Brandwave

How popular isTelegram?

In September 2026, people searched for Telegram by name about 31.1 million times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 8.8% of all global messaging app searches, placing Telegram second out of seven apps. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about messaging apps, Telegram appeared in all answers and was the third most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Telegram is the second most searched of 7 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.

  1. WhatsAppShare of searches 78.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. TelegramShare of searches 8.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  3. DiscordShare of searches 8.6%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  4. MessengerShare of searches 3.8%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. SignalShare of searches 0.28%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd

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Top messaging apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Telegram appeared in all five answers. Telegram is the third most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. WhatsApp1st
  2. Signal2nd
  3. Telegram3rd
  4. Messenger4th
  5. Discord5th
  6. Viber6th
  7. WeChat–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • WhatsApp5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Telegram5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Signal5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Discord2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Messenger2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Viber1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • WeChat0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about messaging apps

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Which messaging apps compete with Telegram?

Telegram against messaging apps worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Messenger. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthWhatsAppTelegramDiscordMessengerSignalViberWeChat
Oct 202571.8%9.9%11.8%5.3%0.39%0.48%0.32%
Nov 202572.6%10%12%4.4%0.39%0.39%0.26%
Dec 202568.4%11.6%13.8%5%0.45%0.45%0.3%
Jan 202668.4%11.6%13.8%5%0.45%0.45%0.3%
Feb 202670.3%11.8%11.6%5.2%0.46%0.46%0.26%
Mar 202672.6%10%12%4.4%0.39%0.39%0.26%
Apr 202674.3%10.2%10%4.5%0.33%0.4%0.27%
May 202672.7%10%12%4.4%0.32%0.39%0.26%
Jun 202672.6%12.3%9.8%4.4%0.32%0.39%0.26%
Jul 202674.4%10.3%10%4.5%0.27%0.33%0.27%
Aug 202672.7%10%12%4.4%0.32%0.32%0.26%
Sep 202678.1%8.8%8.6%3.8%0.28%0.28%0.23%

  1. 1.WhatsApp

    78.1%

    Held 1st. 277M estimated branded searches, +22.6% vs prior month. Share +5.3 points.

  2. 2.Telegram

    8.8%

    Moved from 3rd to 2nd. 31.1M estimated branded searches, -0.48% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.

  3. 3.Discord

    8.6%

    Moved from 2nd to 3rd. 30.4M estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -3.4 points.

  4. 4.Messenger

    3.8%

    Held 4th. 13.6M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  5. 5.Signal

    0.28%

    Held 5th. 1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.Viber

    0.28%

    Held 6th. 1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  7. 7.WeChat

    0.23%

    Held 7th. 823K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Telegram and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Telegram

6 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Telegram changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Telegram worldwide held steady, from 31.2M to 31.1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Telegram’s share of searches among messaging apps worldwide decreased from 9.9% to 8.8%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Telegram’s share of searches among messaging apps worldwide peaked at 12.3% in June 2026 and was lowest at 8.8% in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Telegram rose from 3rd to 2nd among messaging apps worldwide.

How did search popularity change for messaging apps worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, WhatsApp gained share of searches among messaging apps worldwide, from 72.7% to 78.1%.

  2. In September 2026, Discord lost share of searches among messaging apps worldwide, from 12% to 8.6%.

  3. In September 2026, Telegram lost share of searches among messaging apps worldwide, from 10% to 8.8%.

  4. In September 2026, Messenger lost share of searches among messaging apps worldwide, from 4.4% to 3.8%.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Viber worldwide fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 1.5M to 1M in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Signal worldwide fell 18% over 12 measured months, from 1.2M to 1M in September 2026.

How are Telegram’s branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Telegram’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • telegram
  • telegram app

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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