[darksim905]

- Telegram uses usernames instead of phone numbers by default, which is good if you're using it as an IRC replacement instead of an SMS replacement.

---

What? When you register, I'm pretty sure it requires putting in a phone number that preferably isn't a VoIP line and not a username. It's been that way any time I've tried to use the service on mobile.

Scheduled messages have been a thing for a long time on Signal, but they seem to be only on mobile, which is wild to me.

I would posit that Signal is more for individual to individual. I'm seeing in these comments that telegram is clearly a lot more community centric, ala Discord lite than I realized.

[tjohns]

Yes, you need to register with a phone number, but publicly you'll show up as your @username and that's how most people will interact with you.

And I agree, I think yours is an accurate assessment. Telegram is indeed much more community centric.

[stavros]

That's almost the same as Signal, though on Signal you don't show up as anything. People need to get a username from you to share your contact.

[MC995]

Signing up for an account requires a phone number, but you can keep that hidden from other uses and use the username for everything.

It lets you keep your number private from everyone else you're chatting with.