Telegram Officially Has 1 Billion Monthly Active Users

Telegram has announced that it now reaches a billion people each month. Pavel Durov, who leads the organisation, announced this on his own channel. Followers worldwide welcomed the news, praising the platform’s privacy features and straightforward layout.

Launched in 2013, Telegram was noted early on for protecting conversations and letting users send large files without difficulty. Many flocked to it as a safe haven where personal data felt guarded from prying eyes. Over the years, it has gathered fans who value an app that puts privacy first.

With a growing user base, the service has become a home for public channels, group chats, and one-to-one exchanges. Many see it as a practical choice in a busy market of communication tools. Durov’s recent post shows confidence in its place among the top messaging apps around the globe.

 

How Is Telegram Earning Money?

 

The company recently disclosed that it took in $547 million in profit last year. Durov revealed these figures during a public update, sharing that the group has found a workable path in a crowded field.

For many years, Telegram ran on personal funds. As more people signed up, the service rolled out paid upgrades. These extras allow individuals to access larger uploads and quicker downloads, all without affecting the core functions used by everyone.

Some view these add-ons as a fair exchange: those who want extra functions can purchase them, while basic tools stay open to the public. This setup appears to keep the majority happy and helps Telegram dodge frequent ads or intrusive methods to raise funds.

Though premium elements are, the free version continues to draw huge crowds. Many appreciate that Telegram maintains a seamless experience across all tiers. Durov has stressed that generating revenue should never disrupt daily communication for those who prefer a cost-free option.

 

 

Why Did Pavel Durov Mention WhatsApp?

 

In a recent post, Durov spoke of WhatsApp as a weak copy of his service. He stated that his competitor used massive budgets on marketing and lobbying to slow Telegram down, but it fell short of its goal. He also declared that Telegram has stayed self-sufficient.

Though WhatsApp has over 2 billion monthly users, Durov expressed pride in reaching the billion mark without merging into a larger corporation. He implied that staying independent allows Telegram more freedom to experiment and evolve at its own pace.

In his message, he mocked WhatsApp’s repeated attempts to mirror Telegram’s inventions. Fans of both apps have observed a rivalry for years, fed in part by clashing beliefs on personal data and encryption. Durov’s remarks rekindled the debate over which platform offers better protection.

This was what CEO wrote on his channel, “Telegram now has significantly over 1 billion monthly active users, becoming the second most popular messaging app in the world (excluding the China-specific WeChat).

“User engagement is also rising. On average, each user opens Telegram 21 times daily and spends 41 minutes on the app every day. Meanwhile, our revenue growth has exploded, with $547M in profit in 2024.

“Ahead of us stands WhatsApp — a cheap, watered-down imitation of Telegram. For years, they’ve desperately tried to copy our innovations while burning billions on lobbying and PR campaigns to slow us down. They failed. Telegram grew, became profitable, and — unlike our competitor — retained its independence. We are just getting started.”