Affiliate Advertising on Telegram: Strategies That Work in 2025

Telegram has now surpassed 1 billion monthly active users, a landmark it reached in March 2025 — a steep rise from 950 million in mid-2024. At the same time, public Telegram channels are generating over 1 trillion views per month, underscoring its enormous reach and level of engagement.

‍

Beyond audience growth, Telegram achieved profitability in 2024, posting a profit of approximately $540 million on revenues of $1.4 billion. This marks a turning point that advertising has become a core revenue driver, contributing meaningfully to the platform’s bottom line alongside premium subscriptions and its ecosystem of mini-apps and digital partnerships.

‍

For affiliates, Telegram now represents a compelling traffic channel. Its combination of vast scale, extraordinarily high user engagement, and direct, in-app conversion funnels offers something few other platforms can match. Ads and affiliate flows remain contained within Telegram, reducing friction and keeping attention captive. Plus, revenue-sharing promotional mechanics incentivise content creators to scale, indirectly benefiting affiliates.

‍

This guide will serve as your go-to resource — no filler, just practical and evergreen insight. You’ll find verified analytics, best-performing verticals, step-by-step funnel blueprints, ad formats and spend benchmarks, geo targeting breakdowns, creative strategies and tested case studies. Everything affiliates need to build, launch and optimise profitable Telegram ad-driven campaigns in 2025 and beyond.

‍

What Are Telegram Ads?

‍

Telegram Ads are broadly categorized into two main delivery systems:

1. Telegram’s Official Ad Platform (sometimes referred to as the “ad cabinet”)
   
   
2. Third-Party Ad Networks and Platforms

‍

1. Telegram’s Official Ad Platform (Ad Cabinet)

• Definition: This is Telegram’s native ad system “Sponsored Messages” which appear as text-based or image posts in public channels with at least 1,000 subscribers. Each ad is clearly labeled as “Sponsored” or “Advertisement” for transparency.

‍

‍

• How It Works:
  
  
  
  • Advertisers log in with their Telegram accounts and can manage ads via a personal or organizational account tied to channels or groups.
    
    
  • You choose specific channels to post your ad, write a small ad (up to 160 characters), include a Telegram link (e.g., to a bot, channel, post), and pay via TON cryptocurrency.   .
    
    
• Revenue Model:
  
  
  
  • Pricing is CPM-based, with a minimum CPM of around 0.1 TON (~$0.36–0.50).
    
    
  • Channel owners benefiting from ad placements receive 50% of the revenue, paid fee-free in TON.
    
    
• Targeting & Privacy:
  
  
  
  • Ads are placed based on channel context, not user-level targeting — Telegram doesn’t use personal data, pixels, or behavioral profiling.  
    
    
  • The platform emphasizes simplicity, privacy, and context relevance over advanced segmentation. 

‍

2. Third-Party Ad Networks & Cabinets

‍

These are external platforms or agencies that facilitate Telegram advertising — often offering more ad formats, targeting options, and campaign flexibility than the official ad system.

• Examples & Functionality:
  
  
  • RichAds: A self-serve ad network catering primarily to Mini-App advertising. Offers multiple ad formats  - push-style ads, interstitials, embedded banners, and video integrated inside Mini-Apps.
    
    
  • Platform Providers: Sites like Awisee, Telega.io, AdsGram, PropellerAds, etc., aggregate channel inventory or Mini-App placements, enable advanced targeting, influencer integrations, and manage campaign deployment.
    
    
    
    • Awisee delivers full-service campaign management, access to Premium users, and creative variety (banners, interstitials, sponsored posts).
      
      
    • AdsGram specializes in Mini-App ad formats — like rewarded video, in-app banners, and interstitials.
      
      
    • Telega.io acts as a large marketplace with thousands of vetted channels for self-serve ad placements.
      
      
    • PropellerAds brings AI-driven optimization and multi-channel campaign support (Telegram plus Push, Web, etc.).
      ‍

‍

• Advantages:
  
  
  
  • Format Diversity: Third-party tools support rich ad formats within Mini-Apps in-game banners, videos, push notifications, interstitials which is not possible on Telegram’s official platform.
    
    
  • Targeting & Optimization: These networks often offer granular targeting (by geography, device, language) and tools for creative A/B testing, ML-based optimization, CPC/CPA bidding, analytics, and stronger campaign controls.
    
    
  • Affiliate & Campaign Flexibility: Especially appealing for affiliate marketing or Mini-App monetization, where flexibility and ROI tracking matter.
    
    
• Considerations:
  
  
  
  • Quality and moderation standards vary across providers.
    
    
  • There’s dependence on external networks, and transparency or fraud prevention may differ. 

‍

Side-by-Side Comparison

‍

‍

Advertising Restrictions on Telegram: Official Platform vs. Third-Party Networks

‍

Official Telegram Ad Platform: Tightly Regulated

• Clear Prohibitions: Telegram’s official ad system—used for Sponsored Messages—strictly forbids certain verticals, including betting, gambling, and financial offers. These policies are in place to ensure user safety and brand integrity.  .
  
  
• Visible Moderation: Ads undergo moderation and may be delayed or denied if they touch on restricted topics. For instance, ads related to Gambling, Betting, and Finance often face scrutiny, which may also slow down approval processes.  .
  
  
• Audience Reach Limits: By default, Premium Users do not see official ads, though new updates are beginning to change that dynamic.  .
  
  

In short, Telegram’s built-in ad cabinet favors safe, compliant content — making it a poor fit for higher-risk verticals.

‍

Third-Party Networks (e.g., RichAds): More Flexible, But Different Rules

• Lenient Content Policy: RichAds explicitly states that their Telegram Mini-App ad formats do not impose the content restrictions present on Telegram’s official platform. That means you can advertise finance, iGaming, betting, and similar verticals freely.  .
  
  
• Rich Ad Formats Within Mini-Apps: These include push-style ads, interstitial banners, embedded banners, video, and even playable ads — all within Telegram mini apps like games and utilities. These formats feel native and help bypass ad blindness.  .
  
  
• Broader Targeting: Unlike the official platform, RichAds allows targeting based on Premium users, users with positive wallet balances, or even segmented by user motivation. This precision enables more effective campaigns in verticals like finance or betting.
  
  

Quick Comparison Table

‍

‍

Why Telegram Ads Matter for Affiliates in 2025

‍

Telegram’s engagement levels are unusually high compared with other social platforms. On average, users open the app about 21 times per day, spending a combined 41 minutes daily across short but frequent sessions. This pattern creates multiple touchpoints where advertisements can appear without requiring long viewing periods. In Russia, usage is even more intensive: studies show that 80% of people aged 12–24 access Telegram daily, often in quick intervals throughout the day.

‍

Trust through a contained environment

Telegram keeps users inside the app. Sponsored messages, bots and mini apps all run natively, so there is no forced redirection to browsers or third-party sites. For affiliates, this reduces the drop-off that usually occurs when users move between platforms. The smoother the journey, the higher the probability of a completed action.

‍

Alignment with profitable verticals

Telegram’s privacy-first approach naturally aligns with verticals such as VPNs and security tools. Users who value encrypted messaging are often receptive to related offers. At the same time, Telegram supports gamified experiences through mini apps and bots, which fit well with verticals like trading, iGaming and other interactive products.

‍

Evidence from recent campaigns

Case studies illustrate the performance potential. PropellerAds reported that adding Telegram Ads to a gamified mini app delivered an 18-fold increase in conversions alongside significantly higher click-through rates. In another example, RichAds helped a mini app grow from 3,622 to 61,328 active users in a single week — a 20-fold increase by combining push, interstitial and video ad formats.

‍

Best Products & Verticals for Telegram Ads

‍

VPNs & Privacy Tools

Products such as VPN services and privacy utilities consistently perform well on Telegram. The platform’s privacy-centred reputation aligns naturally with user expectations, making such tools resonate more effectively than on other networks. In regions like the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Russia, and high-value Tier 1 markets, demand for VPNs remains strong — especially where digital rights or censorship are an issue.

‍

Utilities & SaaS Free Trials

Tech-savvy audiences in Tier 1 markets respond well to trial-based offers—think cloud tools, productivity apps, software trials. These campaigns can leverage Telegram’s seamless delivery and direct engagement to bring users straight into trial flows with minimal friction.

‍

Where to Get VPN, Utilities and SaaS Offers

The easiest way - to join CIPIAI Network. The platform provides direct access to exclusive tech offers, making it a reliable choice for affiliates looking to scale in this niche.

‍

1. Register with CIPIAI and create your account.

‍

2. Go to the Offerwall section and filter by the VPN, Utilities or other tech vertical.

‍

‍

3. Select an offer with the right GEO and launch your campaign.

‍

‍

Trading & Finance Bots

Educational trading bots benefit from Telegram’s interactive format. These bots typically offer no-deposit trials, engaging users through quizzes, tutorials, and simulations. That gamified, low-risk entry appeals to both new and experienced users. PropellerAds and similar networks highlight trading bots as one of the top-performing verticals in their Telegram Ads case studies.

‍

iGaming & Betting

Interactive bots and mini-app formats suit the gaming niche particularly well. Users can register, receive bonuses, and begin playing without leaving Telegram. The platform’s community-oriented features and fun mechanics contribute to high conversion rates in this vertical.

‍

What Doesn’t Work

Physical products or generic e-commerce tends to underperform on Telegram. Trust and immediacy are lower for tangible goods, and Telegram’s strengths lie in digital, instantly delivered value rather than shipping or inventory cycles.

‍

Comparison Table

‍

‍

How to Build a Telegram Funnel for Affiliates

‍

A Telegram affiliate funnel is structured to attract, nurture, convert and retain users—all within the Telegram ecosystem. Below is a step-by-step guide to building a funnel that works reliably.

Step 1 – Entry Point: Ad → Bot or Channel

Begin with a Telegram ad—this could be a sponsored message, mini-app notification or banner—that directs users into your system. The ad should lead them to either a bot or a public channel designed to deliver value and maintain their attention.

‍

Step 2 – Lead Capture & Bonus

Once users enter your bot or channel, offer them something of immediate value — such as a promo code, a free trial, or a downloadable resource. This serves both to qualify leads and to increase engagement early in the funnel.

‍

Step 3 – Engagement

Retain attention by broadcasting meaningful content in your channel (education, updates, or exclusive tips), or by using your bot to deliver a sequence of gamified interactions, quizzes, or reminders. This nurtures trust and keeps users engaged before presenting an offer.

‍

Step 4 – Conversion

Drive the user toward the affiliate action — whether that’s a VPN signup, a deposit in a trading bot, or a SaaS trial. Use the bot or channel to guide users to click the affiliate link at the most opportune moment, after they’ve received value or built trust.

‍

Step 5 – Retargeting

Subscribers who reach the conversion stage remain valuable. Send them exclusive follow-up offers, bonuses, or retarget them with updated campaigns via channel posts or bot messages. This helps boost repeat conversions and engagement.

Pro tip: Always request users’ email addresses — or alternative contact methods — early in the funnel. This allows you to communicate outside Telegram if necessary, or to retarget more effectively using email channels.

‍

Ad Formats & Budget Benchmarks

‍

Push-style Ads

Typically used within Telegram Mini Apps or via self-serve ad networks, these ads operate on a CPA or CPC model. They drive subscriptions to bots or channels at a cost per acquisition of $0.01–$0.03, making them among the most cost-efficient formats for building your initial audience. Advertisers commonly allocate a starting budget of $50 per day for these flows when targeting subscriptions or awareness.

‍

Interstitial Banners

Displayed between content breaks inside mini apps or bot flows, interstitial ads typically use a CPM model, averaging about $1.50 per 1 000 impressions. These are suitable for mid-engagement offers—such as encouraging bot demos or guided registration steps.

‍

Video Ads

Used to deliver richer narratives or more persuasive messaging, video ads appear full-screen within mini apps. They come at a higher CPM — around $3.00 per 1 000 impressions — and work best for high-margin verticals where storytelling or demos can move users deeper into the funnel.

‍

Mini App Ads (Rewarded & Embedded)

Mini apps support various native ad formats: rewarded interstitials, pop-ups and embedded banners. These combine CPM and CPA mechanics with strong user intent. Depending on geopgraphic targeting and ad quality, CPMs can reach $5–$6. This format often yields the highest ROI, as users are already engaged in interactive experiences.

‍

Budget Planning Overview

‍

‍

For simple flows like subscriptions or awareness, a daily budget of around $50 is sufficient. For verticals requiring registrations or deposits, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 geographies, budgets typically start between $100–$200 per day. Meanwhile, official Telegram-sponsored ad campaigns purchased via intermediary agencies often start from $500 to $1,500, with CPMs denominated in Toncoin (e.g. 0.1 TON ≈ $0.36).

‍

GEO Targeting for Maximum ROI

‍

Choosing the right geographies for Telegram ad campaigns makes a significant difference in cost-effectiveness and returns. Below is a structured breakdown of market tiers with current CPM data and strategic context.

‍

Tier 3 (Ultra-Budget, High Volume)

Regions such as Uzbekistan, India, and many LATAM countries offer extremely affordable ad costs. Ottoman data indicates CPMs from approximately $0.30–$0.60 — ideal for volume-driven offers like awareness campaigns or low-cost digital products.

‍

Tier 2 (Balanced Cost and Quality)

Countries including Eastern Europe and parts of MENA sit in a mid-tier pricing bracket with CPMs typically around $3–$5. These markets offer better performance per impression, making them suitable for verticals like VPNs, trading bots and iGaming where engagement and average revenue per user (ARPU) remain attractive.

‍

Tier 1 (Premium, High Payout)

Higher-competition markets like the USA, UK, Germany and France command premium ad rates—CPMs can reach $10–$12, especially when the goal involves bot drives or external site registrations. These locations are optimal for high-yield verticals such as SaaS, finance, or enterprise-level VPNs, where higher customer value offsets bigger ad spends.

‍

Map Insight

The heatmap above clarifies Telegram adoption and ad cost variation globally—highlighting cost-friendly regions (Tier 3), balanced opportunities (Tier 2) and high-value markets (Tier 1). Use this as a visual aid for strategic geo allocation.

‍

Strategy: Launch, Learn, Scale

‍

Start campaigns in Tier 3 to test offers and creatives at minimal cost. These markets allow fast data collection on conversions, CTR, and ROI. Once metrics show promise, reinvest profits into Tier 1, where high EPC (earnings per click) potential can justify the higher CPMs. Use Tier 2 as a middle ground—perfect for scaling proven verticals without excessive ad spend.

‍

Key Considerations

• Target with precision: Don’t mix GEO and interface language—each campaign should be geo-specific for clarity and efficiency  .
  
  
• Understand user behaviour: Tier 3 users may have lower purchasing power and higher fraud risk, while Tier 1 users often demand quality and familiarity.
  
  
• Optimise bid strategies: Offer more competitive bids in high-value GEOs to ensure ad delivery when competition increases.
  
  

Case Studies & Results

‍

FAQ

‍

1. Can I do ads on Telegram?

Yes, you can advertise directly on Telegram using Sponsored Messages. These appear in public channels (with 1,000+ subscribers) and are managed through Telegram’s native ad platform.

Third-party networks like RichAds, PropellerAds, and Telega.io also enable more flexible campaigns inside Telegram Mini-Apps and bots.

‍

2. What is the CPM for Telegram ads?

On Telegram’s official platform, advertisers set a Cost-Per-Thousand (CPM) bid. The minimum CPM is 0.1 TON, approximately $0.31–$0.36 USD depending on currency rates. 

Actual CPM varies by geography:

• Arabic-speaking countries and Brazil see averages around 1.5 TON (~€2.6–€3).
  
  
• Kazakhstan ranges from 0.2 to 0.7 TON (~€0.35–€1.40).
  
  
• In Uzbekistan, CPMs have been reported as low as €0.04–€0.11 in specific cases.
  ‍

‍

3. What are the two main types of Telegram Ads?

Telegram supports two primary ad formats:

1. Sponsored Messages – Official ads displayed in public channels, labeled as “Sponsored,” limited to 160 characters.
   
   
2. Mini-App Ads – Rich, integrated formats within Telegram Mini-Apps or bot flows, including banners, interstitials, video, and push-style placements, typically served via third-party networks like RichAds or PropellerAds.

‍

4. How are Sponsored Messages priced and monetized?

• Pricing Model: CPM-based, with a minimum bid of 0.1 TON (~$0.31–$0.36). Advertisers pay per 1,000 impressions.
  
  
• Monetization: Telegram shares 50% of ad revenue with channel owners, paid in Toncoin, with no withdrawal fees.

‍

5. What verticals perform best for Telegram affiliate marketing?

According to data from RichAds (August 2025), top-performing verticals in Mini-App campaigns include:

• Gambling, Trading, Betting, Games (mobile traffic)
  
  
• Gambling, Trading, Betting, Finance (desktop traffic)
  
  RichAds also reports strong performance in E-commerce and Finance offers due to their more flexible moderation compared to Telegram’s official platform.
  
  

6. Which ad approach works best for high-conversion affiliate funnels?

High-converting affiliate strategies often combine:

• Mini-App Ads for immersive, native experiences that reduce friction and retain users within Telegram.
  
  
• Sponsored Messages in public channels for awareness and initial engagement.
  
  Mini-App formats typically yield higher CTRs and better conversion performance, especially for offers like VPNs, trading bots, or iGaming.