Telegram has grown from a privacy-focused messaging app into one of the world’s most popular communication platforms. And now, it is turning that popularity into real profits.
After years of prioritizing user growth over monetization, Telegram is seeing a major shift in its financial story. In H1 2025 alone, the platform earned $870 million, a 65% increase compared to the previous year’s 525 million and close to previous year’s overall total of $1 billion.
This growth has been fueled by features like Telegram Premium, a paid tier which was launched in 2022 and has 15 million active subscribers as of 2026. As the platform expands its monetization efforts and continues to attract new users, its financial momentum is only expected to grow.
In this report, we will explore Telegram revenue growth over the years in detail. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Key Insights On Telegram Revenue (2026)
- Telegram earned revenue of a total of 870 million during the first half of 2025.
- Out of the total H1 2025 revenue, $300 million came from exclusivity deals, $223 million from premium subscriptions, and $125 million from advertising.
- Telegram posted a net loss of more than $220 million in H1 2025
- Telegram’s revenue in 2024 stood at $1 billion.
- Telegram’s in-app revenue generated $13.66 million in the first month of 2025.
- Telegram has 1 billion monthly active users, out of which 12 million are its premium subscribers.
- Telegram has raised over $4 billion since its launch.
How Does Telegram Make Money?
Telegram stayed ad-free for years, but in 2022, it finally introduced ways to earn money. Now, it brings in revenue through three main channels: advertising, premium subscriptions, and in-app purchases.
Among these, advertising is the biggest source of income. Telegram runs its own ad platform and keeps 50% of the money advertisers spend on it.
Telegram Premium has picked up momentum, with 12 million users now paying for the subscription. At $4.99 per month, this paid version adds a solid boost to Telegram’s overall earnings.
In addition to subscriptions, the app also makes money through in-app purchases. As of January 2025, Telegram’s IAP revenue has reached $13.6 million.
Telegram Revenue Over The Years (2022 To 2025)
As per the latest available official data, Telegram earned a revenue of $870 million in the first half of 2025. If we compare this to the H1 2024 figures, it’s a jump of massive 65%.
Nearly one-third of that total, about $300 million, came from so-called exclusivity deals, which are closely connected to Toncoin, the cryptocurrency used within the Telegram ecosystem. Another $223 million came from the platform’s premium subscription fees and advertising revenue accounted for $125 million of the total.
In 2024, Telegram generated over $1 billion in total revenue. This is a 192.4% growth from the previous year, when the revenue was around $342 million.
A big driver behind this surge was the rapid adoption of Telegram Premium. The paid subscription service saw its user base triple to over 12 million in 2024, each paying around $5 per month.
Take a look at how Telegram’s revenue surged over the years:
| Year | Revenue | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $45 million | – |
| 2023 | $342 million | 6.6% |
| 2024 | $1 billion | 1.92% |
| 2025 (First Half) | $870 million | – |
(Source: Yahoo Finance)
Telegram IAP Revenue (Past Data)
Over the years, Telegram has generated over $116 million in IAP revenue worldwide. This data has been calculated from May of 2023 to February of 2024.
Out of this, the Apple App Store accounts for about $80.6 million, or 69% of the total. Android users on Google Play contributed more than $35.5 million in the same period.
The following table provides a detailed overview of the In-app revenue generated through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store:
| Month-Year | Google Play Store | Apple App Store |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2024 | 1.22 million | 4.86 million |
| Jan 2024 | 1.14 million | 4.44 million |
| Dec 2023 | 0.97 million | 3.87 million |
| Nov 2023 | 0.82 million | 3.35 million |
| Oct 2023 | 0.79 million | 3.18 million |
| Sep 2023 | 0.78 million | 2.94 million |
| Aug 2023 | 0.73 million | 3.09 million |
| Jul 2023 | 0.63 million | 2.86 million |
| Jun 2023 | 0.57 million | 2.30 million |
| May 2023 | 0.62 million | 2.45 million |
(Source: Statista)
Telegram E-commerce Sales (2020 Data)
Note: This data is quite old. But we thought of mentioning it since not much is known about Telegram’s financials. The company has been open about its finances very recently. We will update this portion as we get hands on new data.
Telegram has become a popular platform for e-commerce. It allows businesses and individuals to sell a wide range of products and services directly through the app.
These sales have also contributed largely to Telegram’s total revenue.
Products from China are the top sellers, bringing in $12 million. People buy many types of imported goods here, usually at lower prices.
The second most popular category is digital equipment, which made $5.52 million. It covers gadgets and other electronic items.
Here are the insights on Telegram e-commerce sales by segment:
| Segment | Sales Volume |
|---|---|
| Goods from China | $12 million |
| Digital Equipment | $5.52 million |
| Consumer Loans | $3.12 million |
| Apparel and Shoes | $2.14 million |
| Sport | $0.86 million |
| Work and Education | $0.57 million |
| Hypermarkets | $0.45 million |
| Health and Beauty | $0.25 million |
| Furniture and Household Goods | $0.063 million |
| Food Delivery | $0.057 million |
(Source: Statista)
Telegram Funding Statistics
Since launch, Telegram has raised over $4 billion to fuel its growth.
Telegram’s early funding event was its Initial Coin Offering (ICO) in March 2018, which raised $1.7 billion in two rounds.
In March 2021, Telegram issued public bonds and secured $1 billion to cover operational costs and debts. In July 2023, the company raised an additional $210 million through debt financing.
The latest round in March 2024 brought in $330 million.
| Year | Fundings Received |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1.7 billion |
| 2021 | 0.75 billion |
| 2021 | 1 billion |
| 2023 | 0.27 billion |
| 2024 | 0.33 billion |
(Source: Statista)
Telegram Revenue Projections for Second Half 2025 and 2026
Telegram hasn’t shared its revenue numbers for the second half of 2025 yet. However, since its first-half revenue was already close to the total revenue of the previous year, it’s clear that the full-year 2025 figures are likely to reach a new all-time high for the company.
If the platform keeps on attracting paid subscribers, we will see this momentum going in 2026 as well.
Let’s wait for the platform to release official numbers and we will get a perfect idea about how the growth is unfolding for the company.
We will update this space as soon as the latest numbers are out. Stay tuned!
According to the founder, Pavel Durov, revenue in 2025 is expected to rise further, driven by three core streams:
- Premium subscriptions have grown steadily since launch in 2022.
- Ad sales.
- New monetization tools, including ad revenue sharing, paid content on channels, and business accounts.
So far, ads are only available in a few regions. But Telegram plans to launch ads worldwide in 2025. It will also allow small businesses to buy ads. This could bring in a lot more money.
The company now shares ad revenue with creators. It also offers paid tools for businesses. These features will grow in 2025.
Investors value Telegram at over $30 billion. Telegram isn’t raising a big round right now, but may go public later.
In short, Telegram expects to earn more in 2025.
(Source: Techcrunch)
Telegram User Insights
As of 2026, Telegram has 1 billion active users around the globe. This number grew by 5.26% from last year, when the number was 950 million.
Other than this, each day, over 2.5 million users join Telegram.
Telegram Premium Users
As of March 2026, the service boasts 15 million paying subscribers worldwide.
This means Premium now accounts for about 1% of Telegram’s massive 1 billion monthly active user base.
Final Thoughts
2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Telegram, with growth driven by premium features, advertising, and creator-focused tools.
However, profitability remains a key concern. A net loss of over $220 million in H1 2025 shows the company is still operating in a growth-first phase, prioritizing scale over margins.
With 1 billion users but relatively low premium adoption, Telegram has significant room to improve monetization. Strengthening recurring revenue streams, particularly subscriptions and ads, will be critical.
Overall, Telegram is transitioning from a user-growth platform to a more mature, revenue-driven business. Its long-term success will depend on how efficiently it converts its massive user base into sustainable earnings.
