Hardware FixRecommendedDevice not working? Your driver may be the problemCheck updates for common hardware issues.Fix DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan Now×
Skip to content
World desk6 min

Telegram Says It Passed 1 Billion Monthly Active Users in 2025

Telegram says it passed one billion monthly active users in 2025. The milestone signals major scale, but the count is self-reported and does not prove Telegram has overtaken WhatsApp or establish an independently audited audience.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Telegram says it passed one billion monthly active users in 2025. Founder Pavel Durov announced the milestone as more than one billion monthly active users, and Telegram’s press page now uses the same measure. That is a company-reported monthly audience—not a count of registered accounts, daily users or independently audited individuals.

What Telegram announced—and what “users” means

In a post on his Telegram channel, Durov said the service had “significantly over 1 billion monthly active users.” Telegram’s official press page later stated that it passed one billion monthly active users in 2025. The wording refers to people active during a month, not one billion people online at the same time. The company has not published a detailed public methodology explaining how it counts those users.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The announcement is a primary-source claim, but it is not an independent audit. Telegram has not publicly supplied an audited user-count report or a regular dashboard showing retention, regional distribution, or how accounts such as bots and businesses are handled. One person may also use multiple accounts, and a monthly active user need not use the app frequently. Downloads, registered accounts, monthly active users and daily active users are different measures.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

How Telegram got there

Telegram said it had 900 million users in spring 2024. In July 2024, Durov reported 950 million monthly active users and said the service was on track to reach one billion. Telegram’s August anniversary update described it as nearing that level. The later 2025 announcement marked the next public milestone.

#1 Best Overall
Panasonic Cordless Phone with Answering Machine, 2 Handsets Landline Phone
  • Advanced Call Blocking: Automated Call Block pre-blocks robocalls; Telemarketing Call Block lets you block announced callers; block 1,000 more with 1-touch Call Block Button on the cordless phones with answering machine
  • 2-Way Recording Telephone Landline Phones: Never miss important details again--record your telephone conversations to replay later; the announcement of “Start Recording” on this wireless home phone effectively deters suspicious callers
  • One-Ring Scam Alert Cordless House Phone: Landline phones for home protects you from one-ring scams by displaying a confirmation screen when returning a one-ring call
  • Reliable Connection with Panasonic Phones: Panasonic cordless home phone continues to connect families and friends all over the globe, offering reliable connection and intuitive design, proudly built on a legacy of Japanese innovation and craftsmanship
  • Easy to Find & Use: Illuminated keypad with large characters of our landline phone with answering machine is findable even in the dark; speed dial gives you 1-touch access to your most-dialed numbers; wall-mountable design keeps home phones reliably close

The increase from 950 million to more than one billion is at least about 5.3% by simple arithmetic, but it is not a company-reported growth rate: the announcements refer to different dates, and their measurement windows and wording are not fully comparable. See Durov’s 950-million announcement, Telegram’s August 2024 update and TechCrunch’s coverage of the July milestone.

Does one billion make Telegram bigger than WhatsApp?

No. Durov characterized Telegram as the second-most-popular messaging app outside China-specific WeChat, and used the announcement to criticize WhatsApp. That is his framing, not a ranking supported by a published comparative methodology. TechCrunch’s report on the announcement cited WhatsApp at more than two billion monthly active users. On those reported totals, Telegram’s milestone does not establish that it has overtaken WhatsApp globally.

Even headline MAU figures are not necessarily like-for-like: companies may define activity differently, and their audiences have different geographic mixes. Telegram is also more than a private messenger: public channels, bots, groups, mini apps and crypto-linked services make it partly comparable to broadcast and social platforms. Downloads and app-store rankings cannot substitute for active-user counts.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #2
AT&T CL2940 Corded Phone with Speakerphone, Extra-Large Buttons and Tilt Display, Caller ID/Call Waiting, Audio Assist Volume Boost, Black
  • Senior-Friendly Big Buttons & Display: Extra-large buttons and a tiltable display make dialing and reading easy for seniors or anyone with vision challenges — no more squinting or misdials.
  • Hands-Free Speakerphone: Enjoy clear conversations without holding the receiver; perfect for multitasking or group calls at home.
  • Audio Assist Volume Boost: Amplifies incoming sound for easier hearing — great for users with hearing difficulties.
  • Reliable Corded Operation: Works without AC power for basic calls during outages or emergencies; Caller ID requires 4 AA batteries (not included).
  • Caller ID and Call Waiting: See incoming caller names and numbers on the large display with a 50-name/number history for effective call screening.

Why people use Telegram—and what the number cannot prove

Telegram’s reach spans private messaging and public distribution. Channels let publishers and communities broadcast to large audiences; groups support discussion; cloud-synchronized chats and cross-platform apps make the service accessible across devices. Bots and mini apps add games, services and commerce inside the app. Telegram said more than 500 million users interacted with mini apps monthly in June 2024, a company-reported figure that shows how use can extend beyond conventional chat.

These features are plausible parts of Telegram’s appeal, alongside its positioning around privacy, independence and free expression. The available figures do not establish that any one feature caused the growth. Nor does a large audience mean every channel or business can reach a billion people: distribution, geography, discovery and engagement differ across communities.

How Telegram is turning audience into revenue

The milestone matters commercially because Telegram has developed revenue streams around subscriptions, advertising, creators, business tools and transactions. Durov said Telegram made $547 million in profit in 2024. TechCrunch separately reported that revenue exceeded $1 billion that year and that the company became profitable. Telegram is privately held, and the cited figures are not accompanied by the kind of detailed public financial reporting or independent verification that would settle their basis. Treat them as attributed claims, not audited results.

Rank #3
AT&T DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone, 4-Handset – Smart Call Blocker, Bluetooth Connect to Cell, Answering Machine, 1.8" Backlit Display | DL72419
  • SMART CALL BLOCKER — STOPS ROBOCALLS BEFORE THEY RING — Automatically blocks robocalls on the first call — no setup required. One-touch blacklist any number with the dedicated handset key. Block directory holds up to 1,000 entries
  • BLUETOOTH CONNECT TO CELL — Pair up to 2 smartphones (or 1 phone + 1 headset) and make or receive mobile calls through any of the four handsets. Access Siri or Google Assistant from any room
  • DIGITAL ANSWERING MACHINE — 22 MIN RECORDING — Records up to 22 minutes of messages with voice-guided setup and remote playback. Lighted display on the base shows when messages are waiting
  • 4 HANDSETS, ONE PHONE JACK — 1.8" BACKLIT DISPLAY — All four handsets connect from a single base and phone jack. High-contrast 1.8" display and big lighted keypad on every handset. DECT 6.0 covers up to 1,000 ft
  • INTERCOM | QUIET MODE | VOIP READY — Any handset intercoms any other or the base. Quiet Mode silences all ringers on demand. Works with landline, cable, and VoIP services including Ooma and Vonage
  • Premium subscriptions: Paid plans fund enhanced features and limits. Durov reported more than 15 million Premium subscribers in 2025; this is a founder-reported figure, not an independently verified breakdown of Telegram’s audience.
  • Advertising: Telegram says ads appear in large public channels, not private one-to-one chats or ordinary group chats. It describes placements as contextual to the channel rather than based on personal user data. That privacy description is Telegram’s own characterization.
  • Channel revenue sharing: Telegram says eligible public-channel owners can receive 50% of advertising revenue. The company’s announcement says public channels with at least 1,000 subscribers can participate; advertisers choose the channels where their ads run. Campaigns can be purchased with Toncoin through Telegram Ads. Details are in Telegram’s channel monetization announcement.
  • Stars and creator payments: Telegram Stars are an in-app payment unit for digital goods, paid media and subscriptions. Developers and creators can use Stars for Toncoin rewards or advertising, subject to platform rules and availability. Payment-provider fees, taxes, regional restrictions and withdrawal conditions can affect actual proceeds.
  • Mini apps and business features: Mini apps let developers offer services and commerce within Telegram. Business features support Telegram-native customer communication, while transactions create opportunities—and operational obligations—for merchants and developers.
  • TON and Toncoin: Telegram has integrated Toncoin-related rewards and payments into parts of its platform ecosystem. Crypto transactions are not equivalent to conventional cash revenue; users and businesses must account for volatility, wallet custody, scams, taxes and regulatory requirements.

Telegram has also introduced paid incoming messages and Stars withdrawals, expanding the ways users can charge for access or interaction. The exact economics depend on rules, payment routes and location; the headline audience alone says little about conversion or creator income. Product details appear in Telegram’s mini-app and paid-media update, Star Messages update and Stars overview.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What growth means for creators, advertisers and users

For creators and businesses, Telegram offers public distribution, paid content, advertising, mini apps and direct community access. But the one-billion figure is not a forecast of reach or sales. Audience quality, geography, channel relevance, conversion and moderation risks matter more to an individual campaign than the total platform audience.

For ordinary users, continued expansion may bring more channels, bots, business accounts, ads and paid content. It can also mean more spam, scams, impersonation and unwanted messages. A larger network can create more useful communities and services, but it does not in itself demonstrate stronger privacy, security or moderation.

Rank #4
Sale
AT&T CD4930 Black Corded Phone with Digital Answering System, Caller ID, Extra-Large Tilt Backlit Display & Big Buttons
  • 25-Minute Digital Answering System — Never miss a message again. Record up to 25 minutes of incoming calls, outgoing announcements, and memos with easy instant playback, selective save/delete, and the ability to skip or repeat messages right from the handset or base
  • Extra-Large Tiltable Backlit Display — See Caller ID names, numbers, time, and date at a glance — even Call Waiting. The oversized LCD tilts for the perfect viewing angle, reducing strain for seniors and anyone with vision needs
  • Oversized Big Buttons — Large, high-contrast keys are easy to read and press — ideal for elderly users, arthritis, or low vision. Simple, frustration-free dialing every time
  • Hands-Free Speakerphone — Talk and listen comfortably without holding the handset. Perfect for multitasking, note-taking, or including the whole family in the conversation
  • Reliable Corded Design with Audio Assist — Works even during power outages. Audio Assist temporarily boosts volume and clarity for better hearing, plus an extra-loud ringer with visual flashing indicator

Privacy expectations should be precise: Telegram’s general cloud chats are not the same as end-to-end encrypted Secret Chats. A platform’s privacy positioning should not be read as a claim that every conversation has the same encryption model.

Scale brings greater moderation and legal stakes

Telegram has faced criticism over scams, extremist material, illicit content and moderation. Durov has also been subject to a French investigation concerning alleged criminal activity on the platform. Allegations and investigations are not the same as findings of guilt; the company’s scale nonetheless raises the stakes when harmful content circulates or enforcement requests arrive.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Durov has said Telegram complies with European Union law and characterized French authorities’ requests as being sent through procedures under the Digital Services Act. That is his account of the process, not an independent assessment of Telegram’s compliance. The company’s free-expression and privacy position can come into tension with governments’ demands for cooperation. Reporting by the Associated Press on Durov’s legal background provides further context; Durov’s own comments on EU requests are in his Telegram channel.

What the milestone says—and what remains unknown

Telegram’s billion-plus MAU claim signals substantial scale and strengthens its leverage with advertisers, creators and developers. Durov also cited an average of 21 app opens and 41 minutes of daily use per user, but those engagement figures are founder-reported and lack a published measurement methodology. A large monthly audience, even alongside reported engagement, does not independently settle how often people return, what they do, or how much revenue each user generates.

  • Established as Telegram’s position: Telegram says it passed one billion monthly active users in 2025.
  • Not established by the milestone: an independently audited count, a global lead over WhatsApp, or a breakdown of unique people, regions and account types.
  • Commercial significance: a larger audience creates more scope for subscriptions, advertising, creator payments and mini-app transactions, while making audience quality and trust more consequential.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Wire

  1. World desk4 min
    How to Spot an AI Voice Scam Before Sending MoneyDon’t rely on how a caller sounds. Pause, call back through a known number, and verify the emergency with another trusted person before sending money.
  2. Mountain View desk4 min
    Google’s SynthID Detector: How to Check AI-Generated Images, Video and AudioGoogle’s SynthID Detector looks for an embedded watermark in supported images, video and audio. Here is what its results do—and do not—show.
  3. Redmond desk20 min
    How to create a link to File or Folder in Windows 11Windows 11 gives you several ways to point to a file or folder without moving or duplicating it. You can create a desktop shortcut,…
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.