Telegram Pricing Details: Free vs Premium Plans Explained
Telegram is well regarded for offering an easy, secure, and feature-rich messaging experience — as well as most users, it’s completely free. However, in mid-2022, Telegram introduced a Premium subscription tier to provide enhanced capabilities while keeping the core app free for everyone. This move helps Telegram remain ad-free in private chats and sustain its growth without compromising user privacy. Here’s a dysfunction of is telegram free, including what’s free and what includes Telegram Premium. 🔹 Telegram Free Plan – What You Get Telegram’s free version is exceedingly generous and includes: Unlimited messaging and chat history Groups with up to 200,000 members Channels with unlimited subscribers Cloud storage for files (approximately 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 is continuing to grow 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 are vastly different. ✅ Premium Features Include: 4 GB file upload limit (vs 2 GB in free plan) Faster download speeds Doubled limits: Join around 1,000 channels Create 20 chat folders Save 10 stickers per pack Add 4 accounts to 1 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 alongside your name Prioritized support and improved spam filtering Advanced story tools (e.g. longer stories, stealth mode, permanent stories) 🔹 Are Telegram Ads Involved? Telegram won'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 do not see any sponsored messages. 🔹 Is Telegram Business Paid? Telegram introduced Telegram Business features in 2024. These tools (like custom business profiles, automated replies, and site hours) are presently free, but premium capabilities could possibly be added in future updates or incorporated 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 most 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 all. But for users who desire enhanced functionality, speed, storage, and status, the Telegram Premium plan offers excellent value with an affordable monthly cost.