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Telegram vs Threema: The End-to-End Encryption Debate

Discover which messaging app, US-based Telegram or Switzerland's Threema, provides superior privacy through advanced encryption, ensuring your conversations remain confidential.

Last updated: February 2, 2026โ€ขReviewed by Built in EU Team

Should You Switch to Threema?

What You Gain

Gain enhanced privacy and data protection with Threema.

Privacy advantage
Trade-offs

Limited group size and fewer automation features compared to Telegram.

Telegram has more features
Bottom Line

Switch if privacy is your priority; stay with Telegram for features.

At a Glance

Data Location
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธUS

US data laws

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญCH

GDPR protected

Pricing

Telegram

Contact

Threema

freemium

Migration
Medium difficulty~1-2 hours

Privacy & Compliance Comparison

Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance

CriteriaTelegramThreema
Server Location
Global, including US and EUSwitzerland
GDPR Compliance
UnknownFull
Open Source
E2E Encryption
OptionalAll plans
Data Portability
PartialFull export

CLOUD Act Notice

Telegram is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. Threema is not subject to US jurisdiction.

Switching from
Telegram logo

Telegram

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

Telegram

VS
Switching to
Threema logo

Threema

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ

Threema

US Data Storage

Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities

EU Data Protection

Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency

Certifications & Compliance

No certifications listed

GDPR Compliant
EU-Based
ISO 27001
Open Source
Self-Hostable
Swiss hosted

Reasons to Switch

  • โœ“Threema uses Swiss servers, ensuring strong data privacy protections.
  • โœ“No phone number required for registration, enhancing user anonymity.
  • โœ“All messages are end-to-end encrypted, ensuring maximum security.
  • โœ“Threema is GDPR compliant, aligning with EU data protection laws.

Things to Consider

  • !Limited group size of 256 members compared to Telegram's 200,000.
  • !Migration may require manual transfer of chats and contacts.
  • !Fewer bots and automation options compared to Telegram's extensive offerings.
Migration difficulty:
Medium
~1-2 hours

Migration Overview

Full guide
Difficulty
Medium
Time Estimate
~1-2 hours

Depends on data size and complexity

Quick Steps

1

Create Threema account and configure settings

2

Export and prepare data from Telegram

3

Import data, test integrations, and migrate users

Note: Threema offers strong privacy and security features, making it a solid choice for users focused on data protection.

Other alternatives to Telegram

Ready to make the switch?

Start using Threema today and take control of your data privacy.