Donate: Support Creators in Telegram

You run a channel, subscribers say thanks, and somebody asks how to support you. You need a place to send them. Donate does that inside Telegram: the creator accepts support, the follower pays without leaving the messenger. 💬

Two modes in one app

Donate has about 371 thousand users. The app is built around two roles: creator and follower. You switch between them with the /switch_role command.

• Creator mode. This is where donations are collected and subscriptions offered.
• Follower mode. This is where you pay and browse your payment history.

One person can be in both roles: today you support a favorite author, tomorrow you accept money for your own channel.

Donation or subscription

A creator can take one-off donations or offer a subscription. These are different models, and the choice depends on the channel's character.

• One-off donation. Fits blogs, breakdowns and podcasts without a fixed schedule.
• Subscription. Fits regular releases and a closed section.

A subscription gives predictable income, while donations depend on audience mood. Often both work side by side. 📅

Getting started as a creator

1. Open Donate and switch to creator mode.
2. Set up the support page: title, description, goal.
3. Connect a way to receive money following the app's prompts.
4. Put the link in your channel's pinned post.
5. Say what the money will be spent on.

The app shows exact steps and available payment methods during setup, and the list can change.

Asking for money without annoying people

People support those whose value is obvious. Say what members get and thank them on time. A transparent goal such as new equipment or server costs works better than a vague "support the author".

Do not put a money request in every post. One pinned message and rare reminders are enough. 🙏

For followers: safety

• Check the creator. Pay someone whose channel you know. Scammers copy the names of well-known channels.
• Keep your payment history. The section with it helps in a dispute.
• Do not send money through links in private messages.
• Mind refunds. Refund terms are set by the creator and the payment system.

What to give in return

Even on a voluntary basis, people enjoy a sign of attention. It can be a shout-out in the channel, a closed chat, early access to material or a simple personal thanks.

Do not promise what you cannot deliver. A modest promise you keep beats a loud one forgotten in a month. 🎁

Once a month, publish a short report: how much came in and what it went to. It builds trust and shows that support is not lost. Followers return more willingly to those who are honest with them.

Taxes and rules

Money a creator receives counts as income in most countries. Ask local authorities how to declare it. That is the creator's duty, not the app's.

If you pay, do not expect guarantees or a sequel unless the creator promised one. A donation is voluntary support, not a purchase. ⚖️