Short answer: a channel with at least 50 subscribers, or a group with at least 500 members, can run a Stars-prize giveaway from Statistics > Boosts. The prize is paid upfront, members enter by boosting the channel, and winners are picked at random among them. For a large giveaway, buying the Stars through a local reseller like StarsJoy avoids the roughly 30% cut that App Store/Google Play take.
What is a Stars giveaway, and why run one?
A Stars giveaway is how a channel or group owner splits a pool of Stars among members as prizes, to reward and grow the audience. It runs on the same mechanic as Telegram's older, already-familiar Premium giveaway — the only difference is that winners get Stars credited directly instead of a Premium subscription.
For channel growth, it's an alternative or complement to Telegram Ads: instead of paying for reach, you reward the audience you already have and give them a reason to boost the channel.
Who's eligible to run one?
The bar is fairly low: a channel needs at least 50 subscribers, a group needs at least 500 members. Anything smaller has to grow to that threshold first.
How to set it up, step by step
- Check you meet the requirement — 50+ subscribers for a channel, 500+ members for a group.
- Open the Statistics section — in a channel: "Channel Settings" > "Statistics" > "Boosts" (in a group: "Group Info" > "Statistics" > "Boosts").
- Choose "Start a Giveaway" — this opens the setup screen for a new giveaway.
- Set the prize — enter the total Stars amount and how many winners it's split among.
- Set a deadline and publish — pick an end date and announce it in the channel.
How are winners actually chosen?
A Stars giveaway runs on Telegram's standard boost-based selection mechanic — the exact same system already used for Premium giveaways. There's no separate entry form: a member simply boosts the channel or group to take part. Once the giveaway ends, winners are picked at random from everyone who boosted, and the whole process is transparent — anyone can verify the outcome.
How is the prize paid for?
A giveaway is paid fully upfront (prepaid) — the entire Stars amount is settled by the organizer before the giveaway even starts. This is what makes it transparent: everyone can trust that the announced prize genuinely exists, and there's no way to delay or cancel the payment once it's live.
What can a winner spend the Stars on?
Won Stars are just an ordinary Stars balance — spendable on anything inside Telegram: paid media and gifts, channel subscriptions, games, Mini Apps, and any other Stars-based service.
Where to buy a large amount of Stars cheaply for a giveaway
This is the single biggest cost in running a giveaway. Buying Stars on a personal account through the App Store or Google Play sends roughly 30% of the amount to Apple/Google as commission, and there's a cap on how much you can buy in one purchase — not practical for a large prize pool.
Through a local reseller like StarsJoy, Stars cost a flat 240 UZS/Star, with no size limit, paid directly with an Uzcard or Humo card — no international card and no extra commission. Full guide to stocking up cheaply: what you can actually do with Telegram Stars.
How is this different from a Premium giveaway?
| Feature | Premium giveaway | Stars giveaway |
|---|---|---|
| Prize | Telegram Premium subscription | Stars balance |
| Selection mechanic | Boost-based | Boost-based |
| Payment | Upfront (prepaid) | Upfront (prepaid) |
| What the winner gets | Several months of subscription | A balance usable on any Stars service |
Many channels run both, at different times — a Premium giveaway to pull in new subscribers, and a Stars giveaway to reward an already-active audience.
The takeaway
- 🎁 A Stars giveaway splits a pool of Stars among channel or group members as prizes;
- 📊 Requires 50+ subscribers for a channel, or 500+ members for a group;
- 🚀 Members enter by boosting; winners are picked at random;
- 💰 For a large giveaway, buying Stars through StarsJoy costs less than going through the App Store or Google Play.
For more on monetizing a channel, see Telegram channel subscriptions with Stars and paying for Telegram Ads with Stars, or open @starsjoybot to buy Stars for your next giveaway.
Frequently asked questions
Who can run a Stars giveaway?
Channels with at least 50 subscribers and groups with at least 500 members. Smaller channels or groups need to grow their audience to that threshold first.
How are winners chosen?
Through Telegram's standard boost-based selection system — the same mechanic already used for Premium giveaways. To enter, a member simply boosts the channel or group; no separate entry form is needed. When the giveaway ends, winners are picked at random among everyone who boosted.
How is the giveaway prize paid for?
Fully upfront (prepaid) — the organizer pays the entire Stars amount before the giveaway even starts. That means it can't be cancelled or the payment delayed once it's running.
What can a winner spend the Stars on?
Anything inside Telegram: paid media and gifts, channel subscriptions, games, Mini Apps, and any other Stars-based service.
Where's the cheapest place to buy a large amount of Stars for a giveaway?
Buying Stars on a personal account through the App Store or Google Play sends roughly 30% of the amount to Apple/Google, and single-purchase size is capped. A local reseller like StarsJoy sells Stars at a flat 240 UZS/Star with no size limit, paid directly with an Uzcard or Humo card.
How is a Stars giveaway different from a Premium giveaway?
Both use the identical boost-based mechanic; the only difference is the prize. A Premium giveaway hands winners a Premium subscription, while a Stars giveaway credits their balance with Stars directly.
Buy Telegram Stars or Premium in Uzbekistan
Pay in Uzbek som with Uzcard or Humo — no Visa card needed, delivered in about 10 seconds.
Open @starsjoybot