Telegram is no longer just a place to build an audience and send it somewhere else to get paid. Since 2024, Telegram pays channel owners directly: a share of ad revenue, paid subscriptions, paid posts and tips, all built into the app. Add sponsored posts, affiliate links and your own products, and a Telegram channel can become a real business.
This guide covers 11 ways to make money on Telegram, what each one realistically pays (with sources), and the legal lines to stay on the right side of. Figures last verified: October 2026. Telegram changes its terms often, so check the linked sources before you rely on a number.
Why Telegram Is a Good Platform to Earn From
- It's huge. Telegram passed 1 billion monthly active users in March 2025, according to founder Pavel Durov.
- Channels get read. Telegram says channels generate over 1 trillion views every month.
- No algorithm deciding your reach. Posts go straight to every subscriber's chat list, unlike feeds on Instagram or TikTok.
- Telegram pays creators itself. Ad revenue sharing, Telegram Stars and paid subscriptions mean you can earn without any third-party tools.
- It's easy to automate. Tools like TeleFeed forward new posts between your channels automatically, so one post can reach a whole network of channels, in several languages.
How Much Money Can You Make on Telegram?
There's no typical income, and anyone promising one is guessing. Here's what published, real-world examples show:
- Sponsored posts: one creator with a 15,000+ subscriber channel for beginner data analysts reported charging $250 per ad post, running 10 to 12 ads a month, and earning about $3,000 in a month from that channel (Indie Hackers, July 2024). The same creator earlier reported $14,394 over 12 months from a channel with 11,601 subscribers (Indie Hackers).
- Ad prices across the market: Travelpayouts reports $10 to $965 per post depending on channel size and niche (Travelpayouts, June 2026). Sample listings we checked on Telega.io in October 2026 ranged from $36 to $114 per post.
- Telegram Stars: creators receive the equivalent of $0.013 per Star from paid posts (Telegram Content Creator Terms).
These are self-reported or market figures, not guarantees. What you earn depends on your niche, how engaged your subscribers are, and how many of the methods below you combine. Business, finance, AI and software niches tend to attract the highest-paying advertisers.
11 Ways to Make Money on Telegram: Quick Comparison
| # | Method | Need a channel? | Difficulty | How you're paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Telegram ad revenue sharing | Yes, 1,000+ subscribers | Easy once eligible | 50% of ad revenue, in TON |
| 2 | Paid channel subscriptions with Stars | Yes | Easy | Monthly fee in Stars |
| 3 | Paid posts | Yes | Easy | Stars per unlock |
| 4 | Star reactions (tips) | Yes | Easy | 100% of Stars |
| 5 | Suggested posts | Yes, any size | Easy | Stars or TON per post |
| 6 | Telegram affiliate programs | No | Easy | Commission in Stars |
| 7 | Paid private channel with a membership bot | Yes | Medium | Card, PayPal, crypto |
| 8 | Digital products and courses | Helps | Medium to hard | Per sale |
| 9 | Sponsored posts | Yes, about 1,000+ | Medium | Per post |
| 10 | Affiliate marketing | Helps | Easy to medium | Commission per sale |
| 11 | Curate and aggregate content (with permission) | Yes | Medium | Through methods 1 to 10 |
Earn With Telegram's Built-In Monetization
These six features are built into Telegram itself. Many guides still say "Telegram doesn't pay creators," which has been out of date since 2024.
1. Telegram Ad Revenue Sharing
Public channels with at least 1,000 subscribers receive 50% of the revenue from the official ads Telegram shows in them (Telegram, March 2024). You don't sell anything or deal with advertisers. Payouts are in Toncoin through Fragment, Telegram's payout platform.
It's the most passive method on this list, but the income depends entirely on your views and Telegram's ad demand in your subscribers' countries. Telegram's terms also say the 50% share can change at any time.
2. Paid Channel Subscriptions With Telegram Stars
You can create an invite link that charges a monthly fee in Telegram Stars to join your channel (Telegram, August 2024). Telegram handles payment, renewal and removal of members who stop paying, with no extra bot needed. There's no subscriber minimum.
Stars are bought inside the app, so subscribers pay with whatever their phone already uses. The trade-off: you're paid in Stars, which you withdraw through Fragment (see how to withdraw Stars below).
3. Paid Posts
Lock photos or videos behind a Star price. Subscribers see a blurred preview and pay to unlock it. Creators receive the equivalent of $0.013 per Star (Telegram, June 2024). This works well for premium analysis, exclusive photos, templates or behind-the-scenes content, alongside free posts that keep the channel growing.
4. Star Reactions (Tips)
Readers can react to your posts with Stars instead of a free emoji, and channel owners receive 100% of the Stars (Telegram, August 2024). It won't replace a salary, but for channels with loyal readers it adds up with zero effort.
5. Suggested Posts
Anyone can offer to pay you in Stars or Toncoin to publish a post in your channel. You approve or decline it. Payment is released 24 hours after the post goes live, and refunded to the buyer if you delete it earlier, so neither side has to trust the other. It works for channels of any size (Telegram, July 2025).
6. Telegram Affiliate Programs
Developers of Telegram mini apps and bots can offer a commission for referrals. Join a program from Settings → My Stars, share your link, and earn Stars on purchases your referrals make (Telegram affiliate programs). You can promote these links in a channel, a group or even your bio, so you don't need a channel to start.
How to Withdraw Telegram Stars and Ad Revenue
According to Telegram's Content Creator Terms:
- Payouts go through Fragment, which may not be able to pay users in certain countries.
- Star earnings become withdrawable 21 days after you earn them.
- Earned Stars expire after 3 years, so withdraw regularly.
- You can spend Stars on Telegram Ads to promote your channel instead of withdrawing them.
- Taxes are your responsibility.
Third-party guides put the minimum withdrawal at about 1,000 Stars (around $13); Telegram's terms don't state this figure, so check it in the app.
Sell Your Own Products and Access
7. Run a Paid Private Channel With a Membership Bot
If you'd rather be paid by card, PayPal or crypto instead of Stars, use a membership bot. It takes payment, sends a one-time invite link, reminds members before renewal and removes those who stop paying. Two popular options:
- InviteMember charges flat monthly plans based on your sales volume, starting at $19/month, and dropped its own transaction fees in April 2025. It supports Stripe, PayPal and crypto.
- Tribute has no monthly fee and takes 10% of digital sales, with payouts twice a month. It accepts cards from most countries and crypto, and says it supports Pix for Brazilian customers.
The best paid channels have a clear promise, such as "weekly market analysis" or "a daily language lesson," and a free channel that shows samples. When new members join, greet them with a built-in Telegram welcome message that covers your rules and what their membership includes.
8. Sell Digital Products and Courses
Ebooks, templates, spreadsheets, presets, Notion dashboards and courses sell well to an audience that already trusts you. Share previews and results in your channel, then link to checkout, either through a payment bot or a store like Gumroad.
For courses, Telegram can also be the classroom: a private channel for lessons, a linked discussion group for questions, and comments under each lesson. Selling your own products is often where channels earn most. The Indie Hackers creator above made most of her newer channels' income this way.
Partner With Brands and Other Channels
9. Sell Sponsored Posts
Sponsored posts are the most common way channels earn. Advertisers can start approaching channels at around 1,000 engaged subscribers; the Indie Hackers creator above got her first offers just past that mark. You can sell directly by adding a "for ads, contact @yourname" line to your channel description, or list your channel on an ad marketplace like Telega.io, where you set your own price per post and advertisers book slots.
Price on engagement, not subscriber count. Advertisers check views per post, and channels padded with fake subscribers get found out quickly. Mark sponsored posts clearly as ads (see legal and safety below).
10. Affiliate Marketing
Recommend products and earn a commission on sales: software tools, online courses, travel deals, or retail products through programs like Amazon Associates. Deal channels, which post daily discounts with affiliate links, are especially popular in Brazil and other markets.
- Pick one tight niche so every post is relevant to your subscribers.
- Lead with value. A short review or "why this is a good deal" converts better than a bare link.
- Disclose it. Say it's an affiliate link. It builds trust and is legally required in most countries.
11. Curate and Aggregate Content (With Permission)
Some of the most-read channels don't create everything themselves. They bring together the best content in a niche, in one place or one language. Done right, this is a strong way to grow an audience you can then monetize with methods 1 to 10:
- Run a network of your own channels. Post once and publish to all of them automatically: a main channel plus regional or language versions, or a premium channel plus a free one that shows yesterday's posts as a teaser.
- Curate public sources with credit. Forward posts from public channels with the "Forwarded from" label intact, and add your own commentary. That commentary is what makes the channel worth following.
- Translate with a license. If you want to republish another creator's paid content, for example in Portuguese or Spanish, get written permission and agree on a revenue share. Many creators are happy to reach a new market without doing the work themselves.
Automation makes this practical. TeleFeed forwards new posts between channels and groups automatically, with keyword and media filters, automatic translation, watermarks on your own media, and delays for teaser channels.
What not to do: don't subscribe to someone else's paid channel and resell its content, and don't remove the original creator's branding. That's copyright infringement, it violates Telegram's terms, and it's a fast way to get your channel taken down.
How to Make Money on Telegram Without a Channel
- Telegram affiliate programs (method 6): share referral links in groups you're active in, or in your bio.
- Build bots or mini apps for clients. Businesses pay developers for support bots, booking bots and shops inside Telegram.
- Offer admin and community-management services. Busy channel owners pay for moderation, scheduling and growth help.
- Write or design for channels. Many channel owners outsource posts, graphics and ad copy.
Legal and Safety: What to Know Before You Start
Making money on Telegram is legal in most countries. A few areas need care:
- Copyright. Only post content you own or have permission to use. Telegram removes infringing public content after complaints sent to
dmca@telegram.org, and paid content is protected by Telegram's Restrict Saving Content setting and its Creator Terms. - Ad and affiliate disclosure. Label sponsored posts and affiliate links. In the US this falls under the FTC Endorsement Guides, in the UK under ASA and CMA rules, and in Brazil under CONAR's influencer marketing guide.
- Trading and investment signals. Selling buy and sell recommendations can count as regulated financial advice. The UK's FCA has prosecuted finfluencers for promoting unauthorised trading schemes, and in Brazil the CVM requires anyone giving professional investment recommendations to register as an analyst. A "not financial advice" disclaimer doesn't change that.
- Betting tips. In Brazil, Law 14.790/2023 and Portaria SPA/MF 1.231/2024 ban promoting unlicensed betting sites and "easy money" claims. Check local rules in any market before promoting betting.
- Scams. Never promise guaranteed returns. US regulators have charged schemes that built trust through group chats, and "guaranteed profit" language is exactly what regulators look for.
This is general information, not legal advice. If your channel deals with finance or betting, talk to a lawyer in your market.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying fake subscribers. Advertisers check views per post, and Telegram can withhold rewards for non-genuine activity.
- Monetizing too early. Ads in a channel with no audience trust hurt growth. Build value first.
- Relying on one income stream. Combine native earnings, sponsorships and your own products.
- Mixing personal and business accounts. Use a separate account for your channels so one problem doesn't affect both.
- Ignoring the rules above. A takedown or regulator complaint can end a channel overnight.
FAQ: Making Money on Telegram
Does Telegram pay you for your channel?
Yes. Since 2024, public channels with at least 1,000 subscribers receive 50% of the revenue from Telegram's official ads shown in them. Channels of any size can also earn Telegram Stars from paid subscriptions, paid posts, Star reactions and suggested posts.
How many subscribers do you need to make money on Telegram?
For Telegram's ad revenue sharing, at least 1,000. Star subscriptions, paid posts, reactions and suggested posts have no minimum, and advertisers can start approaching channels at around 1,000 engaged subscribers.
How much money can you make on Telegram?
It varies widely. One creator reported about $3,000 in a month from a 15,000+ subscriber channel by charging $250 per sponsored post, and ad prices across the market range from about $10 to $965 per post depending on size and niche. Your income depends on niche, engagement and how many methods you combine.
How do I withdraw Telegram Stars?
Through Fragment, Telegram's payout platform. Star earnings become withdrawable 21 days after you earn them, and earned Stars expire after 3 years. Third-party guides put the minimum withdrawal at about 1,000 Stars, around $13.
Can you make money on Telegram without a channel?
Yes. You can join Telegram's affiliate programs for mini apps and bots, build bots for clients, offer admin and community-management services, or write and design content for channel owners.
What are the best Telegram bots for making money?
For paid memberships, InviteMember and Tribute handle payments, invite links and renewals. For running a network of channels, TeleFeed forwards new posts between your channels automatically, with filters, translation and delays.
Can I resell content from another paid Telegram channel?
Not without permission. Reselling another creator's paid content is copyright infringement and violates Telegram's terms. If you want to redistribute or translate someone's content, get written permission and agree on a revenue share.
Is making money on Telegram legal?
Generally yes. Running a paid channel, selling ads, affiliate marketing and selling your own products are legal in most countries, as long as you disclose ads and own your content. Selling trading signals or betting tips can be regulated, so check the rules in your market first.
Start With One Method
The fastest way to start earning is to pick one method that fits your channel and do it well. If you already have 1,000+ subscribers, turn on ad revenue sharing and add Star subscriptions or paid posts today. If you're starting from zero, build a channel around a clear niche, then add sponsorships and your own products as it grows. If you run several channels, TeleFeed keeps them all updated from one place, so you can spend your time on content instead of copy-pasting.