Short answer: A Telegram giveaway is an official feature that lets a channel owner give away Telegram Premium subscriptions or Telegram Stars to subscribers. You start it from Channel Info → ⋮ or ⋯ → Statistics → Boosts → Get Boosts via Gifts. According to Telegram, every Premium subscription given away earns the channel 4 boosts that stay for the length of the subscription. Prizes are paid upfront and Telegram picks the winners at random.
The usual way to collect boosts is asking Premium subscribers to boost your channel. If most of your audience does not have Premium, that is slow. Giveaways flip the model: you hand out Premium, the boosts land on your channel and your subscribers get a real prize. This guide covers how the feature works, the setup step by step, what it costs and what makes a giveaway work.
How Telegram giveaways work
Telegram introduced giveaways in its November 2023 announcement. The model is simple:
- The channel owner buys a number of Premium subscriptions and sets the rules.
- When the giveaway ends, Telegram picks winners at random according to those rules and distributes the prizes.
- Winners receive a link with a gift code, which also works as public proof that they won.
- The channel earns boosts for every subscription given away. Telegram says these boosts cannot be reassigned and stay with the channel for the duration of the subscriptions.
In September 2024 Telegram added Stars as a giveaway prize. Winners of a Stars giveaway receive Stars they can spend on paid media, channel subscriptions or mini apps. According to Telegram’s developer documentation, the boosts a channel gets from a Stars giveaway depend on the chosen package and last for a year. You see the exact number on the setup screen when you pick a package.
One more detail matters: a winner who already has Premium can still take part and pass the prize to a friend. And per Telegram’s explanation, when someone wins Premium in a giveaway, their own 4 boosts go to the host channel automatically.
Setting up a giveaway step by step
- Open statistics. Go to your channel and tap its name. On Android use the three-dot menu (⋮), on iOS tap More (⋯), and choose Statistics. On Desktop, use the three-dot menu in the channel info.
- Switch to the Boosts tab. It shows your current level and boost count.
- Tap Get Boosts via Gifts. The wording can differ slightly depending on your app language.
- Pick the prize type. Premium subscriptions or Stars. For Premium, set the number and length of subscriptions; for Stars, the total amount and number of winners.
- Set who can enter. All subscribers, or only new subscribers who join after the giveaway starts. Optionally limit it to certain countries and require participants to join partner channels.
- Add extras and visibility. You can describe an additional prize of your own and choose whether winners are listed in the channel when the giveaway ends.
- Choose an end date and pay. Once payment goes through, the giveaway announcement is posted in the channel automatically.
When the giveaway ends, Telegram selects the winners and the result is posted to the channel. You do not need to run a draw or send prizes yourself.
What does a giveaway cost?
Telegram requires prizes to be paid upfront. Premium prices vary by country, payment method and subscription length. Telegram notes that paying for Premium giveaways via @PremiumBot or Fragment is more affordable than paying in other apps. For Stars giveaways, the cost depends on the Stars package you choose.
Thinking per boost makes the decision easier. If you give away 10 Premium subscriptions, Telegram’s rules mean your channel earns 40 boosts that last as long as those subscriptions. Work out how many boosts your target level needs with the boost calculator first, then size the giveaway to match. Remember the threshold rises as the channel grows; the channel levels and boosts table explains the math.
Tips for a better giveaway
Decide what the giveaway is for
A giveaway usually serves one of two goals: rewarding your current audience or attracting new subscribers. Use all subscribers for the first and new subscribers only for the second. The new-subscriber rule speeds up growth, but some entrants will leave after the draw; plan for that.
Use the country filter with intent
If your channel publishes in one language, prizes going to people who do not speak it add little to your audience. The country filter helps keep the prizes with people who will actually read your posts.
Keep partner requirements short
Requiring entrants to join other channels is useful for collaborations. One or two partners is fine; a long list of conditions cuts participation.
Pick a sensible duration
A very short giveaway ends before people notice it; a very long one loses momentum. Support it with a pinned post and a couple of reminders. Sharing the announcement as a story also extends reach; see our guide on posting stories on a Telegram channel.
Check the rules where you live
If you promise a physical or commercial prize on top of Telegram’s, check the promotion and sweepstakes rules in your country. Some places require permission for prize draws.
Common mistakes
- Sizing the giveaway without doing the math: if the subscriptions you give away are not enough for the target level, the level will not land where you expected.
- Forgetting the subscription length: giveaway boosts last as long as the subscriptions. Short subscriptions mean the level may drop when they end; put the date in your calendar.
- Relying on a single post: the giveaway post gets buried in the feed. Pin it, share it as a story and send a reminder near the end.
- Not planning what comes next: newcomers who find nothing to read leave quickly. Keep posting during and after the giveaway.
Keeping the level after the giveaway
When the giveaway ends, the boosts land right away and you see them on the level screen. But new entrants also raise your subscriber count, and a higher subscriber count raises the next threshold. A giveaway brings both boosts and subscribers, and they push the level in opposite directions, so factor expected new subscribers into the size of the giveaway. Note when the giveaway boosts expire in the boost list and plan support before that date. More on boost lifetimes in how long Telegram boosts last.
Giveaway or direct boosts?
Giveaways are strong because they give subscribers something real and create a visible event in the channel. On the other hand, prizes are prepaid, the boost amount is capped by the number of prizes and you have to wait for the giveaway to end. Many channels combine both: they get boosts to unlock a level quickly and run occasional giveaways to keep the community lively. Our guide on how to boost a Telegram channel covers the basics of boosts.
If you want to unlock a level without waiting for a draw, the Telegram boost service page lists the packages; no password is needed, only your channel link.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Telegram boost giveaway?
It is Telegram’s official giveaway feature, where a channel owner gives away Telegram Premium subscriptions or Telegram Stars. Telegram picks the winners at random, and the channel earns boosts in return for the prizes.
How many boosts does a giveaway give my channel?
According to Telegram, each Premium subscription given away earns the channel 4 boosts, and they stay for the length of the subscription. For Stars giveaways the boost amount depends on the package you pick and is shown on the setup screen.
Who can join a Telegram giveaway?
During setup you choose all subscribers or only people who join after the giveaway starts. You can also limit it to certain countries and require participants to subscribe to other channels.
Does a Telegram giveaway cost money?
Yes. Prizes are paid in advance. Telegram says paying for Premium giveaways through @PremiumBot or Fragment is cheaper than paying in other apps. The price depends on your country and the package.
Can giveaway boosts be moved to another channel?
No. Telegram says boosts from a giveaway cannot be reassigned and stay with the channel for the duration of the subscriptions. A winner who already has Premium can pass the prize to a friend.