How Telegram apps make money: lessons from Notcoin, Hamster Kombat and Stars
Short answer: the biggest Telegram apps grew on free, frequent rewards and monetized later through tokens, Stars purchases and ads. The lesson for smaller projects: build the habit first, then add revenue that does not break it — and real gifts paid per confirmed action are the fastest way to earn from the same daily activity today.
Key takeaways
- Tap-to-earn games proved that Telegram can gather tens of millions of users quickly.
- Token-based monetization is uncertain and depends on listings and markets.
- Telegram Stars made in-app purchases simple, but only a minority pays.
- Channel ad revenue sharing rewards large channels, not most bots and mini apps.
- Real gifts turn daily activity into income without waiting for a token.
Case 1: tap-to-earn — growth first, revenue later
Notcoin and Hamster Kombat became symbols of 2024: simple tapping games inside Telegram that, according to public reports, attracted tens of millions of players and later converted that attention into tokens and exchange listings. The mechanics were free rewards, daily claims, tasks and referrals.
The lesson: frequent, free rewards create a massive daily habit. The risk: revenue arrived through token events that most projects cannot repeat. A smaller game needs income that does not depend on a listing.
Case 2: Telegram Stars — simple payments, small paying share
Telegram introduced Stars in 2024 as the currency for digital goods in bots and mini apps. Buying is now one tap, which helped gift and case-opening mini apps grow. But as in mobile games, most users never buy, so revenue concentrates in a small group.
Case 3: ad revenue sharing for channels
Telegram shares part of the revenue from its official ads with channel owners. It is a meaningful income for large public channels, but bots and mini apps do not benefit in the same way, and the payout depends on ad demand in the channel’s country.
Case 4: sponsored tasks — easy but fading
“Subscribe to the channel” tasks were the most common way to earn from players. They are easy to sell, but users quickly get tired of repetitive tasks, completion falls and sponsors pay less.
What these cases teach smaller projects
- Build a daily habit with free rewards — it is the asset.
- Do not rely only on tokens: they are a promise, not income today.
- Keep Stars for real fans and premium content.
- Monetize the non-paying majority with rewards they actually want.
The new option: real gifts after rewards
getbonus adds a gift wheel right after a daily claim, an opening or a task. Users pick trials and discounts from VPN, AI, hosting, language and other services, and your project earns a payout per confirmed action — up to $54 for some offers. It complements Stars and tokens and works from day one, without a listing.
Which offers are live and how much you earn per action
These are offers that are live on getbonus right now. The last column is your share — half of what the advertiser pays for one confirmed action. For offers paid as a percentage of the sale it is a range from the cheapest to the most expensive plan.
| Offer | Gift for the user | Paid for | You earn per action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudways | 40% off for 4 months or $15 credit | Paid hosting plan | $54.15 |
| PureVPN | 20% off any plan | Paid subscription | $2.69–42.30 |
| AdGuard | 30% off the ad blocker | Paid order of a new customer | $5.23–29.75 |
| AdGuard VPN | 80% off the 2-year plan | Paid subscription | $2.70–12.95 |
| Retouch4me | 20% off AI retouching plugins | Paid order | $8.93–54.65 |
| Homestyler | Free 3D home design plan | Paid membership of a new user | $12.24–35.82 |
| Notta | Free AI meeting notes: 120 min a month | Paid subscription | $2.02–30.00 |
| EdrawMax | Free start for diagrams and mind maps | Paid order | $8.27–29.38 |
| AOMEI | Free PC backup software | Paid license | $5.99–10.49 |
| italki | $5 bonus credit on the first top-up | First paid lesson order | $9.00 |
| Parallels | 14 days of Parallels Desktop free | Paid license | $2.68–7.31 |
| WPS Office | Free office suite, Pro discount | Paid Pro subscription | $0.57–6.91 |
More programs are being connected — VPN and security tools, AI services, online courses, games with new-player bonuses — so the gift set grows every week. Gifts are always filtered by the user’s country.
How to launch in about an hour
- Leave a request on the contact page. We create your partner account and send access to the partner cabinet.
- Choose the moment: a success screen, a confirmation email, a reward screen or a bot message.
- Paste one widget snippet, or add a link or an inline button with your partner ID — usually 10–15 minutes of work.
- In the cabinet, preview your widget and switch off offers that do not suit your audience.
- Make a test click — it appears in the cabinet right away — and go live.
No SDK, no backend changes and no personal data: the link carries only your partner ID and a technical click ID. Most partners go live within about an hour of getting access, and the first clicks are visible the same day.
Become a getbonus partner
If your product has a moment when users complete something — a payment, a booking, a reward — you already have the place for gifts. See how it works for Telegram games and bots and leave a request: we will suggest the best moment and connect you within a day.
See how gifts work in a live demo
Open the demo →Frequently asked questions
How did Notcoin and Hamster Kombat make money?
According to public reports, mainly through token launches and exchange listings after growing a huge free audience, plus partnerships and tasks. Most smaller projects cannot rely on the same path.
What are Telegram Stars?
Telegram’s currency for buying digital goods in bots and mini apps, introduced in 2024.
Can a small Telegram game earn without a token?
Yes. Real gifts after daily rewards pay per confirmed action from the first month, independent of any listing.
Do gifts replace sponsored tasks?
They can replace part of them: a gift is a more valuable reward for users and usually pays more than a subscription task.
How quickly can we start earning?
Integration takes about an hour after you get access to the partner cabinet. Clicks show up immediately; confirmed actions and payouts follow after the advertiser’s validation period, usually from a few days to several weeks.
What does it cost?
Nothing. There is no setup fee or subscription. getbonus shares the advertiser’s payout with you — by default you receive half of it for every confirmed action.
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