Why not use TextSecure/Signal? It's now available on iOS and Android, is open source and encrypted by default.
I've tried Telegram, but only 1-on-1-chats could be encrypted, and also only optional.
I've tried Telegram, but only 1-on-1-chats could be encrypted, and also only optional.
For messaging apps, platform support is crucial.
Worse though is the complete lack of support for using the same user profile on multiple devices, I want all messages to follow me where ever I go on whatever device.
Signal is nice and all, and I want it to succeed. I try to help in that regard by providing and maintaining their Danish translation (as well as for similar apps and services, except Telegram who despite repeated requests have not opened a Danish translation on Transifex).
I use textsecure. Sometimes messages arrive nine hours late.
However, messages are always sent and received immediately on phones without this issue (still in my experience).
But that's a digression. The point of my comment was that this experience can be rather a turnoff if you happen to notice it really soon after your first install. It's easy to believe that a whole group of people is turned off by one member's negative first experience.