You can earn money on Telegram through a channel in four official ways: Star reactions on your posts, paid photo and video posts, paid subscription invite links, all in Telegram Stars, and a share of ad revenue once a public channel reaches Telegram's subscriber threshold. The other real route is selling your own services or products to the audience your channel builds.
Everything official runs through a channel, not a group or a private chat. So the first job isn't picking a method; it's building a channel people want to read. Stars and ad revenue only start to add up once there's an audience behind them.
The catch: Telegram's ad revenue share isn't open to every channel. Telegram's announcement says it's for public channels with at least 1,000 subscribers, and payouts are in Toncoin, the cryptocurrency on the TON blockchain, withdrawn through Fragment rather than to a bank account. Check Telegram's own page for the current threshold and terms before you plan around it.
The official ways to earn, side by side
| Method | Who it suits | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Star reactions | Any channel with readers who like to show support | Turn on paid reactions in Channel Settings |
| Paid photo and video posts | Creators with exclusive images, tutorials or behind-the-scenes clips | A channel and content worth paying Stars to see |
| Star subscriptions | Creators with a steady stream of premium posts or a VIP community | A paid invite link set to a monthly charge in Stars |
| Ad revenue share | Large public channels with a broad audience | A public channel that meets Telegram's subscriber threshold, currently stated as 1,000 |
| Selling your own services or products | Coaches, freelancers, teachers, small shops | Something real to sell, and a channel that builds trust |
Stars are Telegram's in-app currency. Telegram's announcement says channel owners keep the Stars they receive and can convert them into Toncoin rewards or spend them on Telegram ads to grow the channel. I've explained how Stars work in my guide to Telegram Stars.
Setting up a channel that can earn
Here's the order I'd follow. Steps one to three are about building something worth supporting; the money features come after.
- Create a channel around one clear topic. Pick something you can post about every week without running dry. If you haven't made one yet, my guide on how to create a Telegram channel covers it.
- Make it public with a username. Public channels can be found in search, and the ad revenue share only applies to public channels.
- Post on a schedule. Short, useful posts on a regular rhythm keep subscribers. Pin a welcome post that says what the channel's for.
- Turn on Star reactions. Go to Channel Settings, then Reactions, and switch on Enable Paid Reactions. Readers can then send Stars to posts they like.
- Add a paid subscription link if you have premium content. Go to Channel Settings, then Channel Type, then Manage Invite Links, and create a new link with the monthly charge option turned on. People who join through it pay in Stars each month.
- Try a paid post. When you share a photo or video, you can set it as paid media so subscribers open it with Stars. Save this for content that's worth it, or people stop opening them.
- Watch the Monetization tab. Telegram says owners can check Channel Settings, then Statistics, then Monetization, to see their ad revenue status once the channel qualifies.
App menus change between versions. If a menu name looks different, open the channel's settings and search for the word, such as reactions or monetization. Availability can also vary by country, so check the current terms in the app.
Selling your own work through a channel
For most people, this is where the steadier income comes from. A channel is a direct line to people who've chosen to hear from you, and that's useful whatever you sell.
- Services: design, tutoring, coaching, editing, social media help. Share tips in the channel and mention how people can book you.
- Your own products: courses, templates, handmade goods, printables. Post previews and real results, then link to your shop in the channel description.
- Bots for orders: Telegram supports payments through bots, which some small shops use to take orders inside the app. Check the current rules on Telegram's bot platform before setting one up.
Whatever you sell, be clear about what's included and keep promises small and specific. Trust is the only thing a channel really runs on.
The scams that look like earning
Search for ways to earn on Telegram and you'll be invited into groups that promise easy money. These are scams. Say no to all of them:
- Task groups. "Like these videos, follow these pages, rate these hotels and get paid." They pay a tiny amount at first to win trust, then ask you to deposit money for bigger tasks. That deposit is what they're after, and it never comes back.
- Crypto signal groups. Channels promising guaranteed trading wins or insider tips. Nobody can guarantee returns, and many of these push you to a fake trading site.
- Investment DMs. A friendly stranger messages you about a "mentor" or a platform that made them rich. Block and report.
- Fake Telegram support. Anyone claiming to be Telegram staff in your DMs asking for your login code. Telegram's FAQ says it has no other support accounts on social media, and real staff never ask for codes.
A simple rule: if earning starts with you sending money, it's a scam. Real Telegram earnings come to you through Stars and ad revenue in your own channel's settings, not from a stranger in your DMs.
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What I'd do first
I'd start one public channel on a topic I know well, post useful things for a few months, and turn on Star reactions from day one. I'd treat selling my own skills as the main income and the ad revenue share as a bonus for later.
If you're more comfortable reading in Hinglish, there's a version of this topic in my guide on Telegram se paise kaise kamaye (in Hinglish).
This guide is part of my Creator Pay Rates: What YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat Really Pay (75 Answers).
Frequently asked questions
Can you really earn money on Telegram?
Yes, through official channel features: Star reactions, paid media posts, paid subscriptions and, for public channels that qualify, a share of ad revenue. Selling your own services to your audience is another real route.
How many subscribers do you need to earn from Telegram ads?
Telegram's announcement says the ad revenue share is for public channels with at least 1,000 subscribers. Check Telegram's own page for the current threshold, as these rules can change.
How does Telegram pay channel owners?
Ad revenue is paid in Toncoin and withdrawn through Fragment. Stars from reactions, subscriptions and paid posts can be converted into Toncoin rewards or spent on Telegram ads.
Are earn-by-liking Telegram groups real?
No. Task groups that pay you to like, follow or review things are scams that end with a request to deposit money. Leave and report them.
Can a Telegram group earn money like a channel?
The official earning features are built around channels. Groups are better for community chat; most creators run a channel to earn and link a discussion group to it.
