Telegram is well known for offering a fast, secure, and feature-rich messaging experience — and for most users, it’s completely free. However, in mid-2022, Telegram introduced a Premium subscription tier to supply enhanced capabilities and keep the core app free for everybody. This move helps Telegram remain ad-free in private chats and sustain its growth without compromising user privacy.
Here’s a dysfunction of does telegram cost money, including what’s free and what is sold with Telegram Premium.
🔹 Telegram Free Plan – What You Get
Telegram’s free version is exceedingly generous and includes:
Unlimited messaging and chat history
Groups with as much as 200,000 members
Channels with unlimited subscribers
Cloud storage for files (as much as 2 GB per file)
Secret chats with end-to-end encryption
Bot support and mini apps
Voice and video calls
Media sharing without compression
Stories with basic features
Access across multiple devices
This robust feature set can be obtained to all users without cost — one reason Telegram has grown to over 900 million monthly active users globally.
🔹 Telegram Premium – What’s Included
Telegram Premium is a paid subscription that unlocks exclusive and enhanced features for power users. As of 2025, Telegram Premium typically costs around $4.99/month, though regional pricing can vary greatly.
✅ Premium Features Include:
4 GB file upload limit (vs 2 GB in free plan)
Faster download speeds
Doubled limits:
Join up to 1,000 channels
Create 20 chat folders
Save 10 stickers per pack
Add 4 accounts to a single app
Voice-to-text conversion (transcribe voice messages instantly)
Unique premium stickers and emoji
Animated profile pictures
No sponsored messages in public areas channels
Premium badge next to your name
Prioritized support and improved spam filtering
Advanced story tools (e.g. longer stories, stealth mode, permanent stories)
🔹 Are Telegram Ads Involved?
Telegram doesn't show ads in private chats or groups. However, it occasionally displays sponsored messages in large public channels (with 1,000+ subscribers). These are minimal, non-personalized, and only appear at the end of the channel.
Premium users tend not to see any sponsored messages.
🔹 Is Telegram Business Paid?
Telegram introduced Telegram Business features in 2024. These tools (like custom business profiles, automated replies, and location hours) are still free, but premium capabilities may be added in future updates or integrated into Telegram Premium.
🔹 How to Subscribe to Telegram Premium
You can subscribe via:
The Telegram app (Settings → Telegram Premium)
Apple App Store / Google Play
Telegram Premium Bot (for discounted rates in a few regions)
Note: Some regions offer discounted pricing via local payment providers outside of app stores to stop platform fees.
Telegram’s core features remain free and open to everyone. But for users who desire enhanced functionality, speed, storage, and status, the Telegram Premium plan offers excellent value at an affordable monthly cost.