Telegram Stars for creators: what they’re worth and how to cash out
Updated November 2, 2026What are Telegram Stars?
Stars are Telegram’s currency for digital goods. Because of Apple and Google rules, bots that sell digital content inside Telegram take payment in Stars instead of cards. Fans buy Stars in the app and spend them on paid photos and videos, files, paid messages and subscriptions.
For a creator, this means no checkout page and no card form. The fan taps a button in the chat, confirms, and the content unlocks.
How much is a Telegram Star worth?
A Star has two prices: what a fan pays and what you receive. The fan pays more. The difference covers app store fees, taxes and Telegram’s share.
| Per Star | 1,000 Stars | |
|---|---|---|
| Fan buys in the Telegram app (small packs) | ~$0.02 | ~$20.00 |
| Base fan price in Telegram’s config | ~$0.01 | ~$14.10 |
| Creator withdraws | $0.01 | $13.00 |
| Creator spends on Telegram Ads instead | $0.02 | $20.00 |
Fan prices vary by country, store fees and taxes. The in-app figure is typical for small packs. Buying on Fragment or through @PremiumBot is usually cheaper. The withdrawal and ads values come from Telegram’s Bot Developer Terms. Telegram can change any of them.
Telegram Stars calculator
- Total Stars
- 10,000 ⭐
- Buyers pay about
- $141–$200
- You withdraw
- $130
- You keep
- $130
Uses $0.013 per Star at withdrawal. Buyer prices vary by country, store fees and taxes. Telegram can change these rates.
How to accept Telegram Stars as a creator
- Pay-per-view in DMs and channels. Blurred photos and videos that unlock for a price of 1 to 25,000 Stars each. See pay-per-view messages.
- Files sold by a bot. PDFs, presets, beats and other files, paid with a Stars invoice and delivered right after payment. See selling files in Telegram.
- Subscriptions. Recurring access to a channel or bot, up to 10,000 Stars per 30 days.
- Paid messages. Charge people Stars to message you. You keep 85%. In private chats this requires Telegram Premium.
When a bot sells something, the Stars go to the bot’s balance. With CreatorInbox that’s your own bot, created in @BotFather, so the balance is yours and you withdraw it yourself.
How to withdraw Telegram Stars
- Wait until the Stars are availableStars from a sale become available for withdrawal within up to 21 days.
- Open the Stars balanceIn the Telegram app, open the Stars balance of the bot (or channel) that earned them. Only the owner can withdraw.
- Withdraw through FragmentChoose to withdraw and confirm with your two-step verification password. Telegram opens Fragment, where you connect a TON wallet. The minimum is 1,000 Stars.
- Exchange the crypto if you need dollarsFragment pays out in Toncoin, which Telegram’s docs now call Gram, to your wallet. You can exchange it on any service that supports it.
Telegram Stars rules for creators
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Value at withdrawal | About $0.013 per Star, set by Telegram |
| Holding period | Up to 21 days before earned Stars can be withdrawn |
| Minimum withdrawal | 1,000 Stars |
| Expiry | Earned Stars expire after 3 years |
| Refunds | A bot can refund a Stars payment in full. The Stars leave your balance. |
| Digital goods | Must be paid in Stars inside Telegram (Apple and Google rules) |
Sources: Telegram Bot Developer Terms, Telegram Stars Terms, core.telegram.org/api/stars and the Bot API changelog. Checked on November 2, 2026.
Questions
How much is one Telegram Star worth?
About $0.013 to the creator at withdrawal. Fans pay more per Star, roughly $0.01 to $0.02, depending on where they buy, store fees and taxes.
How do I get money from Telegram Stars?
Withdraw them through Fragment to a TON wallet once they're available (within up to 21 days) and you have at least 1,000. Then exchange the crypto for dollars if you need to.
Why can't I withdraw my Stars yet?
Telegram holds earned Stars for up to 21 days, and the minimum withdrawal is 1,000 Stars.
Does Telegram take a commission on Stars?
Telegram doesn't list a percentage fee on bot sales. Its cut, together with app store fees, is the gap between what fans pay per Star and the roughly $0.013 you receive. For paid messages, you keep 85%.
Can I sell files for Stars?
Yes. A bot can send a Stars invoice and deliver the file after payment. CreatorInbox does this in your DMs through your own bot.