Telegram Founder Durov Accuses WhatsApp of Copying Features

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has publicly criticized WhatsApp, calling it a "cheap copycat" and accusing it of launching smear campaigns against his platform. This statement was made on May 15, alongside the announcement of a new contest with a prize pool of $50,000. The contest aims to highlight Telegram's innovative features and is set to run until May 26.

Durov asserted that the contest will demonstrate Telegram's long-standing innovation and leadership in the messaging space. He claimed that WhatsApp users are stuck with delayed and inferior versions of features that Telegram had already introduced years ago. Durov's goal is to inform users and shift public attention to Telegram's role as a trendsetter in messaging technology.

Durov stated, "It’s time to wake WhatsApp users up. They’re trapped in the past, using late, watered-down versions of innovations Telegram pioneered long before." This move marks a significant escalation in the rivalry between the two messaging platforms.

While WhatsApp has over 3 billion users worldwide and is known for its end-to-end encryption and recent privacy upgrades, Durov insists that Telegram remains the true innovator. He listed over 30 features that Telegram launched before WhatsApp, including channels, editable messages, disappearing chats, advanced stickers, and interactive polls. Durov emphasized that this list is only partial and that many Telegram innovations are still unavailable on WhatsApp.

Durov urged contestants in the competition to create short videos that demonstrate Telegram’s technological lead and privacy-first approach. He stated that the submissions should show how Telegram’s features were original and arrived years before WhatsApp implemented similar tools. Durov said, "The goal is simple: create a viral video showing how Telegram has always been years ahead of its cheap copycat — WhatsApp."

Over the years, Telegram has grown rapidly, particularly within the crypto community, due to its open platform and commitment to security. Durov has consistently reiterated Telegram’s refusal to compromise encryption standards, even stating that the company would rather exit markets than introduce surveillance backdoors.