WhatsApp is copying Telegram features

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Updated: may 31, 2023

By Alberto Casas:

My friends often tell me about "new" WhatsApp features that I have been enjoying on Telegram for a long time. In this post, I'll try to maintain an up-to-date list of such features.

2013

Read status for messages

Telegram: 2013, WhatsApp: 2014

End-to-end Encryption Support

Telegram: 2013, WhatsApp: 2016

Also read: WhatsApp en realidad no tiene cifrado de extremo a extremo

Large group chats

Telegram: 200 members in 2013, 200,000 members in 2019; WhatsApp: 256 since 2016.

Send larg(ish) files

Telegram: up to 1,5GB in 2013, 2GB in 2020; WhatsApp: increased 16MB to 100 MB in 2017

"Forwarded" labels

Telegram: 2013, WhatsApp: 2019

Free service

Telegram: 2013, WhatsApp: 2016

2014

Web client

Telegram: stand-alone app in 2014, WhatsApp: phone-dependent app in 2015

Send files of any type

Telegram: 2014, WhatsApp: 2017

Desktop app

Telegram: standalone app in 2014, WhatsApp: a wrapper for the web client in 2016

GIF search

Telegram: 2014, WhatsApp: 2017

2015

Replies in chats

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2016

@-Mentions in groups

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: Sep 2016

Invite links for groups

Telegram: Apr 2015, WhatsApp: Sep 2016

Extended admin permissions

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2018

Link previews

Telegram: Apr 2015, WhatsApp: Nov 2015

Group descriptions

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2018

Text formatting

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2016

Quick-share buttons

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2016

2-Step Verification

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2017

Stickers

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2018

Create sticker packs (with the help of third parties)

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2018

Photo editor

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2016

Channels

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2018

2016

Mention Counter

Telegram: 2016 WhatsApp: 2018

2017

Unsend messages

Telegram: Jan 2017, WhatsApp: Oct 2017

By Santiago | Droidnius:
I will order the years based on the year of implementation of a certain feature in WhatsApp.

Live locations

Telegram: October 10, 2017; WhatsApp: October 17, 2017

2019

Who add me to groups?

Telegram: 2016, WhatsApp: 2019

App lock

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2019

2020

Dark mode

Telegram: 2017, WhatsApp: 2020

Payments

Telegram: 2017, WhatsApp: 2020

Animated stickers

Telegram: 2019, WhatsApp: 2020

Temporary messages

Telegram: 2013, WhatsApp: 2020

Dark mode for desktop app

Telegram: 2017, WhatsApp: 2020

Video calls for desktop app

Telegram: August, 2020; WhatsApp: December, 2020

Calls for desktop

Telegram: 2017, WhatsApp: 2020

Filter the multimedia search from the list of chats

Telegram: September, 2020; WhatsApp: October, 2020

Buttons (keyboard)

Telegram: 2016, WhatsApp: 2020

2021

Joining a group call after it has begun

Telegram (2020)

If you can't see the video, touch here or here

WhatsApp (2021)

Telegram: 2020, WhatsApp: 2021

Transfer chats between OS

Telegram: 2013, WhatsApp: 2021

Play audios in 2X speed

Telegram: 2018, WhatsApp: 2021

Round chat bubbles

Telegram (2020)

If you can't see the video, touch here or here

WhatsApp (2021)

Telegram: 2020, WhatsApp: 2021

Play audios before send it

Telegram: 2016, WhatsApp: 2021

Exceptions to the last time or online status

Telegram: 2014, WhatsApp: 2021

Mute a video before send it

Telegram: 2016, WhatsApp: 2020

Search in chat for date

Telegram: 2016, WhatsApp: 2021

Timer for self-destructing messages

Telegram (february, 2021)

If you can't see the video, touch here or here

Telegram (july, 2021)

WhatsApp (september, 2021)

Telegram: up to 7 days in February 2021, up to one month in July 2021; WhatsApp: up to 90 days in September 2021

Photo editor in desktop app

Telegram: July, 2021; WhatsApp: August, 2021

Use desktop and web versions without the need for the smartphone to have an internet connection

Telegram: Desktop app (Telegram Desktop) in January 2014, web version in February 2014; WhatsApp: 2021

Full preview of links

Telegram (2015)

WhatsApp (2021)

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2021

Change the video quality before send it

Telegram (2017)

If you can't see the video, touch here or here

WhatsApp (2021)

Telegram: 2017, WhatsApp: 2021

Global audio player

The global audio player consists of playing an audio file or voice message even when it is not open in the chat of origin of the audio, as well as being able to play it outside the application or with the screen turned off.

Telegram (2014)

WhatsApp (2021)

Telegram: 2014, WhatsApp: 2021

Exceptions for 'Who can see my profile photo'

Telegram: 2019, WhatsApp: 2021

Pin chats in desktop app with sync

Telegram: 2016, WhatsApp: 2021

Stickers suggestions

WhatsApp (2021)

Telegram (2015)

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2021

Delete messages for both sides without leaving a trace

Telegram: 2017, WhatsApp: 2021

Stickers on a group profile picture

Telegram: 2016, WhatsApp: 2021

Message reactions

Telegram – Final version (2021)

WhatsApp – Final version (2022)

Telegram: 2019, WhatsApp: 2021

Create stickers natively

In Telegram you can send a .webp file to transform it into a sticker (and this was officially announced) in WhatsApp you can make stickers directly with the help of an implemented editor.

Telegram: 2015, WhatsApp: 2021