Kik vs Telegram

April 08, 2023 | Author: Adam Levine
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Kik
chat on your terms. Looking for a new and engaging way to interact with your audience? Have amazing content or a cool experience you'd love to get discovered? Kik offers brands and content providers unique ways to talk with their fans, and find new followers too!
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Telegram
Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s super-fast, simple, secure and free. Telegram seamlessly syncs across all of your devices and can be used on desktops, tablets and phones alike. You can send an unlimited amount of messages, photos, videos and files of any type (.doc, .zip, .pdf, etc.). Telegram groups have up to 200 people and you can send broadcasts to up to 100 contacts at a time. Be sure to check our website for a list of Telegram apps for all platforms.
Kik and Telegram are both messaging apps that allow users to send and receive messages, but they have some key differences:

Privacy and Security: Telegram is known for its focus on privacy and security. It uses end-to-end encryption for secret chats, which means that only the sender and recipient can read the messages, and not even Telegram itself can access the content of the messages. Telegram also provides features like self-destructing messages and the ability to create "secret chats" that are not stored on Telegram's servers. Kik, on the other hand, does not provide end-to-end encryption for messages, and the messages are stored on Kik's servers. While both apps have privacy and security settings, Telegram is generally considered to have more robust privacy and security features compared to Kik.

User Base and Network: Kik and Telegram have different user bases and networks. Kik is known for its focus on anonymity and allows users to register and use the app without providing their phone number. Kik also has a larger presence in North America and is popular among younger users. Telegram, on the other hand, requires users to register with a phone number and has a more global user base. Telegram has gained popularity for its security features, and it has been used by various groups and communities for communication and organization purposes.

Features and Functionality: Both Kik and Telegram offer messaging features such as text messaging, multimedia sharing (photos, videos, etc.), and group chats. However, Telegram offers additional features such as channels, which are used for broadcasting messages to a large audience, and bots, which are automated accounts that can perform various tasks. Telegram also has a larger file size limit for sharing files compared to Kik. Kik, on the other hand, has features such as "Kik Cards" which allow users to access web content within the app, and it has a built-in web browser.

Platform and Integration: Kik is primarily a mobile messaging app available on iOS and Android platforms. It does not have a desktop or web version. Telegram, on the other hand, is available on various platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and web browsers. Telegram also provides APIs and supports bot development, which allows for integration with other services and platforms.

Ownership and Governance: Kik is owned by the Kik Interactive Inc., a Canadian company, while Telegram is owned by Telegram Messenger LLP, a company registered in the United Kingdom. The governance, policies, and terms of use for each app may differ based on their respective ownership and jurisdiction.

In summary, the main differences between Kik and Telegram include their privacy and security features, user base and network, features and functionality, platform and integration, and ownership and governance. Users should consider their specific needs and preferences when choosing between Kik and Telegram as their messaging app of choice.

See also: Top 10 Business Messaging platforms
Kik vs Telegram in our news:

2022. Telegram is now offering a Premium subscription



Telegram is introducing a Premium subscription to leverage its significant growth. Priced at $5 per month, Telegram Premium offers a range of additional features alongside the existing free functionalities. Subscribers can now enjoy the ability to upload larger files, with a size limit of up to 4GB, as well as accelerated file downloads. Furthermore, the subscription doubles various limits within the app, such as the ability to follow up to 1,000 channels, create 20 chat folders with 200 chats each, pin 10 chats, save 10 favorite stickers, and add a fourth account to the app. Premium users also gain access to exclusive stickers, including those with full-screen animations, unique reaction emojis, premium badges, and voice-to-text conversation capabilities.


2021. Telegram added group video chat and screen-sharing



Telegram has introduced a new feature that allows users to engage in video chats with up to 30 people. This functionality is integrated into the Voice Chat feature of the app. When initiating a voice chat room, you will now notice a camera icon, which, when tapped, enables your video feed. Similar to other video conferencing applications like Zoom and Google Meet, Telegram allows you to expand the video to fullscreen and pin a specific participant to the center of the call. This ensures that the focus remains on the pinned individual even when others join the chat. Furthermore, Telegram now supports screen sharing. While on a video call, you have the flexibility to switch between your camera feed and the content displayed on your screen or even show both simultaneously.


2019. Telegram now allows to kill chat history



Telegram has introduced a new feature that enables users to delete messages in one-to-one and/or group private chats retrospectively, extending beyond their own inbox. With this feature, users have the ability to selectively delete their own messages as well as messages sent by others in the chat. To delete a message from both ends, users simply need to tap on the message, choose the 'delete' option, and then they are presented with two choices: 'delete for [the name of the other person in the chat or 'everyone']' or 'delete for me'. Opting for the former option removes the message across all devices, while the latter option only removes it from the user's own inbox. This feature grants users greater control over their conversations and ensures privacy and discretion when needed.


2018. Telegram’s new widget lets businesses connect with users



Messaging app Telegram has introduced a new web login widget feature. This functionality enables website owners, particularly business owners, to establish a direct connection with Telegram users through a Telegram bot integrated into their site. By combining the bot with the web plugin, businesses can leverage this system to send reminders, sales confirmations, updates, and other relevant information directly to customers via chat. It's worth noting that Facebook launched a similar plugin last year, enabling businesses to connect with users through Messenger. Additionally, Facebook is developing business-focused applications that allow companies to tap into its vast monthly userbase of 1.5 billion, with upcoming payment features on the horizon as well.


2017. Telegram adds unsend feature



The popular messaging app Telegram has introduced a new feature called "unsend," allowing users to retrieve or delete messages within a two-day timeframe after sending them. In a similar move, the secure messenger Signal also recently incorporated an ephemeral messaging feature back in October, primarily focusing on maintaining tidiness rather than emphasizing privacy. Telegram's unsend functionality is applicable to both one-to-one and group messaging scenarios but must be utilized within the 48-hour window. The intention behind this feature is to provide users with a way to address "morning after messaging regret" by enabling them to erase content they wish they had never expressed.


2016. Telegram released Bot Platform 2.0



The bot platform of the messaging platform Telegram has announced a significant 2.0 update, marking its largest update since its launch last year. This update introduces the capability for developers to create bots that can send various types of content supported on Telegram, including documents, MP3s, videos, stickers, animations, and contacts. It also includes support for location-based services and allows for deep integration with other services based on users' phone numbers. Furthermore, the update incorporates inline keyboards that can be customized to align with a specific bot's messages. This feature enables users to simply tap on predefined buttons to interact with the bot, eliminating the need to type out specific instructions. To showcase these new features, Telegram has developed four sample bots: @music, which allows users to search for and share classical music; @youtube, designed for searching and sharing YouTube videos; @foursquare, aimed at discovering nearby restaurants and sharing addresses with friends; and @sticker, a bot that assists in finding stickers using emoji as the starting point for a sticker search.


2015. Telegram launched public chats - Channels



Secure messenger Telegram has introduced a new feature that holds great utility for businesses—Channels. This feature serves as a powerful tool for broadcasting messages to large audiences, surpassing the capabilities of the old Broadcast lists in every aspect. Channels can accommodate an unlimited number of members and offer the option to be public, complete with a permanent URL. Furthermore, each post in a channel is equipped with its own view counter, encompassing views from forwarded copies as well. Notably, new members joining a channel can access the entire message history from day one. Channels are now accessible through Telegram's iOS and Android apps.


2015. Messenger Kik adds QR codes to connect users and brands


Mobile messenger Kik has taken inspiration from WeChat by introducing QR codes to enable various interactions directly within the app. These interactions range from purchasing a soda to printing a photo. While Kik aims to achieve extensive engagement in the long run, their initial implementation of 'Kik Codes' is relatively basic. By scanning these codes, users can connect with each other, add new participants to a group chat, or establish a connection with a brand on the platform, which is particularly intriguing. Kik had previously introduced promoted chats to enable brands like Burger King to engage with users officially. The company revealed that more than 16 million users have interacted with branded bots, resulting in over half a billion messages exchanged. Kik Codes align well with this concept, as they facilitate connections that would otherwise be challenging to establish. For instance, a code offering a free pizza or a monetary incentive can entice users to scan and engage, enhancing the overall experience.


2015. Messenger Kik raised $50M



The Canadian company behind the messaging app Kik has recently secured $50 million in funding from Tencent, the renowned creator of WeChat. Kik has consistently demonstrated its commitment to innovation in an industry that witnesses rapid turnovers. Moreover, Kik has successfully generated revenue. As of now, Kik holds the 30th position among the top free apps on the App Store and ranks 7th in the social networking category, both within the United States. By collaborating with Tencent, Kik aims to compete with messaging giants such as Facebook by continuously exploring novel ideas and experimenting until they discover a breakthrough—something at which Tencent has excelled.


2015. Telegram now lets developers create smart chat-bots



Popular messenger Telegram has introduced a new Bot platform, enabling third-party developers to create AI-like software-operated Telegram accounts known as Bots. These Bots can possess various functionalities, such as an image bot integrated with the Bing Image search API or a support bot capable of providing step-by-step issue resolution. Bots can even offer customized keyboards, eliminating the need for users to type manually. The process of building these bots is remarkably swift, with new Bot developers requiring only a few hours. They simply generate a key through @BotFather and utilize a straightforward https API to manage the bot's operations. Telegram Bots also have the potential to become viral as any forwarded message includes a link to its original sender. Consequently, when a bot's message is forwarded to an individual or group, it functions similarly to a retweet, inherently facilitating viral growth. Additionally, all bots are equipped with an "Add To Group" and a "Share" button, further enhancing their accessibility and potential reach.

Author: Adam Levine
Adam is an expert in project management, collaboration and productivity technologies, team management, and motivation. With an extensive background working at prestigious companies such as Microsoft and Accenture, Adam's in-depth knowledge and experience in the field make him a sought-after professional. Currently, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a thriving consulting and training agency where he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies to individuals and organizations, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. You can contact Adam via email adam@liventerprise.com