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 2024, the company’s revenue spiked past $1 billion, up from $342 million the previous year.
This growth has been fueled by features like Telegram Premium, launched in 2022, which quickly gained millions of paying users. 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’s revenue numbers, how they have changed over time, and what they reveal about the company’s future.
Key Highlights On Telegram Revenue [2025]
- Telegram’s revenue reached $1 billion as of 2024.
- 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 2024)
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* (estimated) | $2 billion | 1% |
(Source: X, TechCrunch)
Telegram IAP Revenue
Over the years, Telegram generated approximately $116 million in IAP revenue worldwide.
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
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 2025
Telegram is starting 2025 in a strong position. The company became profitable in 2024. It made over $1 billion in revenue last year. It also has $500 million in cash reserves, not including crypto.
In 2025, Telegram plans to reach $2 billion in revenue and $720 million in profit.
(Source: Binance Report)
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 2025, 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 2025, the service boasts 12 million paying subscribers worldwide. This is a huge rise from 5 million in January 2024.
This means Premium now accounts for about 1% of Telegram’s massive 1 billion monthly active user base.
Final Thoughts
2025 looks like a big year for Telegram’s growth. Its paid features, ads, and tools for creators are helping it move forward.
Who knows, we might even see Telegram growing with new features, more users, and even higher earnings.
What are your thoughts on such growth of Telegram? Let us know in the comments section below.
