end-to-end encryption applies only to Secret Chats; private and group Cloud Chats use server-client encryption, so Telegram holds the data; Wise Business opening a Wise Business account in the UK carries a one off setup fee of 50 GBP
  • They diverge on capability: Telegram covers Cloud-based messaging, Wise Business covers Multi-currency accounts.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Telegram and Wise Business actually diverge.

Attributes where Telegram and Wise Business differ
AttributeTelegramWise Business
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20132011

Identical on both: 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 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

Only in Wise Business

  • Multi-currency accounts
  • International transfers
  • Batch payments
  • API access
  • Team management
  • Xero
  • QuickBooks
  • Various

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Telegram

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

Wise Business

  • Holding and converting multiple currencies as a businessnot Telegram
  • Paying international suppliers and contractors at the mid market ratenot Telegram
  • Receiving payments into local currency account details in several countriesnot Telegram

Where each one falls short

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

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

Wise Business

  • Opening a Wise Business account in the UK carries a one off setup fee of 50 GBP
  • Volume discounts on transfers start only above 20,000 GBP equivalent sent per month

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Wise Business

$29/month
  • StandardFree
    • Multi-currency account
    • Real exchange rate
    • Batch payments

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Wise Business if

  • You need multi-currency accounts.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want international transfers.
Wise Business review

Questions people ask

Is Telegram or Wise Business better?
Neither clearly leads. Telegram starts at Free and Wise Business at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Telegram or Wise Business?
Telegram has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Telegram and $29/month for Wise Business.
Does Telegram or Wise Business run on more platforms?
Telegram runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android. Wise Business runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use Telegram for free?
Yes. Telegram has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Wise Business starts at $29/month.
What is Telegram best used for?
Telegram is most often used for group messaging and large channels with files of any type and size, private device-bound conversations with self-destructing messages, running bots and broadcast channels for an audience. Of those, group messaging and large channels with files of any type and size and private device-bound conversations with self-destructing messages are not what Wise Business is typically brought in for.
What can Telegram do that Wise Business cannot?
Telegram covers Cloud-based messaging, End-to-end encryption, Self-destructing messages, Large group chats. Wise Business covers Multi-currency accounts, International transfers, Batch payments, API access. Both handle Web support.
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Related pages

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