How to Create a Telegram Channel and Earn Money

You can make money with a Telegram channel in four ways: official ads in public channels with at least 1,000 subscribers, paid subscriptions, affiliate links, and selling your own products or services. None of them pays you just for keeping a channel open: revenue comes from an advertiser, a subscriber, or a paying customer.

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• The four ways at a glance
• What a Telegram channel is and when it pays off
• Create the channel and choose a topic
• Telegram ads: half of what Telegram earns
• Paid subscriptions with Stars
• Affiliates: a commission on every purchase from your link
• Your own product or service
• Why "make money watching videos" is not a way
• Which ways are open if you start from zero
• Grow just enough to get paid
• Mistakes that cost money or the account
• Frequently asked questions

The conditions below match those published by Telegram, Amazon, and AliExpress in October 2026. Because they can change over time, we link to each official source so you can verify them.

The four ways at a glance

• Telegram ads: the advertiser pays in public channels with at least 1,000 subscribers, and payouts are processed in cryptocurrency through Fragment.
• Paid subscriptions: subscribers pay a monthly fee in Stars with no published subscriber minimum, and the balance can be withdrawn through Fragment after 21 days.
• Affiliates: the store pays a commission on each valid purchase generated from your link, following the terms and schedule of its specific program.
• Your own product or service: you charge your customers through your existing payment methods, without relying on a Telegram program or an external store.

We break down each option below, with links to their official sources.

What a Telegram channel is and when it pays off

A channel is a one-way communication medium: only the owner and designated admins can post, while subscribers read the messages. It has no subscriber limit, according to Telegram's channel FAQ. There are two types:

• Public: it has a username, and anyone can find it in Telegram search and join without approval.
• Private: access is restricted to people who receive an invite link or are added directly by the owner.

It pays off when you cover a topic with steady interest and keep a consistent posting schedule: deals in a single category, industry news, study notes for an exam, or updates from your own business. Without readers behind it, none of the four options will generate any income.

Create the channel and choose a topic

In the Telegram app:

1. On Android, tap the pencil icon in the chat list and choose New Channel. On iPhone, tap the icon at the top right of Chats and select New Channel.
2. Give it a clear name, write a short description, and add a profile picture.
3. Choose whether it will be public or private. If you want people to find you in Telegram search, make it public and set its username: its link will be t.me/your_username.
4. Invite your first subscribers. As the owner, you can directly invite up to 200 people; after that, people join through the invite link or search.

If you plan to manage posts with help, appoint admins to share the workload.

Your topic determines which options are open to you. A deals channel naturally fits affiliate programs, analysis or training content works well with paid subscriptions, and news channels rely on sheer volume to monetize through ads.

Telegram ads: half of what Telegram earns

Since March 2024, Telegram has shared 50% of the ad revenue generated in a channel with its owner, according to the official announcement of channel monetization.

What it requires:

• A public channel with at least 1,000 subscribers: this is required to activate ads, according to the Telegram Ads guide.
• Geographic availability: ads are only shown in certain countries. Telegram's terms of service state this explicitly, though Telegram does not publish the list of territories. Reaching 1,000 subscribers does not guarantee that ads will appear in your channel.
• Payouts through Fragment: the advertiser pays in cryptocurrency, and you withdraw your revenue through Fragment with no withdrawal fee, starting two days after the balance is generated.

The terms for content creator rewards add three details worth reading before you count on this money: the 50% split can change at any time without notice; Fragment may be unable to pay certain users or users in certain countries; and Telegram can withhold rewards for spam, phishing, automation, or fake impressions, and end your participation without warning.

You can check your accumulated earnings in your channel statistics, under monetization.

What nobody can promise you: a fixed income amount. You only earn 50% of what Telegram bills for ads displayed in your channel.

Who it suits: public channels with a large readership that do not sell products of their own.

Paid subscriptions with Stars

Since August 2024, you can charge a monthly fee to join a private channel. Subscribers pay in Telegram Stars, and the official announcement explains how to set it up: in the channel settings, open invite links, create a new link, and turn on the monthly fee.

How it works:

• 30-day billing cycle: this is the only frequency supported by the Telegram subscriptions documentation.
• Automatic access: once payment is confirmed, the subscriber gets immediate access to the private channel.

What it requires:

• Availability subject to review: there is no published subscriber minimum, but the rewards terms state this feature may be restricted for certain channels, owners, or regions.
• Holding periods and expiration: you must wait 21 days to withdraw your Stars balance, and Stars earned from your content expire after three years.
• Withdrawals via Fragment: funds are transferred to a cryptocurrency wallet through Fragment, provided two-step verification is enabled and your balance meets the minimum required by Telegram, according to the Stars documentation. As noted in the subscriptions announcement, Telegram charges virtually no withdrawal commission.

Telegram does not disclose in its public documentation the net percentage you receive from each fee, the minimum payout threshold, or the exact exchange value of a Star. Check these in the app before setting your rates.

You can also earn Stars in two other ways: when subscribers react to your posts (the channel owner receives 100% of those Stars) or by charging for access to individual posts in channels authorized by Telegram, though the platform does not specify what makes a channel eligible.

What nobody can promise you: guaranteed subscribers. People only pay a subscription if you offer exclusive insights or value they cannot find for free in other channels.

Who it suits: anyone offering specialized analysis, technical training, or time-sensitive alerts their audience is already willing to pay for.

Affiliates: a commission on every purchase from your link

You share deals with your affiliate link and the store pays you a commission on valid purchases you generate. This is standard for deals channels, and each platform sets its own sign-up conditions.

Amazon Associates

The conditions in this section reflect Amazon.com (the United States program) unless noted otherwise. Each country runs its own program: if your audience buys from another Amazon store, check the local terms for that country.

• Commission, sign-up and disclosure: each country's program sets its own commission rates, application review process, and required disclosure statement. We do not list them here: read your program's operating agreement and policies before you apply.
• Purchase window: a session opened by your link lasts 24 hours from the click, unless the customer completes the order sooner. If they add the product to their cart, attribution lasts up to 89 days from the initial click. You can find this rule in the Amazon.com policies.

Amazon's policies do not explicitly mention Telegram. What they do set for affiliate links is this: identify yourself as an affiliate (with the statement your program's agreement gives), show the date and time of the price with a notice that it can change, and do not send links by direct message to anyone who has not asked for them. You can find the step-by-step sign-up in How to Create Your Amazon Affiliate Link and every rule covered in our deals channel guide.

AliExpress Affiliates

The AliExpress program operates under a worldwide agreement. We do not cover entry requirements here; review them directly in their affiliate portal. Key points from the agreement:

• Payouts are made monthly, and the accrued balance is an estimate that can be adjusted.
• You can withdraw earnings once your balance exceeds 15 US dollars, subject to bank transfer fees.
• Refunded purchases do not qualify, and AliExpress can deduct the ones it considers fraud.
• Commission rates vary by product and can be checked inside your portal account.

What nobody can promise you: guaranteed sales volume. You earn a percentage on actual purchases, never just for posting.

Who it suits: deals or product-recommendation channels. In Amazon Deals Channel on Telegram, you will find a step-by-step walkthrough, from setting up the channel and bot to publishing your first deal.

Your own product or service

This path does not depend on third-party programs or external marketplaces: you use the channel to promote what you sell directly (courses, consulting, an online store, or professional services) and collect payments through your existing methods.

The essential requirement is having your own offer and providing genuine value in the channel, rather than just broadcasting promotional pitches.

What nobody can promise you: automatic sales. The channel helps build trust and keep an audience engaged, but whether people buy depends on how compelling your product is.

Who it suits: professionals, retailers, and service businesses that already have products to sell or expertise to offer.

Why "make money watching videos" is not a way

When searching for ways to monetize Telegram, you will often see suggestions like "watching videos", "answering messages", or "completing tasks". No legitimate path works this way. Telegram's official program only shares advertising revenue with owners of public channels for actual ads displayed in their space.

If a channel or bot promises easy money for simple tasks and asks for an upfront deposit or personal details, be careful: if you have to pay to get paid, it is not a job.

Which ways are open if you start from zero

With a brand-new channel and no audience yet:

• Telegram ads: unavailable until you reach 1,000 subscribers in a public channel. Keep in mind that ads are only enabled in specific countries that Telegram does not disclose.
• Subscriptions and paid posts: there is no published minimum, though Telegram may restrict the feature by channel or region. Either way, you need readers before you can charge a fee.
• Affiliates: each program sets its own requirements. Amazon defines its own sign-up and review rules in each country, so read your program's agreement before you apply. AliExpress requirements can be checked in its portal.
• Your own product: depends entirely on your own products and your existing sales channels.

Grow just enough to get paid

Ads require 1,000 subscribers; the other options require an audience that reads your posts and trusts your recommendations.

• Leverage your existing channels: share your channel link across your current networks or communities, and invite personal contacts who are genuinely interested in the topic.
• Invest in Telegram Ads: official Telegram ads only allow linking to destinations inside Telegram, such as your channel, as stated on their advertisers page. In 2024, Telegram announced a 30% discount when paying for campaigns with accumulated Stars; check your dashboard to see if that bonus is still available.

Mistakes that cost money or the account

• Buying subscribers or views: Telegram withholds rewards if it detects automated or artificial traffic and can remove you from the program without warning, as noted in the rewards terms.
• Sending unsolicited affiliate links via direct message: Amazon allows affiliate links only in messages requested by the customer, and AliExpress requires compliance with anti-spam laws in its agreement.
• Posting prices without a date and time: on Amazon, you must state when you checked the price and include a notice that it can change at any time.
• Letting your Stars expire: Stars earned from your content lose their validity after three years.
• Counting on money you cannot withdraw: verify beforehand whether Fragment supports payouts to your country.

Frequently asked questions

How many subscribers do I need to make money on Telegram?

To monetize through official Telegram ads, you need at least 1,000 subscribers in a public channel, provided advertising is enabled in your country. Paid subscriptions have no published minimum. For affiliate programs, entry depends on the platform: check your country's Amazon agreement before applying.

How much does Telegram pay per 1,000 subscribers?

There is no fixed rate: Telegram pays the owner 50% of what it earns from ads displayed in the channel. Be skeptical of any fixed numbers circulating online.

Can you create a paid channel on Telegram?

Yes. A private channel can charge a monthly fee in Stars through its invite link, using a 30-day billing cycle according to Telegram's documentation. We break this down in Paid subscriptions with Stars.

How do I get the money Telegram pays?

Through Fragment. Ad revenue can be withdrawn two days after it is generated, while Stars earnings require a 21-day holding period before they can be transferred to a cryptocurrency wallet. Make sure to check whether Fragment supports payouts in your country before counting on that money.

Can I put Amazon affiliate links on Telegram?

Amazon's policies do not name Telegram. What they do set for affiliate links: identify yourself as an affiliate, date and time the price, and do not send links by direct message to anyone who has not asked for them. Full details are in If you post on Telegram. If your channel is on WhatsApp, the guide to a WhatsApp deals channel covers it.

Do I have to declare what I earn from my channel?

Yes: it is income and is taxed under your country's rules. Consult a tax adviser before you start collecting payments.