Telegram’s Premium subscription is now available worldwide for $4.99/€5.49/INR 469 per month. To upgrade to Premium, users must first update their Telegram app to version 8.8, then go to app settings and select the new Telegram Premium option.
Telegram claims that its new subscription service helps to support the free version of the app while also paying for all of the new features in the Premium version.
Here are all of the new Telegram Premium features:
No Ads
In some countries, Telegram shows Sponsored Messages in large and public channels. These ads help support Telegram’s operating costs, but they will no longer appear for Telegram Premium subscribers.
Uploads of up to 4GB
Telegram Premium users can now send 4 GB files, which is enough space for 4 hours of 1080p video or 18 days of high-quality audio. Telegram users on the free tier will be able to download 4GB files sent to them by Telegram Premium users.
Downloads that are faster
Premium subscribers have access to the fastest possible download speeds for media and files. Everything in your unlimited cloud storage is accessible as fast as your network can keep up.
Increased restrictions
You can follow up to 1,000 channels, create up to 20 chat folders with up to 200 chats each, add a fourth account to any Telegram app, pin 10 chats in the main list, and save up to 10 favorite stickers with Premium.
You can also write a longer bio with a link to your website. Similarly, Premium enables the addition of additional characters to media captions. With up to 400 favorite GIFs, you’ll have an easier time responding to any message. Finally, Premium users can reserve up to 20 public t.me links, allowing you to distinguish any group or channel you create with a short and concise link.
Text to speech
For those times when you don’t want to listen but want to see what it says, voice messages can be converted to text. You can rate transcriptions to help them improve.
Individual stickers and reactions
Dozens of stickers now have impressive full-screen animations that Premium users can send in any chat to add extra emotion and expressive effects that all users can see. Telegram artists will update this premium sticker collection on a monthly basis.
Premium users can also respond to messages in new ways, with over ten new emoji options.
Telegram Premium includes new tools for organizing your chat list, such as changing your default chat folder so that the app always opens on a custom folder, such as Unread instead of All Chats.
Subscribers can also enable a setting in Privacy and Security to automatically archive and mute new chats, assisting in the organization of even the busiest chat lists.
Animated Profile Image
Premium users’ profile videos will animate for everyone throughout the app, including in chats and the chat list. Allow everyone to see your new look, or show off your creativity with a one-of-a-kind looping animation.
Premium Awards
All premium users receive a Premium special badge next to their name in the chat list, chat headers, and member lists in groups, indicating that they support Telegram and are a member of the club that receives exclusive features first.
Icons for Premium Apps
Premium users can now add new icons to their Home Screen to better match their personality or wallpaper. Choose between a premium star, a night sky, and a turbo-plane.
In related news, Telegram announced that it now has over 700 million users around the world. The company is especially proud of the achievement because it has never paid for advertising and relies solely on word-of-mouth recommendations.
Telegram’s latest app update also includes over 100 fixes and optimizations to the mobile and desktop apps for all users.