Gifting Telegram Premium or Stars is a thoughtful way to show appreciation to friends, reward loyal followers, thank clients, or celebrate special occasions. Whether you want to give someone access to Premium features or provide them with Stars to spend on digital goods, Telegram makes the gifting process simple and instant.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about gifting Telegram Premium and Stars: step-by-step instructions, privacy options, unwrapping process, and how to save 36% by purchasing gifts with cryptocurrency through SplitStars instead of paying full price through app stores.
Table of Contents
What You Need Before Gifting
Before you can gift Telegram Premium or Stars to someone, you need to have these essentials ready:
Recipient's Username
Know the exact @username of the person you want to gift. Recipient must have a username set in Telegram settings for gift delivery to work.
Stars or Payment Method
Have sufficient Telegram Stars in your balance, or cryptocurrency/payment method ready to purchase Stars or Premium for gifting.
Telegram Account
Active Telegram account for yourself. No special permissions needed, but you must be able to access Telegram to send gifts.
Pro Tip: The most cost-effective way to gift is purchasing Stars or Premium through SplitStars with cryptocurrency at 36% discount, then gifting to recipients. This saves significantly compared to direct app store purchases.
How to Gift Telegram Stars
Telegram Stars can be gifted in any amount from your Stars balance. Recipients can use Stars for in-app purchases, bot services, content subscriptions, or collectible NFT gifts. Stars are more flexible than Premium for recipients with varied interests.
Direct Star Transfer Method
Open Chat with Recipient
Navigate to your chat conversation with the person you want to send Stars to. This can be any direct message chat in Telegram.
Access Star Send Feature
Tap the star icon or attachment menu in chat. Select "Send Stars" or look for Stars transfer option in message input area.
Enter Stars Amount
Type the number of Stars you want to send. System shows your current balance and confirms you have sufficient Stars for transfer.
Add Message & Send
Include personal message explaining the gift or reason. Tap Send to instantly transfer Stars to recipient's account with notification.
Star Gift Package Method
Purchase Stars for Recipient
Use SplitStars to buy Stars with cryptocurrency. During purchase, enter recipient's @username instead of yours for direct delivery to their account.
Select Stars Quantity
Choose amount from 50 to 1,000,000 Stars per transaction. Consider recipient's likely usage when selecting quantity for gifting.
Verify Recipient Username
Double-check spelling of recipient's @username. SplitStars auto-validates username but always verify before payment to avoid delivery errors.
Complete Payment
Pay with TON, USDT, Bitcoin or 17 other cryptocurrencies. Stars delivered to recipient within 1-5 minutes after blockchain confirmation.
Cannot Reverse Star Transfers
Important: Once Stars are sent or purchased for someone, the transaction cannot be reversed or cancelled. Make absolutely certain you have the correct @username before confirming any Star gift or transfer.
Best Practice: For large gifts, consider sending small test amount first to verify correct recipient, then send the full amount after confirmation.
Receiving & Unwrapping Telegram Gifts
When someone sends you Telegram Premium or Stars as a gift, you receive an instant notification. The unwrapping process differs slightly depending on what type of gift you received:
Premium Gifts
Premium subscription activates automatically upon receipt. Recipient gets full Premium features immediately with no unwrapping required.
Stars Gifts
Stars appear in recipient's balance immediately. Can be used right away for purchases, tips, or services throughout Telegram.
Collectible NFT Gifts
Recipient chooses to either display collectible in profile as NFT showcase, or unwrap to receive equivalent Stars value.
What Recipients See
When a gift arrives, recipients receive the following experience:
- Push notification alerting them about received gift with sender's name
- Animated gift box or present icon in notification with celebratory design
- Personal message from sender if one was included with the gift
- Automatic addition to Stars balance or Premium activation confirmation
- Gift history visible in their Telegram Stars settings section
- Option to thank sender with reply message or return gesture
Collectible Gift Options
For special collectible NFT gifts purchased with Stars, recipients have two choices:
Display in Profile
Keep collectible as NFT showcase in profile. Other users can view gift with unique traits, rarity, and sender information visible.
Unwrap for Stars
Convert collectible gift into equivalent Stars value. Stars added to balance for immediate spending on services and content.
Trade or Resell
Transfer collectible to another user or sell on Telegram gift marketplaces. Some rare collectibles appreciate in value over time.
Gift History: All received gifts are logged in Telegram Settings under Stars or Premium sections. Recipients can view complete history of who sent gifts, when, and what amounts or durations.
Privacy & Anonymity Options When Gifting
Telegram provides privacy controls for gift senders who want to control visibility of their gifting activity. Understanding these options helps you maintain desired privacy level while being generous:
Visible to Recipient
Recipient ALWAYS sees who sent the gift. Complete anonymity from recipient is not possible within Telegram's gifting system.
Hide from Others
Enable "Hide your name" option to prevent other users from seeing you sent gift when viewing recipient's profile or gift history.
Public Display
Without privacy settings enabled, other users can see gifts on recipient's profile including sender name, amount, and when gift was sent.
How to Enable Gift Privacy
Access Privacy Settings
When sending gift, look for privacy or visibility options before confirming payment. Usually appears as checkbox or toggle switch.
Select Hide Name Option
Enable "Hide your name" or "Send anonymously to others" setting. This hides your identity from everyone except the direct recipient.
Confirm Privacy Choice
Review privacy setting before final payment confirmation. Once gift is sent with privacy settings, they cannot be changed later.
Privacy Limitations
Cannot hide from recipient: The person receiving your gift will always know it came from you. Privacy settings only hide your name from third parties viewing the recipient's profile or gift showcase.
Alternative for complete anonymity: Use SplitStars to purchase Stars or Premium for someone by entering their @username during checkout. This method provides maximum anonymity as transaction happens outside Telegram's social gifting interface.
When to Gift Premium vs Stars
Choosing between gifting Telegram Premium or Stars depends on recipient's needs and your relationship. Here's guidance for different scenarios:
Personal Gifting Scenarios
Birthdays & Holidays
Premium for close friends and family who will use enhanced features daily. Stars for acquaintances or when unsure about recipient preferences.
Thank You Gifts
Stars work best for showing appreciation. Recipient chooses how to spend them on content, services, or gifts that interest them personally.
Contest Winners
Stars provide flexible rewards winners can use immediately. Premium works for longer contests where subscription duration serves as grand prize.
Group Celebrations
Pool contributions to gift someone Premium subscription as group. More impactful than individual small Star amounts from multiple people.
Supporting Creators
Stars let creators earn and withdraw to TON. Better than Premium if your goal is financially supporting content creator you follow.
Random Acts of Kindness
Stars in moderate amounts spread joy without commitment. Premium feels more personal and works when you know recipient well.
Business & Professional Gifting
Client Appreciation
Premium subscription demonstrates thoughtfulness and provides lasting value. Shows clients you invest in long-term relationship and their experience.
Employee Rewards
Stars for performance bonuses and small recognitions. Premium for milestone celebrations, promotions, or annual appreciation gifts.
Influencer Partnerships
Stars allow influencers to monetize and withdraw. Better than Premium when goal is compensating influencer for promotion or collaboration.
Marketing Campaigns
Stars for giveaways and viral campaigns. Easy to distribute to many participants and creates engagement without recurring subscription concerns.
Training & Onboarding
Premium for new team members using Telegram for work communication. Ensures they have best experience accessing company channels and files.
Partnership Gestures
Premium for partners and stakeholders you work with regularly. Stars for one-time collaborators or when testing new business relationships.
Decision Framework
- Choose Premium when recipient actively uses Telegram daily and would benefit from enhanced features
- Choose Stars when you want recipient to have spending flexibility for their specific interests
- Premium works better for people you know well and whose usage patterns you understand
- Stars work better for wider audiences, uncertain preferences, or variable engagement levels
- Consider Premium for 6-12 month gifts to maximize value and show deeper commitment
- Use Stars for quick thank-you gestures, tips to creators, or micro-rewards for participation
Why Buy Stars/Premium via SplitStars for Gifting
When planning to gift Telegram Premium or Stars, the purchase method significantly impacts cost effectiveness. Buying through SplitStars with cryptocurrency saves 36% compared to app store prices, making gifting more affordable and accessible.
Cost Comparison: App Stores vs SplitStars
Advantages for Gift Buyers
36% Cost Savings
Gift more people for same budget. Apple and Google take 30% commission from app purchases. SplitStars charges only 2% service fee.
No KYC Required
Complete privacy when purchasing gifts. No identity verification, document uploads, or personal data collection for crypto payments.
Instant Delivery
Gifts arrive within 1-5 minutes after blockchain confirmation. Perfect for last-minute gifts or time-sensitive occasions.
Global Access
Works worldwide with no restrictions. Bypass regional payment limitations, currency exchange issues, or banking system barriers.
20 Cryptocurrencies
Pay with TON, USDT, Bitcoin, Ethereum, or 16 other cryptos. Use whichever cryptocurrency you already hold in your portfolio.
Bulk Gifting
Purchase Stars or Premium for multiple recipients efficiently. Ideal for businesses, communities, or group gift campaigns.
Start Gifting with 36% Savings
Buy Telegram Stars or Premium with cryptocurrency for gifting to friends, followers and clients
Buy Stars for Gifting →
How to Purchase for Gifting via SplitStars
Connect Crypto Wallet
Open SplitStars and connect TON-compatible wallet like Tonkeeper or MyTonWallet. Approve connection request in your wallet application.
Enter Recipient's Username
Type recipient's @username during checkout instead of yours. Triple-check spelling — gifts cannot be reversed once delivered.
Select Gift Amount
Choose quantity of Stars or Premium duration. Platform shows exact cryptocurrency cost with transparent 2% fee included in price.
Complete Payment
Confirm transaction in wallet. Gift delivers to recipient automatically within 1-5 minutes with notification about received Stars or Premium.
Detailed Purchase Guide: For complete instructions with all payment options and troubleshooting, see our full guide: How to Buy Telegram Stars with Crypto.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Gifting
Even though gifting Telegram Premium or Stars is straightforward, several common errors can prevent successful delivery or create disappointing experiences for recipients:
Wrong or Missing Username
Most common mistake: Entering incorrect @username, forgetting @ symbol, or gifting to user who hasn't set username. Gifts go to wrong person or fail to deliver.
Solution: Always verify @username in recipient's Telegram profile before purchase. Copy-paste username instead of manual typing. Confirm recipient has username set in Settings.
Gifting Wrong Duration
Selecting Premium duration too short (3 months) when intending long-term gift, or too long when testing recipient interest. Cannot adjust after purchase.
Solution: Consider recipient's usage patterns and your budget. 6 months balances value and commitment for most scenarios. 12 months for close relationships only.
Insufficient Stars Balance
Attempting to gift more Stars than your account balance contains. Transaction fails and requires purchasing additional Stars first.
Solution: Check Stars balance before initiating gift. Use SplitStars to top up balance with cryptocurrency before gifting if needed.
Best Practices for Successful Gifting
- Save recipient's @username in notes before purchase to avoid typos during checkout
- For expensive gifts, do small test gift first to verify correct recipient receives it
- Include personal message explaining gift context so recipient understands why they received it
- Consider recipient's time zone when timing gift delivery for maximum impact
- Keep transaction hash or receipt for reference in case of delivery issues requiring support
- For business gifting, maintain spreadsheet tracking who received gifts and when for record keeping
- Test privacy settings with small gift to friend first before using for sensitive business scenarios
- Never gift to usernames received via suspicious sources or unverified contacts to avoid scams
Support Available: If gift delivery fails or goes to wrong recipient due to technical issue, contact SplitStars support with transaction details. While gifts are normally irreversible, technical failures may be investigated for resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. When you gift Premium to someone with existing subscription, your gift duration is added to their account. The gift period starts after their current subscription ends, so nothing is wasted. For example, if they have 2 months remaining and you gift 6 months, they will have 8 total months of Premium.
Not completely. The recipient always sees who sent Stars or Premium. However, you can enable "Hide your name" privacy option to prevent other users from seeing you sent the gift when viewing recipient's profile. For maximum anonymity, use SplitStars to purchase Stars for someone's @username, which happens outside Telegram's social gifting interface.
Gift delivers to whoever owns that username. Transactions are irreversible once processed — you cannot recall or redirect gifts sent to wrong recipient. This is why verifying @username spelling before confirming payment is critical. For large gifts, consider sending small test amount first to verify correct recipient.
Through Telegram's interface, you must send gifts individually one recipient at a time. For bulk gifting to many people, use SplitStars with multiple transactions. Some businesses use SplitStars API to automate bulk gift distribution for campaigns, employee rewards, or community giveaways.
No. Telegram Stars never expire whether purchased, earned, or received as gifts. They remain in recipient's account indefinitely until spent on services, content, or other purchases within Telegram ecosystem.
Recipients see quantity of Stars received or duration of Premium subscription, but not what you paid to purchase it. This means if you bought Stars with 36% discount through SplitStars, recipient only sees the Stars amount — not that you saved money on the purchase.
Telegram does not have built-in scheduled gifting. Gifts deliver immediately after purchase confirmation. For future-dated gifts like birthdays, set personal reminder to purchase and send gift on desired date. Some third-party services may offer scheduling, but verify legitimacy before using.
Minimum varies by method. Through direct Star transfer in Telegram, minimums are typically 1-10 Stars. When purchasing Stars via SplitStars for gifting, minimum is 50 Stars per transaction. There is no maximum — you can gift up to 1,000,000 Stars in single transaction.
No. Recipient must have @username set in their Telegram settings for gift delivery to work. If they don't have username, ask them to set one first: Settings → Edit Profile → Username. Once username is set, they can receive gifts normally.
No. You do not need Telegram Premium subscription to gift Premium to other users. Anyone with payment method or Stars balance can purchase and send Premium gifts regardless of their own subscription status.
Once delivered, Stars and Premium gifts cannot be refused or returned. They activate or credit automatically upon delivery. For collectible NFT gifts, recipient could theoretically send equivalent Stars back to you manually, but this requires their voluntary action and is not automatic return mechanism.
Premium subscription is generally better value for price paid, especially 12-month duration. However, Stars provide flexibility for recipient to spend on whatever they want. When buying through SplitStars with crypto, both are 36% cheaper than app stores — making either option affordable depending on recipient needs.
Conclusion
Gifting Telegram Premium or Stars is meaningful way to show appreciation, reward loyalty, celebrate occasions, or support people you care about. Understanding the gifting process, privacy options, and cost-saving methods ensures your gifts create maximum impact for both you and recipients.
By purchasing Stars or Premium through SplitStars with cryptocurrency, you save 36% compared to app store prices — allowing you to gift more generously within same budget while maintaining complete privacy through no-KYC transactions. Whether gifting to friends, followers, clients, or team members, these savings make regular gifting sustainable and accessible for everyone in Telegram's growing digital economy.