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Telegram vs Session: catalog facts
Telegram	Session
Free The apps are free to download and use.	Free Free and open source under the GPL 3.0, run by the Session Technology Foundation.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Chats sync across phones and desktop computers Large groups, channels and bot platform	No phone number or email needed; the account is a random ID Onion routing hides your address from recipients and from the network
Relies on Telegram's central servers Apps are open source but the server software is not published	Losing your recovery phrase means losing the account with no reset Delivery can be slower than a centralised messenger
Downloadable app, Hosted service	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-3.0	License: GPL-3.0
Account needed	No account needed
Needs internet	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026

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