- WhatsApp is preparing features inspired by Telegram, such as scheduling messages and sharing recent group history.
- The Meta app is evolving towards a more social ecosystem, with AI, custom backgrounds and a banner profile.
- Interoperability will allow chatting from WhatsApp with other platforms, although with some privacy nuances.
- Telegram maintains key advantages in editing, deleting, secret chats, mass channels, and advanced controls.
WhatsApp and Telegram have been competing for years to be the world's favorite messaging appOne has won over the majority of users, the other has positioned itself as the "techie" option packed with advanced features. What's interesting now is that the gap between the two is narrowing: WhatsApp is preparing several features inspired by Telegram, while also adding its own new features that completely change how the app is used.
In parallel, Meta is redefining WhatsApp as a much broader communication ecosystemNot just messaging, but integrated AI, visual customization, group productivity tools, and even interoperability with other platforms. All this while trying to keep privacy in check and prevent increasingly sophisticated scams. Let's take a close look at what's coming, what's on the way, and what it has copied—or improved—from Telegram.
The star feature that WhatsApp is copying from Telegram: scheduling messages
For years, many users have missed a tool that has become almost indispensable in Telegram: the ability to schedule the sending of messages to a specific date and timeUntil now, if you wanted something similar in WhatsApp, you had to use external applications, with all the inconveniences and risks that entails.
On Android, one of the best-known solutions is Wasavi, while on iPhone, apps like Scheduled stand out. Both allow Write a message, choose the exact day and time which will be sent, and thus automate reminders, birthday greetings or work messages without having to be on the lookout at that moment.
According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is already developing its own native function for scheduling messages inside the appThis means that sooner rather than later you'll be able to choose a chat, write the text, and set a date and time for it to be sent automatically, without installing anything else and with the platform's own security and encryption.
The feature is still in development, but there's talk that it will arrive in a next WhatsApp updateWhen it becomes official, the integration will be much cleaner than with third-party tools: there will be no extra permissions, no strange access, and no dependence on another app running in the background.
Until that new feature arrives, those who want to get ahead can continue using message scheduling applications downloaded from Google Play or App Store or set up automatic messagesThe process is simple: install, grant the necessary permissions (usually access to notifications and contacts) and configure the texts with their day and time of sending.
Ten recent WhatsApp features that are paving the way
With 2026 approaching, WhatsApp has focused on launching changes that aim to make the app much more visual, fun and personalizedSeveral of these features don't come directly from Telegram, but they do fit into the race to offer more complete and advanced experiences.
The first notable new feature is the so-called Live Photos on iOS and moving photos on AndroidNow, when you share these types of images, the recipient doesn't just see a static photo, but a short clip with movement and sound that better captures the moment, which is very useful for quick scenes, spontaneous reactions, or special memories.
Furthermore, WhatsApp has taken a leap towards artificial intelligence by integrating chats with Meta AIThis allows users to converse with AI within the app itself, whether to get inspired, generate ideas, or even create custom chat themes with unique designs that change the background and aesthetics of the conversation.
Related to this, the AI-generated funds for video calls and photosYou can make your background look like a beach, a futuristic office, or an imaginary landscape, both in video calls and in photos and videos you record directly from the chat. It's a way to play with the image without having to use external editors.
In terms of organization, WhatsApp has enhanced the search for groups from the chats tabNow you can type in a person's name and see all the groups you both belong to, which is very useful when you remember who you're with, but not the exact name of the group.
Another key improvement for daily life in groups is the indicator of who is online At that moment, it's visible below the group name. This way you can see at a glance if there are people available to reply or if you're practically talking to yourself.
For those who are overwhelmed with notifications, the app includes a new setting called “Notifications” with “Starred” optionBy activating it, you'll only receive notifications of @mentions, direct replies, and messages from saved contacts, reducing the noise of very active groups without losing what's truly important.
The following have also been improved: events within WhatsAppThey're no longer limited to just groups: now you can create an event in an individual chat, mark attendance as "maybe", include a guest, set an end date and time for long meetings, and pin the event to the top of the chat so it's always visible.
In terms of interaction, the following have been enhanced: reactions that can be touched and quickly reusedYou can see which emojis others have used and select the same reaction without having to search for it, making it quicker to respond to messages with a simple tap.
The workflow also benefits, especially on iPhone, with the Scan documents directly from WhatsAppFrom the attachments tray, you can choose "Scan document", capture the pages, crop them and send them without using a separate scanner app.
Finally, with the latest iOS update, it is possible Set WhatsApp as default app For messages and calls on iPhone. From Settings > Default Apps, you can have everything routed through WhatsApp, reinforcing its role as the central communication tool on your mobile device.
These improvements are in addition to the arrival of new official sticker packs With styles like 'Intrepid Bird', 'School Days', and 'Vacation', designed to make conversations more expressive. Furthermore, on both Android and iPhone, the ability to scan, crop, save, and send documents without leaving the app has been enhanced.
Group message history: productivity and context, Telegram style
One of the classic complaints about WhatsApp groups is that new members They don't see what was discussed before they came inTelegram solved this a while ago by allowing newcomers to access history, and now WhatsApp has decided to follow suit with a feature called “Group Message History”.
According to official information from the platform, it is one of the features most requested by usersThe goal is clear: that those who join a group don't appear "blank", but can catch up on what's important without depending on anyone forwarding old screenshots or messages.
When you add someone new to a group, WhatsApp will show you the option to share recent messages with the newcomerThe range can go from 25 to a maximum of 100 messages, enough for the person to understand the context, key conversations or previous agreements without having to swallow the entire history from the beginning of time.
This, in addition to improving the flow of conversations, reduces the need to forward repeated information or make manual summaries every time someone joins. Members receive a notification, and the shared history includes clear timestamps and sender information, making it easy to track who said what and when.
Beyond the practical aspects, this new feature also introduces an extra layer of responsibility and care in what is writtenKnowing that what you send today may be visible to someone who joins tomorrow encourages you to be a little more careful with your words, especially in work groups, academic settings, or with sensitive information.
WhatsApp: from simple chat to social and professional ecosystem
WhatsApp has long since ceased to be just a tool for sending texts and voice notes; it has become a essential digital ecosystem for people and WhatsApp for small businessesIt is used to coordinate teams, serve customers, organize communities, and keep in touch with family and friends at any distance.
In this evolution, Meta is betting on changes that go beyond the technical aspects and also focus on the social and aesthetic experience within the appThe new features not only aim to make everything more convenient, but also to give the user a more polished presence, almost like on a social network.
One of the next steps that has been leaked is the arrival of the double profile picture with banner or coverSimilar to what is seen on X (Twitter) or Facebook, the WhatsApp profile would have a main circular photo and, behind it, a horizontal image that serves as a background or header.
This cover will be ideal for those who want separate your personal image from other interestsFor example, keep a serious portrait as the main photo and place landscapes, pets, professional projects, business promotions, or any creative touch you want to highlight in the banner.
From a usage point of view, it will require choosing the right ones Use horizontal images so they don't get cut off.And it can make your WhatsApp profile look much more like a "social business card" than just a picture with your face on it.
Interoperability: talking from WhatsApp with users of other apps
For years it seemed unthinkable that WhatsApp and Telegram users could communicate without having both applications installedEach platform functioned like a closed garden, and if you wanted to talk to someone on Telegram, you had no choice but to create an account there.
Partly pressured by European regulations on digital services, Meta has finally activated a system of interoperability in WhatsAppIn practice, this allows you to send messages from WhatsApp to users of other compatible platforms without having to register on those external apps.
The idea is for WhatsApp to act as a kind of bridge between different messaging servicesYou continue using your usual app, but you can message someone on another platform, provided that platform has decided to activate the technology needed to connect.
And here's the key: it's not enough for WhatsApp to take the step; other apps, like Telegram, also have to enable and accept this interoperabilityIf they don't, they will appear as "unavailable" and you won't be able to initiate cross-chats with their users, no matter how much you have the feature enabled on your account.
The issue of privacy is sensitive. When you talk to another person using WhatsApp, everything is protected with platform's own end-to-end encryptionIf the message leaves that ecosystem for another app, it remains encrypted during transit, but upon arrival it is subjected to the security and encryption policies of the target applicationwhich may be different.
There's another important detail: if you block someone on WhatsApp, that block... It does not automatically extend to connected external appsIn other words, that person could still contact you through another interoperable service unless you block them there as well. Privacy management becomes a bit more complex and requires users to be vigilant.
To activate this interoperability, simply go to the Go to WhatsApp account settings and enter “Third-Party Chat Requests”From there, you can turn on the option and decide whether external conversations appear in a separate tray or mixed with your regular chats, helping you keep everything organized according to your preferences.
This opening breaks with years of operating as a closed system and turns WhatsApp into a A much more flexible tool for communicating with people on different platformswithout having to fill your mobile phone with duplicate applications.
Telegram: the features that have paved the way
While WhatsApp was catching up, Telegram has been gaining users at a spectacular rate, especially after The controversies surrounding WhatsApp's privacy policy and data sharing with FacebookThe promise of more control and advanced options caught the attention of millions of people, including many who don't consider themselves particularly "techie".
Telegram celebrated having surpassed the 500 million active usersWith peaks of 25 million registrations in just 72 hours at one of its highest points, it was created by brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov. It began as a more private and powerful alternative, and since then it has continuously introduced features that have later been incorporated, with some variations, into WhatsApp.
Among the features that first stood out were the stickers, animated GIFs, self-destructing messages and end-to-end encryption. Many of these tools paved the way and ended up inspiring similar moves in the Meta app, which has been gradually expanding its catalog.
Despite everything, for those considering switching apps, the good news is that Telegram and WhatsApp are quite similar in their basic form of useChat lists, groups, file sharing, calls, and video calls. You don't need to be an expert to get the hang of it, although it's helpful to know the differentiating features that keep Telegram ahead in some areas.
Edit, delete, and control messages Telegram-style
One of the features most missed when coming from Telegram is the option to edit messages already sentHas autocorrect ever let you down in a work or school group chat? On Telegram, you can correct the text, and a discreet "Edited" will appear below the message—no big deal.
On WhatsApp, for a long time, it was only possible delete the message for everyone for a limited timeleaving behind the classic "You deleted this message" message, which is quite revealing. Although the app has improved this management, it's still not as flexible and clean as Telegram's editing system, where you don't need to delete everything to correct a simple mistake.
Another clear advantage of Telegram is that it allows Delete messages, files, photos, videos, or audio without a time limitThis applies to both you and all other chat participants, and leaves no visible indication that something has been deleted. It has even been proven that messages from years ago can be deleted, something unthinkable on WhatsApp for a long time.
In addition, Telegram includes a feature called “Clear chat”, which is used to delete all the content of a conversation at onceIt's useful when you want to abruptly end a chat or completely clear your history. The app gives you a few seconds to confirm, in case you pressed it impulsively and then regret it.
Channels, giant groups and secret chats: Telegram's arsenal
Telegram also stands out for its Telegram channelsa sort of combination between a blog and a mailing listAdministrators can post messages, links, documents, or multimedia, and subscribers can read and share that content, but not write directly (unless associated comments are enabled).
In the realm of groups, the difference with WhatsApp is enormous: while the latter was limited to a few hundred people, Telegram allows groups that can reach 200.000 membersThis makes it ideal for huge communities, neighborhood initiatives, volunteer projects, alumni, or highly specialized topics.
Another of Telegram's strengths is the secret chatsThey function as an additional layer of privacy within the app itself. They allow you to activate messages that self-destruct after a few seconds or minutes, block or be notified of screenshots, prevent message forwarding, and ensure end-to-end encryption specific to that conversation.
Regarding identification, Telegram does not strictly rely on the SIM card of the phoneAlthough creating the account requires a number for initial registration, you can later use the app on multiple devices simultaneously and set up a nickname or alias so that people can add you without needing to know your real number.
It also includes the possibility of find public groups and users near your locationIt's similar to what a Tinder-type app would do, but geared towards cooperative initiatives, local proposals, and neighborhood projects. However, geolocation visibility is disabled by default and can only be activated manually.
As an added bonus, Telegram offers advanced controls over the message forwardingYou can decide whether to allow your linked profile to be displayed when someone forwards something you've written, or whether you prefer the forwarding to be anonymous in terms of authorship, which increases your control over how your content circulates.
Voice features, playback speed, and Discord competition
In recent years, Telegram has also invested heavily in the permanent voice chatsThis feature directly competes with platforms like Discord. It's not just about sending audio messages, but about real-time chat rooms where several people can talk simultaneously, almost like a video conference without video.
The sound quality in these spaces is usually quite good and they adapt very well to communities, study groups, gaming teams or collaborative projects. This dynamic has not had an equally powerful equivalent in WhatsApp, which has focused more on traditional calls and video calls.
On the other hand, Telegram allows playback audio and voice notes at higher speedA feature many users already consider essential. Ideal for that friend who sends podcasts instead of 20-second messages, you can speed up playback to save time, although at the cost of a slightly higher-pitched and robotic voice.
This obsession with optimizing time fits with a general trend: condense content consumption (series, podcasts, messages) in fewer minutes, something that other platforms like Netflix have also integrated with the option to increase playback speed.
Ad-free subscription and new security challenges in WhatsApp
Amid all these functional changes, Meta is also exploring how Monetize WhatsApp without bombarding it with ads to users. One of the ideas on the table is to launch a paid subscription that allows removing ads that are displayed in States and Channels.
This model has already been tested on services like Instagram and Facebook in some countries, and on WhatsApp it could allow the most intensive users to enjoy a cleaner, commercial-free broadcasting experience, maintaining control over what they see on screen.
At the same time, the app's popularity makes it a prime target for scammers. One method that is on the rise is the supposed WhatsApp “account security team”where criminals call pretending to be platform staff to warn of suspected suspicious access.
During the call, they ask the user to provide them with the code that you just received via SMS or the chat itselfclaiming it's to confirm their identity. In reality, it's the verification code that gives them immediate access to the victim's account on another device, allowing them to steal contacts and messages.
Once inside, scammers can ask contacts for money, impersonate the user, or continue spreading the scam to more people. That's why it's crucial to remember that WhatsApp will never ask for these codes via call or message., and that they should not be shared under any circumstances.
Between the new features WhatsApp is adopting (scheduling messages, group history, banner profile picture, interoperability with other apps) and the tools already established in Telegram (mass channels, secret chats, advanced editing and deletion, voice chats, forwarding control), the instant messaging landscape is undergoing a period of profound change in which users benefit from more options, more personalization, and also more responsibility when it comes to protecting their privacy and avoiding fraud.
