Telegram Ads Cost: Complete Pricing Guide for 2025

Understanding Telegram Ads Cost

Telegram advertising has become a serious marketing channel, but the pricing structure confuses many advertisers. Unlike Facebook or Google Ads, Telegram uses a simpler but less flexible pricing model.

This guide breaks down Telegram ads cost, from minimum budgets to CPM rates, so you can plan your advertising spend effectively.

Telegram’s Official Ad Platform

How Telegram Ads Work

Telegram’s official ad platform displays “Sponsored” messages within public channels. Key characteristics:

• Placement: Text-only ads appear at the bottom of channel posts
• Format: Up to 160 characters of text
• Targeting: Based on channel topics and subscriber languages
• Auction: CPM-based bidding system
• No links: Ads can only link to other Telegram channels or bots

Minimum Budget Requirements

Telegram Ads has significant minimum requirements:

Requirement	Amount
Minimum deposit	€2,000,000 (yes, 2 million)
Minimum campaign budget	€100
Minimum daily budget	€20

Important update: Telegram announced plans to lower minimums, but as of 2025, the €2M minimum deposit remains for direct access. Third-party resellers offer lower entry points.

Using Telegram Ad Resellers

Since the €2M minimum is prohibitive for most advertisers, resellers provide access with lower minimums:

How resellers work:

1. Resellers have advertiser accounts with Telegram
2. You pay the reseller to run ads on your behalf
3. Reseller marks up Telegram’s CPM rates
4. You get access without meeting minimum requirements

Typical reseller minimums:

• €500 - €5,000 minimum spend
• 10-30% markup over Telegram’s base rates
• Variable service fees

Finding resellers:

• Search “Telegram ads reseller” or “Telegram ads agency”
• Check TGStat for advertising services
• Ask in Telegram marketing groups

Telegram Ads CPM Rates

How CPM Pricing Works

CPM = Cost Per Mille (cost per 1,000 impressions)

You pay for every 1,000 times your ad is displayed, regardless of clicks.

Typical CPM Ranges

Rates vary significantly by:

• Geographic targeting
• Channel categories
• Competition levels
• Time of year

General CPM ranges (2025):

Region/Category	CPM Range
Tier 1 (US, UK, EU)	€2 - €8
Tier 2 (Brazil, India)	€0.50 - €2
Tier 3 (Other regions)	€0.20 - €1
Crypto/Finance channels	€5 - €15
Tech channels	€3 - €8
Entertainment	€1 - €4
General interest	€0.50 - €3

Factors Affecting CPM

Higher CPM:

• Valuable demographics (high-income regions)
• Competitive niches (crypto, finance, tech)
• Limited inventory (niche topics)
• Peak advertising seasons

Lower CPM:

• Broader targeting
• Less competitive categories
• Emerging markets
• Off-peak periods

Alternative: Channel Advertising

For most small-to-medium advertisers, direct channel advertising is more accessible than Telegram’s official platform.

How Channel Advertising Works

1. Find channels with your target audience
2. Contact the channel owner/admin
3. Negotiate a rate for a promotional post
4. Provide content or let them create it
5. Track results

Channel Advertising Pricing

Pricing is typically per post, based on:

• Subscriber count
• Engagement rate
• Niche value
• Post format and duration

Typical rates by channel size:

Subscribers	Price per Post
1,000 - 5,000	$10 - $50
5,000 - 10,000	$50 - $150
10,000 - 50,000	$150 - $500
50,000 - 100,000	$500 - $1,500
100,000 - 500,000	$1,500 - $5,000
500,000+	$5,000+

Important: These are rough benchmarks. Niche channels often charge more than general entertainment channels with similar subscriber counts.

Negotiating Channel Rates

Before negotiating:

• Check channel statistics on TGStat
• Calculate their engagement rate (views/subscribers)
• Review past sponsored content
• Assess audience quality

Negotiation points:

• Volume discounts for multiple posts
• Bundle deals with related channels
• Performance bonuses if available
• Payment terms (upfront vs. split)

Calculating Your Advertising Budget

Cost Per Subscriber Calculation

The metric that matters: how much to acquire one subscriber.

Formula:

Cost per subscriber = Total ad spend ÷ New subscribers

Example:

• Spend: $500 on channel promotion
• New subscribers: 250
• Cost per subscriber: $2.00

What’s a Good Cost Per Subscriber?

It depends on your monetization:

Monetization Model	Target CPS
No monetization	As low as possible
Affiliate/sponsors	$0.50 - $2.00
Premium channel ($10/mo)	$2.00 - $10.00
High-ticket sales	$5.00 - $20.00+

Rule of thumb: If a subscriber generates $X in their lifetime, you can afford to spend up to $X to acquire them (break-even) or ideally much less for profit.

Sample Advertising Budgets

Starter Budget: $100-500/month

• 2-5 channel promotions
• Test different niches
• Focus on smaller, relevant channels
• Goal: Learn what converts

Growth Budget: $500-2,000/month

• 5-15 channel promotions
• Mix of small and medium channels
• Consistent weekly spending
• Goal: Predictable subscriber growth

Scale Budget: $2,000+/month

• Official Telegram Ads (via reseller)
• Multiple channel campaigns
• Large channel sponsorships
• Goal: Rapid audience building

Maximizing Advertising ROI

Choose the Right Channels

Not all subscribers are equal. Target channels where:

• Audience overlaps with your ideal subscriber
• Engagement rates are healthy (30%+ view rate)
• Content quality matches your standards
• Community seems genuine (not bot-inflated)

Craft Compelling Ad Content

Your ad creative determines conversion rates:

Effective ads include:

• Clear value proposition
• Reason to subscribe now
• Preview of content quality
• Call to action

Example: ❌ “Follow our channel for updates” ✅ “Get exclusive AI tool recommendations daily—we’ve helped 10,000+ subscribers discover game-changing apps. Join free: t.me/yourhandle”

Track Everything

Use unique invite links for each campaign:

1. Create a new invite link for each ad placement
2. Name it clearly (e.g., “TechChannel-Jan2025”)
3. Track subscribers per link
4. Calculate cost per subscriber per source
5. Double down on what works

Test and Iterate

Testing framework:

1. Start with small tests ($50-100 per channel)
2. Measure results after 24-48 hours
3. Calculate cost per subscriber
4. Re-invest in channels that convert
5. Avoid channels with poor results

Telegram Ads vs. Other Platforms

Comparison Table

Platform	Min Budget	Targeting	Ad Format	Best For
Telegram Ads	€2M (or reseller)	Basic	Text only	Large budgets, Telegram growth
Channel Ads	$10+	Channel selection	Any format	All budgets, targeted reach
Facebook Ads	$1+	Advanced	Rich media	Driving external traffic
Google Ads	$1+	Intent-based	Text/display	Search traffic

When to Use Each

Telegram Official Ads:

• Large budget available
• Goal is Telegram subscriber growth
• Want broad reach within Telegram

Channel Advertising:

• Any budget size
• Want precise audience targeting
• Testing Telegram advertising

Facebook/Google Ads:

• Want to bring external traffic to Telegram
• Advanced targeting needed
• Rich media important

Common Advertising Mistakes

Overpaying for Subscribers

Some channels charge inflated rates. Always:

• Check TGStat for real statistics
• Calculate effective CPM before buying
• Compare rates across similar channels

Buying from Fake Channels

Bot-inflated channels waste your money:

• View rates significantly below 20% = suspicious
• Sudden subscriber spikes = likely purchased
• Generic comments = bot engagement

Not Tracking Results

Without tracking, you can’t optimize:

• Use unique invite links always
• Track cost per subscriber per source
• Monitor subscriber retention from each source

Spending Too Much Too Fast

Start small, scale what works:

• Test with $50-100 per channel first
• Evaluate results before scaling
• Build relationships with converting channels

Alternatives to Paid Advertising

Paid ads aren’t the only growth path. Consider:

Organic Growth

• Cross-promotion from existing platforms
• Content that gets shared
• SEO optimization for Telegram search
• Community participation

Cross-Promotion Trades

• Exchange shoutouts with similar channels
• No cost, mutual benefit
• Build relationships in your niche

Guest Content

• Create content for larger channels
• Establish authority
• Get organic exposure

For organic growth strategies, see our guide on how to grow your Telegram channel.

FAQ: Telegram Ads Cost

Is Telegram advertising worth it?

It depends on your monetization. If subscribers generate revenue (through premium content, affiliate sales, or sponsorships), paid advertising can be highly profitable. For hobby channels, organic growth may be more appropriate.

Can I advertise on Telegram with $100?

Not on Telegram’s official platform (requires €2M deposit). But channel advertising is accessible at any budget—many channels accept $10-50 for promotional posts.

How do I find Telegram advertising rates?

Contact channels directly or use platforms like TGStat. Rates vary widely—always compare multiple options and negotiate.

What’s the average cost per subscriber on Telegram?

Highly variable: $0.50 in competitive niches to $0.05 in emerging markets. Most advertisers target $0.50-$2.00 per subscriber for sustainable growth.

Should I use Telegram’s official ads or channel advertising?

Start with channel advertising—lower minimum, more control, better targeting. Consider official ads only when you have substantial budget and want broad reach.

Planning Your Advertising Strategy

For New Channels (0-1,000 subscribers)

Budget: $50-200/month Strategy: Test 2-4 small channel promotions Goal: Find converting channels and messaging

For Growing Channels (1,000-10,000 subscribers)

Budget: $200-1,000/month Strategy: Scale successful channels, test medium-sized channels Goal: Consistent subscriber growth at target CPS

For Established Channels (10,000+ subscribers)

Budget: $1,000+/month Strategy: Mix of channel ads and official platform (via reseller) Goal: Rapid scaling while maintaining quality

Conclusion

Telegram ads cost varies dramatically based on your approach. Official Telegram Ads require substantial budgets, but channel advertising offers accessible entry points for any budget.

The key is calculating your target cost per subscriber based on monetization, then testing and optimizing to hit that target. Start small, track everything, and scale what works.

For the complete picture on building your Telegram presence, read our Telegram for content creators marketing guide.