Chats
WhatsApp vs iMessage vs Telegram vs Instagram: How Chat Screenshots Differ
A side-by-side comparison of where each chat app puts timestamps, read receipts, names and bubble tails — so your mockup matches the app.
By The Mocknex team · Published · Updated · 6 min read
Every chat app solves the same problem — showing who said what, when, and whether it was read — in a slightly different way. Mixing conventions (WhatsApp ticks in an iMessage layout, for example) is one of the fastest ways to make a mockup look wrong. Here’s a reference for the 13 chat styles in our Chat Screenshot Generator.
The cheat sheet
| Style | Your bubbles | Timestamps | Read receipts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pale green, tail at top | Inside every bubble | Grey / blue ticks in bubble | |
| iMessage | Blue, tail at bottom | Separators only | “Delivered” / “Read 9:41” under last |
| SMS (iPhone) | Green, tail at bottom | Separators only | “Delivered” under last |
| Instagram DM | Purple–blue gradient | Separators only | “Seen” under last |
| Messenger | Violet–blue gradient | Separators only | Tiny avatar / circles |
| TikTok DM | Blue, avatars both sides | Separators only | “Seen” / “Sent” under last |
| Telegram | Pale green, tail at bottom | Inside every bubble | Green ticks in bubble |
| Signal | Blue, no tail | Inside every bubble | Circled checks in bubble |
| Viber | Lilac | Beside the bubble | “Seen” beside the bubble |
| LINE | Bright green | Beside the bubble | “Read” beside the bubble |
| Android Messages | Pastel blue | Under each group | “Delivered” / “Read” under last |
| Discord | No bubbles | Next to the name | None |
| Snapchat | No bubbles, coloured line | Rarely shown | None in chat |
Side by side
Here’s the same two-message exchange in four styles. Notice where the time and the receipt end up each time.
Names in group chats
- Inside the bubble, in colour: WhatsApp and Telegram.
- Above the bubble, in grey: iMessage, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, Viber, LINE, Android Messages.
- As a header line with the avatar: Discord (coloured by role).
- As an uppercase label with a coloured line: Snapchat.
The generators apply these rules automatically when you turn on Group chat — another reason to switch styles rather than restyling a screenshot by hand.
Choosing a style for your project
- Widest recognition worldwide: WhatsApp style.
- US-centric stories and text-story videos: iMessage style.
- Creators and brands: Instagram DM or TikTok DM.
- Communities and gaming: Discord style.
- Neutral visuals for slides: Signal or Android Messages styles.
- Regional authenticity: LINE (Japan, Taiwan, Thailand), Viber (parts of Europe and Asia).