Telegram Hits 1 Billion Active Users, Challenging WhatsApp’s Dominance
Pavel Durov’s messaging app Telegram surpasses 1 billion monthly active users, becoming the world’s second most-used messaging platform after WhatsApp.
In a recent announcement on Thursday, Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, revealed that the messaging app has achieved a major milestone by reaching “significantly over” 1 billion monthly active users. This surge in popularity has propelled Telegram to become the second most-used messaging platform globally, trailing only behind WhatsApp. It’s worth noting that China’s WeChat was excluded from the ranking due to its regional focus.
Durov highlighted not only the app’s growing user base but also a significant increase in engagement. According to him, the average Telegram user opens the app 21 times a day and spends 41 minutes on it daily, indicating a deepening reliance on the platform. Additionally, Telegram’s financial performance has seen a substantial boost, with the company reporting a profit of $547 million in 2024.
Taking a swipe at WhatsApp, Telegram’s primary competitor, Durov criticized it as a “cheap, watered-down imitation” of his app. He accused the Meta-owned platform of trying to replicate Telegram’s innovations while investing heavily in lobbying and public relations efforts to hinder its rival’s progress. Durov asserted that Telegram has outperformed WhatsApp in terms of growth, profitability, and maintaining independence, qualities he suggested WhatsApp has struggled to achieve.
This latest development solidifies Telegram’s position as a major player in the messaging app market, showcasing its rapid growth and increasing influence in the digital communication landscape.
