diamond Telegram Stars

In-App Digital Payments, Tipping Creators, and Unlocking Media

verified_user TGWAY Web3 Research Staff • calendar_today Published Sep 11, 2026 • visibility 2,040 Views

Have you seen golden glowing star icons appearing in your favorite Telegram channels or mini-apps and wondered what they are? Telegram Stars is Telegram's official virtual currency designed for easy, safe in-app purchases. Fully integrated with Apple App Store and Google Play In-App Purchases, Stars eliminate the hassle of entering credit card numbers or navigating sketchy external checkout pages. With Stars, you can tip your favorite content creators, unlock exclusive photos and eBooks, or buy items inside Telegram games with a single biometric FaceID tap. Here is everything you need to know about getting and using Telegram Stars.

1 star

1-Tap Safe Payments

Buy Stars using Apple Pay or Google Play with biometric Face ID; credit card details are never exposed to bot creators.

2 lock_open

Unlock Paid Media

Unlock exclusive videos, high-res digital art, tutorials, or comic chapters published by channel creators.

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Direct Creator Tips

Send star reactions under great channel posts to directly reward independent writers, journalists, and artists.

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Mini App Game Items

Purchase power-ups, cosmetic skins, or VIP passes inside viral Telegram web games without leaving the app.

1. Step-by-Step: How to Buy & Use Telegram Stars

Go to Settings → Telegram Stars

Open Telegram, tap Settings, and tap Telegram Stars. You will see your current Star balance along with your purchase history.

Select a Star Pack (50, 100, 500 Stars)

Tap Buy Stars and select an affordable starter pack (e.g. 50 Stars for ~$0.99). Confirm using your iPhone or Android standard app store payment.

Unlock Paid Posts with 1 Tap

When browsing a channel with locked media, simply tap the Unlock with Stars button. The content reveals immediately without reloading the page.

Sending Star Reactions to Tip Channels

On any channel post that has Star Reactions enabled, tap the star emoji to tip 1 to 100 stars. Your tip is added to the creator's earnings dashboard!

2. Interactive Comparison: Old Web Checkout vs. Telegram Stars

compare_arrows Checkout Experience Comparison

Buying Digital Goods: Before vs. After

Tap to compare how easy Telegram Stars makes in-app purchases.

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1-Tap Instant In-App Unlock via Telegram Stars

Tap 'Unlock' → FaceID confirms → Media unlocks immediately in your chat stream. Your card number is 100% protected by Apple & Google, and you never leave Telegram!

SECURITY: 100% Apple & Google In-App Purchase Protected

3. What Can You Unlock with Telegram Stars?

Digital Good	Typical Cost in Stars	How It Is Delivered	Refund Protection
Paid Photos & Videos	10 ~ 100 Stars (~$0.20 - $2.00)	Unblurs immediately in chat	Backed by Telegram Platform
Exclusive PDF / Tutorials	50 ~ 500 Stars (~$1.00 - $10.00)	Instant file download link	Permanently saved to chat
Mini-App Game Powerups	25 ~ 250 Stars	Credited to game balance	Apple / Google IAP policy
Creator Tipping Reactions	1 ~ 2,500 Stars (Custom)	Animated golden reaction badge	Direct voluntary support

4. Visual Guide: Telegram Stars In-App Economy Infographic

Telegram Stars Virtual Currency and Creator Economy Infographic

Figure 1: How Telegram Stars bridge App Store purchases to creator monetization effortlessly.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do purchased Telegram Stars expire?

No. Telegram Stars remain safely attached to your Telegram account and do not expire. You can use them whenever you want across different channels, bots, or mini-apps.

Can channel creators cash out the Stars they receive?

Yes! Channel owners and bot developers can convert accumulated Stars into Toncoin (TON) via the Fragment platform or use them to run subsidized advertisements for their channels on Telegram.

Can I gift Telegram Stars to a friend?

Yes! You can open a friend's profile → tap the three dots icon → select "Gift Stars". It sends an animated gift box right into your private conversation with them!