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Signal vs Telegram Desktop: catalog facts
Signal	Telegram Desktop
Free Free; developed by a nonprofit funded by grants and donations	Freemium Free to use. Telegram Premium is an optional subscription for larger uploads, faster…
Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
End-to-end encryption on every message and call using the open source Signal Protocol No ads, affiliate marketers or tracking	Official client with published source and build instructions Cloud chats sync instantly across every device you sign in on
Requires a phone number that can receive an SMS or phone call to register Desktop app requires Signal to be installed on a phone first	Ordinary chats are not end-to-end encrypted and Telegram holds the keys Secret chats are not available in the desktop client
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: AGPL-3.0	License: GPL-3.0
Account needed	Account needed
Needs internet	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.