Is Telegram free?

Is Telegram free? Yes: downloading Telegram and using messages, calls, groups, channels and file sharing costs nothing, and there is no paid version you must buy. Some extras do cost money, though: the optional Premium subscription, Telegram Stars used in bots and mini apps, collectible gifts, and ads for businesses. This guide explains what is free, what costs money, how Telegram makes money, who owns it, and how to avoid «paid Telegram» and subscription scams.

Telegram never asks you to pay to keep your account or to «unlock» basic features. Anyone demanding payment to restore or verify your Telegram account is a scammer.

Is Telegram free to download and use?

Telegram is free on Android, iPhone, Windows, macOS, Linux and the web. Messages, voice and video calls, groups of up to 200,000 members, channels with unlimited subscribers, cloud storage and file sharing up to 2 GB per file are all included at no charge. You only need a phone number to sign up. Data charges from your mobile operator still apply.

What costs money: Premium, Stars, gifts and ads

Premium details: Telegram Premium. Regional prices: India and Pakistan. How Stars work: Telegram Stars.

How Telegram makes money

For years Telegram was funded by its founder and bond sales. Since 2021 it has added revenue streams: Premium subscriptions with more than ten million paying users, the Telegram Ads platform, Stars commissions on digital goods, and the sale of usernames and numbers through Fragment. Telegram has stated that it became profitable. A share of ad revenue in public channels is paid to channel owners in TON. Advertising details: Telegram Ads.

Who owns Telegram

Telegram was founded by brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov in 2013. Pavel Durov remains the owner and CEO; the company operates from Dubai. It is a private company and is not listed on a stock exchange. Telegram's blockchain project was separated from the company in 2020, and the TON blockchain is now developed by an independent community, though Telegram integrates it closely.

Fake paid Telegram and subscription scams

• Messages claiming your account will be deleted unless you pay or «verify».
• Modified «Telegram Gold» or «Telegram Pro» apps that steal login codes.
• Cheap Premium sellers who ask for your login code.
• Fake bots with names close to @PremiumBot collecting card details.

Download Telegram only from official stores or telegram.org, and turn on two-step verification.

Free tools for creators and businesses

Many tools that cost money elsewhere are free in Telegram: unlimited channel subscribers, bots built with the free Bot API, mini apps, scheduled posts and basic channel statistics. Businesses can add opening hours, a location and quick replies to their profile. Monetisation features such as paid posts and subscriptions in Stars are also free to enable; Telegram earns a commission only when users pay.

Is Premium worth it?

For most people, free Telegram is enough. Premium makes sense if you send large files, manage many channels and folders, or want voice-to-text and no channel ads. Try a month before committing to a year.

A free game in Telegram

TotalHash is a free mining game in Telegram. Tasks pay small amounts of USD₮ and GRAM, and the in-game shop includes Stars and Premium. No income promises.

FAQ

Does Telegram cost money?

No, Telegram is free to download and use; Premium, Stars and gifts are optional extras.

How does Telegram make money?

Through Premium subscriptions, Telegram Ads, Stars commissions and Fragment sales.

Who owns Telegram?

Founder Pavel Durov owns and runs Telegram as a private company based in Dubai.

Is there a paid version of Telegram I must buy?

No, messages saying you must pay to keep your account are scams.