Telegram
Telegram operates the Telegram cloud messaging service and its official apps for mobile, desktop and web. The service is free, with an optional Telegram Premium subscription, and the official client apps are open source under the GPL.
Licensing at a Glance
- Freeware
- Subscription
- Open source
Telegram apps are open source and support reproducible builds; Telegram Desktop is licensed under GNU GPL v3, and the Android and iOS apps under GNU GPL v2 or later.[1]
Telegram is described as a free application; additional services such as Telegram Premium may be available for purchase in certain countries.[2]
Telegram Premium is a subscription billed as recurring monthly or yearly payments until cancelled by the user or Telegram.[3]
Features that existed before Telegram Premium was introduced remain free to use.[4]
Third-party client apps built on the Telegram API need their own api_id and must comply with the API Terms of Service; the sample API id in the open-source code is for testing only.[5]
Products
- Telegram DesktopSocial Network Platforms
- Telegram for Android and iOSSocial Network Platforms
- Telegram Premium
References
- Telegram Applications · telegram.org · retrieved 2026-09-27
- Terms of Service · telegram.org · retrieved 2026-09-27
- Terms of Service · telegram.org · retrieved 2026-09-27
- Telegram Premium FAQ · telegram.org · retrieved 2026-09-27
- Creating your Telegram Application · core.telegram.org · retrieved 2026-09-27