Best for straightforward Android texting
Google Messages vs Telegram vs WhatsApp: which messaging app should you choose?
Choose Google Messages for straightforward Android texting, Telegram for flexible cloud messaging and large file sharing, or WhatsApp for widely used, end-to-end encrypted chats and calls.
At a glance
| App | Google Play rating | Price | In-app purchases | Platforms | Age rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google MessagesGoogle LLC | 4.2 out of 543,639,166 ratings | Free | No | Android, iOS | Everyone |
 TelegramTelegram FZ-LLC | 3.8 out of 517,343,583 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.31 - $289.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Mature 17+ |
 WhatsApp MessengerWhatsApp LLC | 4.6 out of 5246,492,605 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.40 - $199.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Everyone |
Ratings, prices and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 7, 2026. Listings change over time.
How we compared them
All three apps are free to download and support messaging, but they serve different needs. Google Messages centers on everyday texting and RCS, Telegram offers cloud syncing and extensive customization, while WhatsApp combines messaging with voice and video calls and has a huge user base.
This comparison weighs their features, trade-offs, Google Play ratings and install figures, plus declared data safety details where available. It will help you choose based on how you communicate, who you need to reach and which features matter most.
How we compared them
We compared each app’s Google Play rating and install count, price, in-app purchases and ad status, using figures read on November 7, 2026. We also considered the stated features and strengths and limitations of each app, including messaging, encryption, calls, file sharing and customization.
For data safety, Telegram and WhatsApp declare that they share no data with third parties, encrypt data in transit and let users request deletion; their declared collection categories differ. No data safety declaration was supplied for Google Messages, so this comparison makes no claim about its declared data practices.
Google Messages
Google LLC
4.2 out of 5 on Google Play
Best forsimple Android texting and RCS
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 43,639,166
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Everyone
Google Messages is the most direct fit for everyday texting, with a clean interface, smart replies, message search and organization. RCS adds enhanced messaging features, and integration with Google services gives it an advantage for people already using that ecosystem.
It is free, has no in-app purchases and has a 4.2 Google Play rating from 43,639,166 ratings, with 10,000,000,000+ installs. Compared with Telegram and WhatsApp, it offers less customization and lacks their broader feature mix; RCS features require internet, and SMS does not have end-to-end encryption.
What we like
- Clean interface with smart replies and organization
- RCS support for enhanced messaging
- Google services integration and message search
What to know
- Less interface customization than Telegram
- SMS lacks end-to-end encryption; RCS needs internet
Telegram
Telegram FZ-LLC
3.8 out of 5 on Google Play
Best forcloud-synced chats, large files and customization
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 17,343,583
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Mature 17+
Telegram is the strongest choice here for cloud-based message syncing, large file sharing and customizable themes. It also offers encrypted chats, giving users options suited to different conversations, and has a 3.8 Google Play rating from 17,343,583 ratings with 1,000,000,000+ installs.
Its flexible feature set comes with trade-offs: some options are tucked into menus, and the app can be resource-heavy. Telegram is free with in-app purchases, while WhatsApp offers voice and video calls and Google Messages is more focused on straightforward texting. Telegram declares that it collects several categories of data, including contacts, location, files and messages, while saying data is encrypted in transit.
What we like
- Cloud-based message syncing
- Large file sharing
- Customizable themes and encrypted chats
What to know
- Less widely installed than Google Messages or WhatsApp
- Some features are tucked away in menus
WhatsApp Messenger
WhatsApp LLC
4.6 out of 5 on Google Play
Best forreaching a broad network with private chats and calls
- Price
- Free
- Ratings
- 246,492,605
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age rating
- Everyone
WhatsApp combines end-to-end encrypted messaging with voice and video calls, making it the most complete all-round option for keeping in touch with a broad network. It has the highest Google Play rating of these three at 4.6 from 246,492,605 ratings, and 10,000,000,000+ installs.
That reach comes with less theme customization than Telegram, and registration requires a phone number. WhatsApp is free with in-app purchases and declares that it collects categories including contacts, payment information, location, diagnostics and app interactions; it says data is encrypted in transit and deletion can be requested.
What we like
- End-to-end encrypted messaging
- Voice and video calls alongside chats
- 10,000,000,000+ installs and a 4.6 rating
What to know
- Requires a phone number to register
- Less theme customization than Telegram
Which one should you pick?
Best for large files and customization
Telegram
Best for private chats and calls at broad reach
WhatsApp Messenger
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these apps has the highest Google Play rating?
WhatsApp has the highest rating of the three: 4.6 from 246,492,605 ratings. Google Messages is rated 4.2, and Telegram is rated 3.8.
Which app supports end-to-end encrypted messaging?
WhatsApp provides end-to-end encryption for messaging. Telegram offers encrypted chats, while Google Messages does not provide end-to-end encryption for SMS.
Which app is best for sharing large files?
Telegram is the strongest fit for large file sharing among these three.
Which app supports voice and video calls?
WhatsApp supports both voice and video calls. Google Messages focuses on messaging, and Telegram is not noted here as supporting video conferencing.
About this comparison
Appcrazy compares apps independently. We don't make, own or distribute any of these apps and have no affiliation with their developers, Google or Apple. Names, icons and trademarks belong to their owners; store details and fees are shown for reference and can change.