Use Telegram for public broadcast channels, bots, and massive open communities across all OSes. Choose Wonek (in pre-release for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch) when you want fast multi-device sync WITHOUT surrendering group and desktop chats to cloud decryption—backed by IETF MLS (RFC 9420) E2EE, QUIC P2P calls, chunk-resumable P2P files, CRDT docs, and shared calendars.
| Feature | Wonek (Pre-Release) | Telegram |
|---|---|---|
| Default 1:1 Chat Encryption | End-to-end encrypted by default (MLS RFC 9420) | Cloud-encrypted only unless manual 'Secret Chat' opened |
| Group Chat End-to-End Encryption | Yes — full MLS E2EE for all groups | No — Telegram group chats have no E2EE option |
| Multi-Device E2EE Sync (iPad + Mac) | Yes — all linked Apple devices sync E2EE via MLS | Secret Chats locked to single device; cloud chats readable by server |
| Group Voice, Video & Screen Share E2EE | End-to-end encrypted 1:1 & group calls + screen share | 1:1 calls E2EE; large group voice chats use server clusters |
| Large File Transfer Architecture | Direct P2P over QUIC with chunk-level resumption | Uploaded to Telegram cloud servers (2 GB free / 4 GB paid) |
| Built-in Collaborative Docs & Calendar | Yjs/Yrs CRDT docs + 5-view Shared Calendar | No native CRDT doc editor or multi-view calendar |
Solving Telegram's Multi-Device vs Privacy Trade-Off
Historically, Telegram argued that cloud storage was necessary so your iPad and Mac could see your group history seamlessly—leaving 'Secret Chats' trapped on a single phone and completely unavailable for groups. IETF Messaging Layer Security (MLS, RFC 9420) eliminates that compromise.
In Wonek, every enrolled Apple device joins the MLS cryptographic tree via authenticated Noise QR linking. Your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch stay seamlessly synchronized while servers never possess keys to read a single 1:1 or group message.
Direct P2P Files Instead of Cloud Storage Vaults
Uploading sensitive project archives or family videos to a permanent cloud chat means copies reside on remote data centers indefinitely. Wonek transfers large files and photo albums directly peer-to-peer over QUIC with chunk-level resumption—delivering fast speeds without leaving plaintext on third-party servers.
| Technical Dimension | Wonek | Telegram |
|---|---|---|
| Cryptographic Protocol | Open IETF Standard MLS (RFC 9420) + Noise QR + TLS 1.3 | Custom MTProto 2.0 protocol |
| Wire Transport | QUIC / WebTransport (zero TCP head-of-line blocking) | Primarily TCP / custom obfuscated MTProto transport |
| Call NAT Traversal | Proprietary port-prediction P2P across mobile CGNAT | Standard P2P or Telegram relay servers |
| Server Plaintext Exposure | Zero — relays & offline queues hold opaque ciphertext only | Server holds keys to decrypt all standard & group cloud chats |
| Push-to-Talk & Apple Watch | 1:1 & group E2EE PTT + Apple Watch calling/audio | Voice notes; legacy Watch support discontinued/limited |
Built-In Workspace Tools Without Third-Party Bots
Rather than relying on unencrypted third-party webhook bots for scheduling and notes, Wonek ships native CRDT collaborative documents and a 5-view shared calendar inside the encrypted boundary.
| Use Case | Best Choice | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Following 50,000-member public news channels & bots | Telegram | Built as a public social broadcast network across every OS |
| Private family or team group chats synced across iPhone & Mac | Wonek | Telegram groups are never E2EE; Wonek encrypts all groups end-to-end via MLS |
| Sending confidential archives without cloud server retention | Wonek | Direct P2P streaming between devices rather than permanent cloud storage |
| Sharing inline code, math formulas & co-edited specs | Wonek | Includes math/code formatting plus live CRDT collaborative documents |
| Isolating Work channels from Personal threads | Wonek | Dedicated Personal and Work profile switching |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Telegram group chats end-to-end encrypted?
No. Telegram's Secret Chats only work 1:1 on a single device; all Telegram group chats are cloud chats stored on Telegram's infrastructure. Wonek encrypts both 1:1 and group chats end-to-end by default using MLS (RFC 9420).
Does Wonek use a custom homegrown encryption cipher?
No. Wonek uses standardized IETF MLS (RFC 9420), Noise-protocol device enrollment, and TLS 1.3 over QUIC.
Is Wonek live on the App Store yet?
Wonek is in pre-release preparation for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Contact support@wonek.com for early-access inquiries.
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