Telegram, the instant messaging app that rivals WhatsApp , has announced that it has surpassed 700 million users worldwide. This figure represents an increase of more than 200 million users in just one year, since it was at the beginning of 2021 when Telegram announced having exceeded 500 million , driven, among other things, by the change in the conditions of use of WhatsApp , that caused the anger of many users and that a large number decided to change the messaging platform.

Telegram Premium costs 4.99 euros per month and gives access to a dozen exclusive features

The increase is very considerable, and brings Telegram a little closer to the number of WhatsApp users, although it is still far from the most widely used instant messaging app in the world, owned by Meta . WhatsApp has more than 2,000 million users worldwide and, although that is the official figure, it is speculated that it may be more, since the data has not been updated for more than two years.

Be that as it may, the increase in Telegram’s user base in just 12 months is spectacular. The announcement made by the company comes at a time of prosperity and changes for the app, which just a few days ago launched Telegram Premium, its paid version, which enables subscribers to use more than 10 new restricted access features.

To unlock the premium version of the instant messaging app, Telegram users have to pay a subscription of 4.99 euros per month. The company, in any case, has indicated that, although it is focusing on the launch and promotion of this paid version, it will not neglect those who use Telegram for free.

In fact, it has indicated that free Telegram will continue to exist with the same functions as before and that it will periodically continue to add new tools, as it has been doing in recent years. As an example, this week Telegram added eight new updates to its free app.