Telegram sells Premium subscriptions and sponsored messages. One model charges for additional features; the other charges for advertising distribution.
Telegram Premium
Users choosing the paid plan
An optional subscription adds features and increases some limits.
Official source ↗Sponsored messages
Advertisers
Advertisers buy visibility in advertising placements offered by Telegram.
Official source ↗Creator ecosystem
Advertisers and users depending on the product
Some revenue is shared with eligible creators. Payouts should not be counted as revenue retained by Telegram.
Official source ↗What these figures do not tell you
Audience, user spending and revenue retained by the platform are three different measures. This page describes official mechanisms; it does not infer revenue from user counts.
What you can learn from it
Subscriptions and advertising serve two different customers. A small product can start with a subscription for a recurring need. Advertising then requires a relevant audience and a credible way to measure its value.
Editorial review of official offerings accessed October 31, 2026. The takeaways are our analysis; no revenue split has been invented.