cackles vs telegram
Telegram added voice chats as a feature. Cackles was built around them.
tl;dr
Telegram is a fantastic messaging app that happens to have voice chats. Cackles is a hangout app where voice is the entire point. if you already live in Telegram and just want occasional voice calls in your existing groups, Telegram works. if you want spontaneous, frictionless hangouts where your crew actually shows up, Cackles does that better.
why people compare these two
Telegram's voice chats launched in late 2020 and got a major upgrade in 2021 with scheduled voice chats and recordings. they were designed for large groups and channels to broadcast to audiences. think podcast-style or town-hall-style calls.
for a group of 8 friends who just want to hang out after work? Telegram voice chats feel like overkill. you start one in your group, but nobody notices because it's buried under 47 messages about where to eat on saturday.
voice as a feature vs. voice as the product
Telegram: Voice chats sit inside group conversations alongside text, photos, files, and everything else. Starting a voice chat doesn't create urgency because everything in Telegram is competing for attention.
Cackles: The entire app revolves around voice rooms. When someone starts a room in your Bubble, you get a clear push notification. There's nothing else drowning it out.
↳ A voice chat buried in a messaging app gets ignored. A room notification from Cackles gets tapped.
cross-platform vs. focused
Telegram: Available everywhere. iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, web. If you have a screen, you can use Telegram.
Cackles: iOS only right now. Android is coming. The tradeoff: Cackles is deeply optimized for the mobile hangout experience instead of spreading thin across every platform.
↳ If your crew is split across platforms, Telegram wins on availability. If everyone has iPhones, Cackles wins on experience.
meeting new people
Telegram: Public groups and channels let you discover communities, but it's text-first. Voice is secondary.
Cackles: Public rooms let you discover and join conversations with new people. It's voice-first, so you actually get to know people instead of just reading their messages.
↳ Cackles is where friend groups hang out and where you meet your next friend group.
at-a-glance comparison
| cackles | Telegram | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Friend group hangouts | Messaging platform |
| Voice rooms | Core feature | Added feature (voice chats) |
| Notifications | Push when room starts | Buried among message notifications |
| Spontaneity | One tap to start + notify crew | Start voice chat in group (most miss it) |
| Video | 10-second portals | Video calls + screen share |
| Music | Synced listening parties | No native support |
| Text chat | Not the focus | Core feature |
| Group persistence | Bubbles (always there) | Group chats (always there) |
| Discovery | Public rooms to meet new people | Public groups/channels |
| Bots | No | Extensive bot platform |
| Price | Free (Infinity available) | Free (Premium available) |
| Platform | iOS | iOS, Android, Desktop, Web |
who should stick with telegram
- Your group already lives in Telegram for messaging
- You need cross-platform support (Android + iOS + desktop)
- Voice calls are a "nice to have," not the main thing
- You need bots, file sharing, and channels
who should try cackles
- You start Telegram voice chats and nobody joins because they didn't notice
- You want hanging out to be the main event, not an afterthought
- You want synced music listening parties with your crew
- You want to discover new people through public voice rooms
- You want an app that feels like your crew's living room
FAQ
Does Telegram have voice rooms?
Yes, Telegram has voice chats in groups and channels. They work well for large broadcasts but feel less personal for small friend groups compared to Cackles rooms.
Can I use both Cackles and Telegram?
Absolutely. Use Telegram for messaging and Cackles for voice hangouts. Many people keep their text conversations in one app and their voice hangouts in another.
Is Cackles free?
Yes. The core experience is free. Cackles Infinity is available for premium features.
When is Cackles coming to Android?
It's on the roadmap. For now, Cackles is iOS only.
voice hangouts deserve their own app
your crew. one tap. no more voice chats that nobody notices.