What is Telegram for Android used for?

Telegram for Android: This repository contains the official source code of the Telegram messenger app for Android. It is a good fit for building a custom Telegram client for Android and studying a large messaging app codebase.

Is Telegram for Android open source?

Yes. Telegram for Android is open source under the GPL-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at DrKLO/Telegram and is written mainly in Java.

Is Telegram for Android free?

Yes. Telegram for Android is open source, so the software itself is free to use. A managed cloud version is also available.

What is Telegram for Android an alternative to?

Telegram for Android is an open-source alternative to WhatsApp, Messenger, Viber and LINE. Other open-source alternatives to WhatsApp include Telegram Desktop, Signal Android and Signal Desktop.

Is Telegram for Android actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to Telegram for Android was on 30 September 2026. The project has 30k stars on GitHub.

Telegram for Android: open-source alternative to WhatsApp

About Telegram for Android

This repository holds the official source code for the Telegram messaging app on Android. Telegram describes itself as a messenger focused on speed and security that is free to use. The code is written in Java and published under the GPL-2.0 license, alongside compilation instructions for developers.

Developers are invited to use Telegram's API and this code to make their own applications, subject to conditions: obtain your own API id, avoid using the Telegram name or standard logo, follow the security guidelines, and publish your code to comply with the licenses. The build supports reproducible builds with dummy keystore and Firebase files that must be replaced before releasing your own APKs. Compiling needs Android Studio, the Android NDK and SDK, and cloning with submodules. Protocol documentation is available for the Telegram API and MTProto.

Key features

Official Android client source for Telegram
Instructions for compiling the app
Reproducible builds with placeholder keys
Uses the Telegram API and MTProto protocol
Terms for building your own client
Java code under the GPL-2.0 license

Good fit for

→Building a custom Telegram client for Android
→Studying a large messaging app codebase

Built with: Java
Tags: telegram; android; messenger; mobile; java; mtproto; messaging; open-source

Telegram for Android: questions and answers

What is Telegram for Android used for?: Telegram for Android: This repository contains the official source code of the Telegram messenger app for Android. It is a good fit for building a custom Telegram client for Android and studying a large messaging app codebase.
Is Telegram for Android open source?: Yes. Telegram for Android is open source under the GPL-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at DrKLO/Telegram and is written mainly in Java.
Is Telegram for Android free?: Yes. Telegram for Android is open source, so the software itself is free to use. A managed cloud version is also available.
What is Telegram for Android an alternative to?: Telegram for Android is an open-source alternative to WhatsApp, Messenger, Viber and LINE. Other open-source alternatives to WhatsApp include Telegram Desktop, Signal Android and Signal Desktop.
Is Telegram for Android actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to Telegram for Android was on 30 September 2026. The project has 30k stars on GitHub.