Chat Outsource vs Telegram

LiveAgent

EngageBay CRM

LiveChat

Award-winning live chat, help desk, ticketing and call center software with powerful AI features. Start for free with a 30-day trial.

AI-powered all-in-one CRM for marketing, sales, and support — built to help small businesses grow faster.

LiveChat is a customer service software that enables businesses to communicate with website visitors in real time through chat functionality. The platform includes AI-based chatbots for automating routine inquiries, customizable chat widgets, and proactive chat invitations to engage visitors. It offers integration capabilities with various third-party applications including CRM systems, e-commerce platforms, and marketing tools.

Chat Outsource offers trained chat agents to businesses looking for outsourced ‘lead based’ chat support.

Alerts/Notifications

Canned Responses

Chat/Messaging

Customer History

Customizable Branding

Knowledge Base Management

Live Chat

Proactive Chat

Real-Time Analytics

Real-time Consumer-facing Chat

Reporting & Statistics

Screen Sharing

Social Media Integration

Surveys & Feedback

Third-Party Integrations

Transfers/Routing

Widgets

Chat Outsource

Web-based

Basic

Small Business

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid-size Business

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a chat-based workspace in Microsoft 365 which lets users collaborate on documents, make voice & video conference calls, view chat logs, and more. Teams has replaced Skype for Business as Microsoft's online meeting solution.

Slack

Slack is a single workspace that connects users with the people and tools they work with everyday, no matter where they are or what they do

Connecteam

An all-in-one employee app that's both powerful, affordable and easy to use, especially for the mobile workforce.

Manager

Once I contacted customer care but they didn't answer even after seeing my messages.

AI Practitioner

The application is simply customizable, and they provide excellent customer care and prompt response to your concerns and needs.

Entrepreneur

Telegram Messenger is a cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging platform supported by native apps on most popular operating systems and devices, allowing users or user groups to connect and conduct voice calls, send messages, multimedia and files of all types across an end-to-end encrypted service

Audio Calls

Batch Communications

Collaboration Tools

Conferencing

Contact Management

Discussions/Forums

Document Storage

Drag & Drop

File Sharing

Group Messaging

Interaction Tracking

Multi-Channel Communication

Multi-Language

On-Demand Communications

Personalization

Project Management

Real-Time Chat

Reminders

Search/Filter

Secure Data Storage

SSL Security

Video Conferencing

Video Support

Reviews for Telegram come from a wide variety of industries, including Computer Software (9% of reviewers), Information Technology and Services (9%), and Marketing and Advertising (5%). The most frequent use case for Telegram cited by reviewers is instant messaging & chat (82% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Most reviewers indicate that Telegram delivers exceptional value for money, as they use it for free without ads or hidden fees. Some reviewers find the premium plan overpriced, but most users feel the free version is sufficient.

Value for money

The Telegram integrations most frequently cited by reviewers are: WhatsApp (a live chat product rated 4.2 out of 5 for its integration with Telegram) and Instagram (a social networking product, 4.2).

Integrations

Telegram is a team communication solution with key features that include real-time chat, secure data storage, file sharing, alerts and notifications, search and filter capabilities, audio calls, and more.

Open Source

Telegram

iPhone

Linux

Windows

iPad

Android

Viber

WhatsApp

Google Chat

Discord

Wire

Zoom Workplace

Google Meet

Whappext

Trello

Trillian

Basecamp

Webex Suite

Workplace from Meta

Confusing message deletion controls

Customer Service

The sender has the ability to delete messages from chats, which causes confusion about what was discussed in between.

45% of reviewers feel negative about Telegram’s message deletion features. Users express concern that messages can be deleted by either party without notice, causing confusion and loss of important information. Reviewers say auto-deletion settings and self-destructing messages can result in accidental data loss, and group participants cannot always control or recover deleted content. They indicate that these deletion controls can disrupt communication and make it difficult to maintain reliable records of conversations.

Overwhelming and unreliable notifications

Senior Consulting 

There are problems with notifications, sometimes they don't ring or take a long time to notify me that I have a message, and I have to go into the application to find out if the person has written to me.

Software Engineer 2

Desktop version of this application becomes annoying from notifications point of view. If your application is very busy and getting back to back IMs, then all the notifications will keep on flooding your workspace.

73% of reviewers feel negative about Telegram’s notification system. Users report being overwhelmed by excessive notifications, especially when joining multiple groups or when contacts join the platform. Reviewers indicate that notification settings are confusing and sometimes do not work as intended, leading to missed or delayed alerts. They say desktop and mobile notifications can be intrusive, and muting options are not always effective, making it difficult to manage communication efficiently.

Prevalence of spam and scams

Marketing

Telegram is allowing illegal and fraudulent behavior and the individuals behind this attack are acquiring personal and financial information thus stealing identities on a daily basis.   Despite many testimonies and articles of proof indicating the severity of this situation, we have not gotten a response or acknowledgement from Telegram -- even after reporting the issues 3 times in the last 10 days on [SENSITIVE CONTENT], [SENSITIVE CONTENT], and [SENSITIVE CONTENT].  

91% of reviewers feel negative about Telegram’s exposure to spam and scammers. Users report frequent unsolicited messages from unknown accounts, fake groups, and fraudulent schemes, especially in public channels. Reviewers say the lack of effective spam filters and minimal account verification allows scammers to easily target users. They express frustration with inadequate moderation and slow support responses, noting that these issues can lead to privacy risks, loss of trust, and a negative user experience.

Annoying contact join alerts

Freelancer

Actually I get irritated to get notifications regarding my contacted people joined telegram I keep getting notifications cause as being freelancer and influencer I have lots of phone numbers.

Content Creator

I also didn't like that whenever there is someone starts using Telegram from my contacts, I get a notification that that person started using Telegram, it gives less privacy letting everybody in my contacts to know that I'm using the app.

49% of reviewers feel negative about Telegram’s contact notifications. Users are frustrated by constant alerts whenever someone from their contact list joins Telegram, which they find unnecessary and distracting. Reviewers say these notifications clutter their chat list and make it harder to focus on important messages. They indicate that there is no effective way to disable or manage these alerts, leading to a less streamlined and more intrusive user experience.

Limited video calling features

Business Office Manager

Sometimes the conference video calls in groups have a very low video quality, it is not all the time, but sometimes is a concern.

49% of reviewers feel negative about Telegram’s video call functionality. Users note the absence or poor quality of video calling options, which they find limiting compared to other messaging apps. Reviewers indicate that group video calls are either unavailable or unreliable, with issues like lag, disconnections, and subpar audio quality. They say the lack of robust video communication features is a drawback for those who rely on face-to-face virtual meetings for personal or business purposes.

Accessible learning and training

Founder

Easy to use UI with almost no learning curve, the application itself is support on most platforms which makes it more versatile

92% of reviewers feel positive about Telegram’s training and learning curve. Users appreciate the platform’s suitability for hosting online trainings, webinars, and educational groups. Reviewers say the interface is easy to navigate, with intuitive tutorials and minimal learning curve for new users. They indicate that Telegram supports sharing educational content, conducting group trainings, and managing large participant numbers, making it valuable for professional development, remote learning, and collaborative projects.

Extensive integration capabilities

Consultant

Great app for messaging I use it a lot with the company staff, it has great integrations with Google apps. And notifications are better flagged in addition to being able to create bots in groups.

94% of reviewers feel positive about Telegram’s integrations. Users appreciate the open API, which allows for the creation of custom bots and automations that streamline business processes and notifications. Reviewers indicate that integration with third-party apps and services, including Google apps and business tools, enhances productivity. They say Telegram’s flexibility in connecting with other software, managing large groups, and supporting developer-driven features like chatbots is a significant advantage for both individual and organizational use.

Free and ad-free access

Microfinance Officer

Telegram is free always and you can without much of a stretch download it from play store, it has no superior substance, no membership expenses.

97% of reviewers feel positive about Telegram’s pricing. Users consistently highlight that Telegram is completely free to use across all platforms, with no subscription fees or hidden costs. Reviewers appreciate the absence of intrusive ads and say that most features are available without payment. They find the value exceptional compared to competitors, noting that similar services often require paid plans for comparable functionality. The free nature of the app is especially important for those on a budget or seeking cost-effective communication solutions.

Prokurist

The support for large groups, channels, bots, and file sharing adds a lot of flexibility and makes the app suitable for many different purposes.

Content creator and Social Media Manager

I use it for personal chats, work updates, sending documents, and even saving content ideas for the salon.

Nurse

I like the group chat features, file sharing and how smooth the app feels even with large groups or channels.

Sr AI Analyst

Channels, groups, direct messages, archives, disappearing messages, access management and many more are just perfect.

Health Services Coordinator

There might be a bit of a missing feature to start using it depending on your need for statuses, as I don't think it currently has the option to post them like in WhatsApp.

Sr. Manager, Business Development Investment Relations

Adding new employees, video chatting, calling, messaging, sharing and storing files and documents is a breeze on Telegram.

IT system and Cloud Administrator

Though I enjoy the many features provided by telegram, but at times it gets overwhelming. And I'd like to be able to find different based on my.interest, I can only join channel telegram let's me see when I search, which is not very good.

I use TELEGRAM for years, I have all my information of chats in there, several Backups of some important files and a big HD quality of my best and lovely photos, I can share or check anytime I wish, it's always on my hand with easy and great quality, also I have access to several communities to share knowledge with others with the same interest.

freelancer

Message works with correspondence across my local area in a steady and connecting way. Where my local area has various gadgets and messages are at times not conveyed across the working frameworks, Wire has fixed that issue and made correspondence a fruitful undertaking.

Financial Manager

For convenient access and viewing, it is simple to save files and documents or share links,particularly on pinned messages.

Using Telegram it's like a dream, you can control all your privacy and send large attach that other online msg don't allow, Telegram it's always innovating, have better graphics, better encryption, and allow user to be part of the future, and don't forget the UNLIMITED CLOUD that offer Telegram, you can send videos on HD quality and avoid the nightmare to encode or send it in parts, just use Telegram to have a happy life.

Tier III Technician

Furthermore, the platform is also a hotbed for scammers, fake accounts and misinformation since there is no hands on moderation like other apps.

Account Executive

From time to time, it will have problems where notifications do not show up instantly, particularly during busy sales.

Sometimes there are too many notifications from channels and groups, and it can feel a bit overwhelming.

Project Coordinator

Overall a decent work messaging service that ticks most boxes and doesn't have any major bugs or glitches.

It offers a smooth and modern user experience that feels efficient for both private chats and larger communities.

Owner

Messages send quickly, and it works smoothly across different devices without losing your chats.

In addition,  the way Telegram bann user's account without a good reason nowadays is outrageous,an adjustment is needed on it.

Telegram is an excellent tool for work communication and staying up to date with news channels.

Test Engineer

It allows me to share and receive large files, keep my activity private and also offers cloud sync.

It is light, has a quick turnaround, and is perfect for everyday management of sales and station promotion.

Wonderful platform to create channels for different purposes and individual chats with video and call features.

Assistant Reservation Manager

Great platform to use between friends but not to be use for business. If needed to be use for business is better to use the Secret chat configuration.

Community Manager

There  calls are encrypted and we can talk without a phone number.

Overall, the app is fast even with slower internet connections and supports multiplatform access, from phones to desktops.

Journaliste International Multimedia

Organizing conversations can become complex when you are in many groups or channels.

Music streaming

it's a good feature because you can remove an image from the site in a message to whom you send it, and completely remove it so that the other user doesn't keep it.

It is not a tool designed specifically for structured professional collaboration, unlike other solutions.

Sometimes my account gets blocked from sending messages to new friends I make online, then I've to text customer support to help me get it fixed.

Customer success

I enjoy using telegram because it allows me to create channels groups and also without being managed by AI and therefore makes work effortless

Full stack web developer

Small fast messengers that supports every platform, has groups & bots and encrypted messaging.

Microbiologist

I like as it doesn’t destroy photo and video quality.

Sometimes it also takes a minute to find older files or messages.

I like that Telegram makes it easy to keep up with different parts of my day without switching between apps constantly.

Personal User

Sometimes it is slow to load and has a lot of spam accounts.

lack of default end to end encryption, potential for phishing scams, losing access to phone number can lead to loss of telegram account.

Copywriter

Receiving constant notifications from channels can be annoying, and there’s no way to turn all of them off by default, I do one by one.

I like Telegram for being more secure and strict regarding your personal data.

Data analyst

Occasional bugs, limited customer support, some features complex for beginners, privacy concerns remain.

Production Supervisor

Telegram is a powerful messenger for users who want control, speed, and advanced features — but it may require some learning curve and manual privacy tuning.

Omni Associate

There are many fun GIFs and stickers that makes chatting more fun and interesting.

The app is reliable, quick and offers more features than many other messaging apps.

It performs with security and confidentiality.

It played a huge role in launching our department several years back and many of us still use TG for personal and business needs.

Coordinator

Telegram is a popular communication app that allows for easy messaging, chat, and file sharing.

Chat Outsource vs Telegram Comparison (2026)

Chat Outsource

Telegram

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives