Unigram

5.5K stars
GPL-3.0
Active this week
Last commit 1 day ago

Last verified Nov 15, 2026

Connect with Telegram's billion-user network through a native Windows client built with WinUI and Fluent Design.

Visit website GitHub5.5K

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Unigram is for#

Windows users running Telegram as their primary messenger

Gets a client that uses WinUI design language, responds to Windows keyboard shortcuts, and integrates with system themes. The full Telegram feature set including groups, channels, bots, and file transfers up to 2 GB is available without feature trade-offs compared to the official cross-platform client.

Skip if:

If you use Telegram across iOS, Android, and Windows interchangeably, the official Telegram Desktop is more consistent. Unigram's advantage is Windows-specific; on other platforms, you still need the official clients.

Users who want an auditable open source messaging client

The GPL-3.0 source is on GitHub and verifiable. Unigram collects no data, with Telegram's privacy policy governing the network. For users who have moved away from Meta-owned WhatsApp or other proprietary services and want to verify what their client does, the source is readable.

Skip if:

If E2EE by default for all messages (not just secret chats) is the requirement, Signal is a better fit. Standard Telegram chats are encrypted on Telegram's servers, not end-to-end. Secret Chats provide full E2EE for one-on-one conversations.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Cross-platform messaging clients rarely feel at home on Windows. Electron-based clients ignore system themes, consume more memory than native apps, and miss the keyboard shortcuts and touch input support that Windows users expect. For heavy Telegram users on Windows, the official cross-platform client works but does not follow Windows design conventions or take advantage of WinUI capabilities.

The core pain is the gap between how Telegram feels on a native platform (like iOS) and how it performs on Windows under a cross-platform wrapper. Users who spend significant time in large Telegram groups, transfer large files, or use Telegram for voice calls on Windows end up working around UI limitations rather than relying on a client built for the platform.

how Unigram solves it

How it solves it#

WinUI Fluent Design integration

Built with Microsoft's WinUI framework and Fluent Design system, so the app respects Windows system themes, uses OS-native controls, and supports touch and pen input on convertible devices. The result is a client that looks and behaves like Microsoft's own apps, not a web wrapper.

Secret chats with end-to-end encryption

Secret Chat messages use end-to-end encryption and can be programmed to self-destruct from both devices after a set time. This is separate from Telegram's standard cloud-based chats, which use 256-bit AES encryption on Telegram's servers. Secret Chats support text, photos, videos, and files.

Group chats of up to 200,000 members

Supports Telegram's full group and channel infrastructure, including groups with up to 200,000 members and file transfers up to 2 GB per file without limits on file type. This covers DOCX, MP3, ZIP, and any other format, making it practical for large communities and file-sharing workflows.

28 built-in languages with community translations

Ships with 28 built-in language packs and integrates with Telegram's translation platform, giving access to additional community-contributed language packs. If a translation is incomplete, you can contribute directly at translations.telegram.org.

Full keyboard shortcut library

Maintains a documented list of keyboard shortcuts for power users, covering navigation, message actions, and media controls. The shortcuts list is kept up to date in the project documentation and suits users who prefer mouse-free operation.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

GPL-3.0 source on GitHubThe full client source is on GitHub under GPL-3.0. Unlike proprietary clients, any developer can audit the code, verify what data leaves the device, and build a modified version for personal use. The repository has 5,530 stars and 714 forks, reflecting active community interest.
Zero data collection by the clientUnigram collects no data. The Telegram privacy policy applies to the network layer. No third-party analytics, no telemetry embedded in the app. This is verifiable from the source code, unlike closed apps where the privacy policy is the only evidence.
Active development with frequent releasesLast pushed to on 2026-11-14, with changelogs published to the Unigram News Telegram channel and GitHub Releases. A beta channel (via MSIX bundles from the Unigram Telegram channel) gives early access to new features before stable release.
Full Telegram protocol including voice and video callsImplements the full MTProto protocol including tgcalls for voice and video calls, matching the feature set of the official client. Unigram supports secret chats, bots, channels, and inline queries, making it a complete replacement for the official Windows client.

Trade-offs

-Windows only, no cross-platform supportUnigram runs only on Windows. iOS, Android, macOS, and Linux users need the official Telegram clients or other alternatives. For individuals who switch between platforms, maintaining multiple clients or falling back to Telegram Desktop on non-Windows devices is the practical path.
-Bug reports routed to Telegram's issue tracker, not GitHubBugs and feature requests are directed to bugs.telegram.org, not Unigram's GitHub repository. The GitHub repository has 99 open issues tracking some client-specific work, but the primary bug handling runs through Telegram's own system, which makes it harder to gauge response time from GitHub alone.
-Windows 10 N requires Media Feature PackWindows 10 N editions ship without media playback components. Using Unigram on Windows 10 N requires installing the Media Feature Pack first via Settings > Apps and Features > Add a feature. This is a one-time setup step that affects enterprise and education Windows 10 N installs.

versus alternatives

Unigram vs alternatives#

Unigram vs WhatsApp

Both are messaging apps available on Windows, but they use different networks and have different data policies. WhatsApp is a Meta-owned proprietary service with no open source code; Unigram is a GPL-3.0 open source client on the Telegram network.

Feature	Unigram	WhatsApp
License	GPL-3.0	Proprietary
Parent company	Community (open source)	Meta
Data collection	None by client	Meta data policies apply
Group size limit	200,000 members	1,024 (WhatsApp Communities)
File size limit	2 GB per file	2 GB per file
E2EE	Secret Chats (opt-in)	All messages (default)
Source code	GitHub (auditable)	Closed

Unigram is the better fit when you want to move away from Meta's data ecosystem, need groups larger than 1,024 members, or want a client whose behavior is verifiable from source. For teams running large communities or channels, Telegram's 200,000-member groups and unlimited message history are significant advantages.

WhatsApp remains the practical choice when your contact network is already there and migrating is not viable. If E2EE for every message by default is a priority, WhatsApp encrypts all messages end-to-end by default; Unigram's E2EE requires using the Secret Chat option specifically.

Unigram vs Slack

Slack is a team communication product with paid plans required for full message history and integrations. Unigram, on top of Telegram, has no paid tier. Message history, file storage, and group size are free.

Feature	Unigram	Slack
License	GPL-3.0	Proprietary
Pricing	Free	Free (90-day history) / paid plans from $7.25/seat/mo
Message history	Unlimited	90 days on free tier
File storage	Unlimited via Telegram	5 GB free tier
Native Windows app	Yes (WinUI)	Electron-based

For teams that do not need Slack's enterprise bot integrations (GitHub, Jira, Salesforce) and want to avoid per-seat pricing, Telegram groups via Unigram keep full history at no cost. Slack is worth its price when the team depends on its workflow integrations and uses it as a notification hub for third-party services.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash

Download and install Unigram from the Microsoft Store or via the direct installer from GitHub Releases: https://github.com/UnigramDev/Unigram/releases/latest

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: CC#C++Python

frequently asked

FAQ#

How is Unigram different from the official Telegram Desktop for Windows?

Both use the same Telegram network and feature set, but they are built differently. Official Telegram Desktop is a cross-platform client for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Unigram is built specifically for Windows using WinUI and Fluent Design, so it integrates with Windows system themes, uses OS-native controls, and supports touch input on convertible devices. For Windows-only users, Unigram provides a more native-feeling experience.

Where can I download Unigram?

Unigram is available on the Microsoft Store (search for 'Unigram') and as a direct download from unigramdev.github.io. Beta versions are distributed as .msixbundle files through the Unigram beta Telegram channel at t.me/unigramappx. GitHub Releases at https://github.com/UnigramDev/Unigram/releases also hosts the installer packages.

Does Unigram support secret chats with end-to-end encryption?

Yes. Secret Chats in Unigram use end-to-end encryption and can be set to self-destruct from both devices after a chosen time. Standard Telegram chats use Telegram's server-side encryption (256-bit AES plus 2048-bit RSA key exchange), which is secure but not end-to-end. If full E2EE is required for a conversation, start a Secret Chat specifically for that exchange.

Is Unigram safe to use?

Unigram is GPL-3.0 licensed with its full source on GitHub, so the client behavior is auditable. It collects no data; Telegram's privacy policy applies to the network. The project has 5,530 GitHub stars and was last pushed to on 2026-11-14, showing active maintenance. Download from the official Microsoft Store listing or the official GitHub project page to avoid unofficial builds.

Can I use Unigram on Windows 10?

Yes. Unigram runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you are on Windows 10 N (the edition without media features), install the Media Feature Pack first: go to Settings > Apps and Features > Add a feature, select Media Feature Pack, install it, and reboot. Standard Windows 10 and Windows 11 editions require no extra steps.

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Unigram vs WhatsApp

Feature	Unigram	WhatsApp
License	GPL-3.0	Proprietary
Parent company	Community (open source)	Meta
Data collection	None by client	Meta data policies apply
Group size limit	200,000 members	1,024 (WhatsApp Communities)
File size limit	2 GB per file	2 GB per file
E2EE	Secret Chats (opt-in)	All messages (default)
Source code	GitHub (auditable)	Closed

Unigram vs Slack

Feature	Unigram	Slack
License	GPL-3.0	Proprietary
Pricing	Free	Free (90-day history) / paid plans from $7.25/seat/mo
Message history	Unlimited	90 days on free tier
File storage	Unlimited via Telegram	5 GB free tier
Native Windows app	Yes (WinUI)	Electron-based