You’ve probably felt it already: Meta ads aren’t hitting like they used to.
Clicks are expensive, targeting feels broken, and unless you’ve got a full-time team to keep up with creative testing, policy changes, and algorithm drama... it’s easy to end up burning through cash with nothing to show for it.
And TikTok? Great for virality, sure, but it’s a full-time content job disguised as a marketing channel. Plus, your audience has the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel.
So where does that leave you?
If you sell a digital product, run a newsletter, or build community around your brand, there’s one place you might be overlooking: Telegram.
Yes, the messenger app.
While most founders are busy trying to out-hustle Meta’s algorithm, Telegram is quietly building one of the most engaged, trust-rich platforms on the internet, with a native ad platform that’s way more effective than it looks on paper.
It’s lean. It’s text-first. It doesn’t track people. And for certain kinds of businesses, it absolutely works.
In this article, we’re breaking down what Telegram Ads really are (and aren’t), where they shine, where they fall short, and how to know if they’re worth testing for your business in 2025.
Let’s get into it.
What Telegram Ads Actually Are (Minus the Hype)
Let’s get one thing straight: Telegram Ads are not trying to be Facebook Ads 2.0.
In fact, they’re the opposite.
Telegram’s ad platform is barebones by design. It doesn’t use behavioral data, interest targeting, or personalized profiles. There’s no pixel. No retargeting. No lookalike audiences. None of the stuff you’re used to from Meta, Google, or TikTok.
So how does it work?
Here’s the high-level breakdown:
- Telegram Ads run on public channels with 1,000+ subscribers
- Ads appear as short text blurbs - 160 characters max - labeled “Sponsored”
- They show underneath regular posts, not as interruptions
- You pay on a CPM basis (cost per 1,000 impressions)
- Minimum spend? Around $2,000 per campaign
Targeting is based on:
- Channel topic (think “Crypto,” “Online Marketing,” “Productivity”)
- Geography (you can choose by country or region)
- Language (the content language of the channel)
That’s it.
It might sound limited, but that’s kind of the point. Telegram’s whole vibe is anti-creep. No surveillance marketing. No algorithm games. Just a minimalist ad format that fits naturally into the content people already trust.
There are no images, no videos, no clickable links. Just plain text—like a classified ad in a newsletter your reader actually opens.
Still, if you’re exploring options beyond the official ad tool - whether for different targeting, ad formats, or price flexibility - it’s worth checking out a broader Telegram ad platform roundup to compare networks like RichAds, Telega, and others. Some offer things Telegram’s official platform doesn’t; like link support, creative formats, and lower ad spend minimums.
Why This Works (If You’re Playing the Right Game)
Telegram doesn’t try to be for everyone, and that’s exactly why it works so well for some.
Where Meta and TikTok rely on complex algorithms, creative fatigue, and never-ending A/B testing, Telegram leans into something simpler: trust and attention.
Here’s what that looks like in real numbers:
- Posts in Telegram channels have an average open rate of 55–60%
- Click-through rates (CTR) for Telegram Ads range from 2% to 6%, depending on the channel and copy
- Compare that to Meta’s average CTR hovering around 0.9%, and you start to see the upside
So why does this happen?
Because Telegram users don’t see 17 ads a day. They’re not doom-scrolling. They’ve chosen to be in specific channels that they trust, follow closely, and engage with. And when an ad shows up, it’s not interrupting, it’s blending in with the content they already value.
That’s the difference.
On Instagram, you’re an outsider trying to earn attention.
On Telegram, you’re stepping into a space where attention already exists.
If you’re a solo founder or creator selling something meaningful - courses, templates, paid communities, newsletters - this context-first ad model flips the script. You’re not just renting reach. You’re showing up in a space where people are already paying attention.
And attention, not vanity metrics, is what drives real conversions.
Where Telegram Ads Actually Shine
Telegram isn’t for mass market brands selling sunglasses or soft drinks. It’s for focused businesses with a niche, a message, and a real offer.
If you’re a solopreneur selling something digital, subscription-based, or community-driven, this is where Telegram starts to feel like a cheat code.
Let’s break it down:
🧑🏫 1. Educators, Coaches, and Knowledge Businesses
If you sell a course, run group programs, or share frameworks online, Telegram was practically made for you.
The whole ecosystem already feels like a backstage pass. People join channels to learn, follow updates, and engage directly. Ads that appear in channels focused on your topic (marketing, mindset, finance, health, etc.) hit exactly the right reader, at the right time, with minimal noise.
Think of it like running an ad inside your dream email list, without needing to build it first.
💻 2. Digital Product Creators
Selling templates, Notion packs, swipe files, PDFs, micro-courses, or toolkits? You don’t need flashy visuals. You need a clear hook and a compelling CTA.
Telegram’s stripped-down format forces you to lead with clarity. If your product solves a real problem and your messaging is tight, that 160-character space is all you need to spark interest.
Bonus: if you’re already delivering products or updates through Telegram, ads can double as a growth channel and a retention play.
🧠 3. Niche Media and Content Businesses
Running a newsletter? Paid blog? Curated feed of research, trends, or insights?
Telegram is gold for this. Why? Because it acts as both a content hub and a distribution channel. Users treat their favorite Telegram channels like they once treated RSS feeds, only with way higher open rates.
If you're building a content-first business with monetization on the back end, ads in similar channels can drive super-qualified traffic from readers who already consume and trust similar content formats.
🌐 4. Crypto, Web3, and High-Engagement Niches
You already know this if you’re in the space: Telegram is the heart of crypto culture. Communities, launches, token drops—it all lives here.
So if you’re running anything in DeFi, NFT, fintech, or similar verticals, advertising in active Telegram channels isn’t just smart, it’s expected.
But even if you’re not in crypto, you can learn a lot from how these founders use Telegram Ads: clear messages, urgency, and strong funnels on the back end.
Telegram isn’t the place to test a half-baked idea or broad offer. But if you know your niche, speak your audience’s language, and can make a point in under 160 characters? It’s a platform that rewards sharp, scrappy marketing.
Where It Gets Weird (And What to Watch Out For)
Telegram Ads aren’t perfect. They’re powerful, but only if you play by the rules and understand what you’re walking into.
Here’s what most people don’t tell you until after your campaign tanks:
❌ No visuals. No links. No room for fluff.
You’ve got 160 characters. No images. No clickable link in the ad itself.
That means your copy has to work. Not “cute brand voice” work, convert or bust kind of work. You have to nail the headline, the hook, and the intent, all in one shot.
If you’re used to leaning on beautiful design or 3-minute videos to tell the story, this format will humble you real quick.
💸 The barrier to entry is real
Telegram isn’t playing around with microbudgets. You’ll need at least $2,000 to run a campaign on the official ad platform.
That doesn’t make it a scam, it just means it’s not ideal if you’re still figuring out your offer or have no idea who your audience is. This is a scale and convert platform, not a sandbox for testing ideas.
🛂 Not everyone gets in
Telegram Ads are still gated. You have to apply for access through promote.telegram.org, and approval isn’t guaranteed. It’s more of a slow rollout than a full ad free-for-all.
If you’re approved, great. If not, you’re stuck… unless you go off-grid.
👀 The “gray market” is alive and well
Plenty of brands skip the official route and buy ad space directly from channel admins. This unlocks more flexibility (you can use images, links, even video), but it comes with zero guarantees.
No centralized tracking. No performance benchmarks. No automation. It’s the wild west—but with the right partnership and audience, it can still work really well.
🎯 No fancy targeting (and no pixel either)
There’s no tracking pixel. No retargeting. No custom audiences. Telegram doesn’t want your data, and that includes your customer’s.
So what does that mean?
It means your offer, copy, and channel targeting have to do all the heavy lifting. You’re not optimizing against behavior, you’re placing ads in the right content environments and hoping your message sticks.
It’s not for everyone, but if you’re tired of over-engineering campaigns on Meta or Google, this simplicity might be exactly what you want.
So... Is Telegram Ads Worth It for Solopreneurs?
Here’s the truth: Telegram Ads aren’t for everyone, and that’s exactly what makes them powerful.
If you’re still finding your audience, dialing in your offer, or running ads on a shoestring budget, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere first. Telegram isn’t a playground for testing half-baked ideas. It’s a high-trust, high-barrier platform built for sharp operators with something real to offer.
But if you’ve got a product that works, a message that lands, and you’re speaking to a niche that actually lives on Telegram?
This platform might quietly outperform everything else you're running.
No algorithm games. No dance-for-the-click Reels. No hyper-targeted retargeting funnels.
Just a clean shot at putting your offer in front of people who actually open, read, and act, because they trust the space they’re in.
Telegram isn’t built for brands chasing scale at all costs. It’s built for solopreneurs who lead with clarity, trust, and intent.
So if you’re tired of yelling into the void on Meta or spinning wheels trying to make TikTok work, this might be the quieter, sharper, smarter alternative.
The real flex in 2025?
Building with less noise, better attention, and a business that doesn’t need to shout to get heard.
Telegram lets you do exactly that.
