# Telegram

> instant messaging service

**Wikidata**: [Q15616276](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15616276)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegram_(software))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/telegram

## Summary
Telegram is a cross-platform instant messaging service and software application founded by Pavel and Nikolai Durov. Launched in 2013, it operates as a free, cloud-based client with optional proprietary server-side technology, serving nearly 900 million registered users as of 2024. The platform functions across mobile, desktop, and web interfaces, supporting online communities and individual communication.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** Telegram was launched on August 14, 2013.
- **Founders:** The service was created by Nikolai Durov and Pavel Durov.
- **Operator:** The application is developed and operated by Telegram FZ-LLC.
- **User Base:** As of 2024, Telegram has reported approximately 900 million registered users.
- **Licensing:** The client-side application is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 3.0, while the server-side code remains proprietary.
- **Origin:** The country of origin is listed as Russia.
- **Protocols:** It utilizes the MTProto protocol for instant messaging and MTProxy for proxy services.
- **Platform Availability:** The software runs on Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS.
- **Web Address:** The primary website is `https://telegram.org`, with a web client at `https://web.telegram.org/`.
- **Review Score:** As of May 2022, the service held an average review score of 2.9/5 on Trustpilot.

## FAQs
### Q: Who owns and operates Telegram?
A: Telegram is owned and operated by Telegram FZ-LLC. The service was originally founded by the brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov.

### Q: Is Telegram free to use?
A: Yes, Telegram is listed as free software and a free mobile app. Its client-side code is open-source under the GNU General Public License.

### Q: What platforms does Telegram support?
A: Telegram is a cross-platform application available on Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS. It also functions as a progressive web app and via web browsers.

### Q: How many users does Telegram have?
A: According to data from 2024, Telegram has nearly 900 million registered users.

## Why It Matters
Telegram holds significant relevance in the digital communication landscape as a major competitor to other instant messaging and VoIP software like Discord. It has established itself as a critical tool for both private communication and large-scale online communities, distinguishing itself through a hybrid licensing model that offers transparency on the client side while maintaining centralized server control.

The platform's resilience and growth are notable given its origins in Russia and the various regulatory hurdles it has faced, including access restrictions on government agencies within Russia starting in 2023. Its support for a wide array of operating systems—from Android and iOS to desktop environments like Windows and Linux—ensures broad accessibility. Furthermore, its specific technical architecture, utilizing the MTProto protocol, supports a massive user base that approaches 900 million, making it a pivotal player in the global instant messaging market.

## Notable For
- **Hybrid Licensing Model:** Distinct for offering an open-source client under the GNU GPL v3.0 while keeping its server-side code proprietary.
- **Cross-Platform Ecosystem:** Availability spans a wide range of operating systems, including mobile (Android, iOS), desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), and web environments.
- **Custom Protocols:** Utilizes specialized technologies like MTProto for network protocol and MTProxy for proxy servers.
- **Massive Scale:** One of the largest messaging platforms globally, reporting nearly 900 million users in 2024.
- **Alt-Tech Association:** Identified in structured data as part of the "alt-tech" category.

## Body
### History and Ownership
Telegram was founded by Nikolai Durov and Pavel Durov and officially launched on August 14, 2013. The service is operated by the company Telegram FZ-LLC. While its country of origin is Russia, the service has a global footprint.

In March 2023, a significant event occurred regarding its operations in Russia, involving the application of access restrictions to government agencies.

### Technical Specifications
The software is built using programming languages including Java and an unspecified language referenced as Q2407 in development data. It relies on the MTProto computer network protocol for instant messaging. 

**Licensing:**
- **Client:** GNU General Public License, version 3.0
- **Server:** Proprietary license

The architecture supports various input devices, notably touchscreens, and is distributed as a digital download and progressive web app.

### Platform Availability
Telegram is supported on a comprehensive list of operating systems:
- **Mobile:** Android (inception 2008), iOS
- **Desktop:** Microsoft Windows (inception 1985), macOS (inception 2001), Linux, ChromeOS (inception 2011)

It is distributed via multiple storefronts, including Google Play, the Apple App Store, Microsoft Store, and Huawei AppGallery.

### User Base and Reception
The platform has experienced substantial growth, tracking the following user milestones:
- 2021: ~936,000 followers tracked
- 2022: ~1.19 million followers tracked
- 2024: ~900 million registered users

User reception on platforms like Trustpilot has resulted in an average score of 2.9 out of 5, classified as "Average."

### Features and APIs
Telegram offers an API endpoint at `https://core.telegram.org/api`. The platform supports uniform resource identifiers with the scheme `tg`. It allows for the creation of bots and third-party integrations, supported by source code repositories hosted on GitHub for different platforms including Android, iOS, and Desktop.

The service maintains a strong social media presence across Twitter, TikTok, and Reddit (subreddit: r/Telegram), supporting multiple languages including English, Spanish, German, and Arabic.

## References

1. [2025](https://github.com/EvanLi/Github-Ranking/blob/master/Data/github-ranking-2025-07-06.csv)
2. [Source](https://telegram.org/dl/wp)
3. [Source](https://desktop.telegram.org/)
4. [Release 1.1.23. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.23)
5. [Source](https://telegram.org/dl/desktop/linux)
6. [Source](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/telegram/id747648890)
7. [Release 1.1.18. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.18)
8. [Source](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.telegram.messenger)
9. [Source](https://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/telegram-messenger/id686449807?mt=8)
10. [Source](https://itunes.apple.com/app/telegram-messenger/id686449807)
11. [Release 0.7.0. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.7.0)
12. [Source](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.2.14)
13. [Release 1.2.6. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.2.6)
14. [Release 1.2.1. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.2.1)
15. [Release 1.2.0. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.2.0)
16. [Release 1.1.22. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.22)
17. [Release 1.1.21. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.21)
18. [Release 1.1.20. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.20)
19. [Release 1.1.19. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.19)
20. [Release 1.1.17. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.17)
21. [Release 1.1.16. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.16)
22. [Release 1.1.15. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.15)
23. [Release 1.1.10. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.10)
24. [Release 1.1.9. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.9)
25. [Release 1.1.7. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.7)
26. [Release 1.1.2. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.2)
27. [Release 1.1.0. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.1.0)
28. [Release 1.0.29. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.0.29)
29. [Release 1.0.27. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.0.27)
30. [Release 1.0.26. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.0.26)
31. [Release 1.0.14. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.0.14)
32. [Release 1.0.13. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.0.13)
33. [Release 1.0.12. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.0.12)
34. [Release 1.0.6. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.0.6)
35. [Release 1.0.5. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.0.5)
36. [Release 1.0.2. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.0.2)
37. [Release 1.0.0. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v1.0.0)
38. [Release 0.10.20. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.20)
39. [Release 0.10.19. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.19)
40. [Release 0.10.18. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.18)
41. [Release 0.10.16. 2016](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.16)
42. [Release 0.10.11. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.11)
43. [Release 0.10.10. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.10)
44. [Release 0.10.9. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.9)
45. [Release 0.10.8. 2017](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.8)
46. [Release 0.10.7. 2016](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.7)
47. [Release 0.10.6. 2016](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.6)
48. [Release 0.10.5. 2016](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.5)
49. [Release 0.10.3. 2016](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.3)
50. [Release 0.10.2. 2016](https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v0.10.2)