Mini-apps in Telegram are popular due to a new generation of customers, Telegram’s own promotion of TMAs, and the ease of installation.
New customers. A new generation of buyers has emerged — Zoomers. They aren’t browsing websites, but instead are active in messengers and consume information in TikTok format. TMA is the next iteration of digital marketing, following Manzana and Mindbox, which helps increase their loyalty.
Telegram’s promotion. The messenger is actively promoting its app store, which launched on August 1, 2024, and supports brands« marketing efforts. That’s why TMAs are currently much more effective than apps in the App Store or Google Play, where you have to compete with hundreds of large companies. For example, launching a game in an app store will likely be a waste of money, while competition in Telegram is still relatively low.
3 reasons to choose a ready-made solution for mini-apps in Telegram instead of developing from scratch
Due to the hype around taplinks, every day clients are requesting new mini-apps in Telegram (Telegram Mini Apps, TMA). Demand creates supply, and a ready-made solution for their creation has appeared on the market. Let’s figure out why it's better than developing from scratch.
We’ll explain why TMA is the trend of 2024, why a ready-made solution for creating them is better than development from scratch, and what stages are involved in working on an app.
TMA are gaining popularity
Ease of installation. To add an app to your phone, you need to go to the store, find it, open it, click the «Buy» or «Download» button, and possibly enter a password. Only after that can you use it.
Meanwhile, to install a TMA, the user simply clicks a link in Telegram. This increases the conversion rate for registering apps that a person wouldn't bother searching for and downloading from the App Store. You don't need to spend money on advertising to convince users to install a mini-app.
Finch is currently working on several NDA projects:
- A taplink for a foreign TV show that will retain the audience using gamification, even after the program ends.
- An ecommerce platform for premium brands with referral mechanics, gamification, and mining for buying and selling goods. The project uses 3D models of jewelry, accessories, watches, clothing, and shoes, which increase conversion to purchase. Users can exchange items and build collections.
- A taplink for clients of a major streaming service, which will help attract an audience from competitor apps through referral mechanics and gamification.
All these projects share the format of everyday consumer goods. The basic set of the most popular app features includes leaderboards, seasonal promotions, prize pools for player competition, point mining, and performing actions beneficial to the brand.
3 reasons to choose a ready-made solution: cost, speed, and security
Development using a ready-made solution outperforms creating a mini-app for Telegram from scratch due to cost, speed, and security levels.
Lower cost. The price of development depends on the app's features and the number of its users.
App features. The more features, the more expensive the project. For example, developing a TMA with basic functions costs from 500,000 to 1.5 million rubles, while creating an app with all the features will require 2–4 million rubles.
Number of clients. The larger the user base, the higher the cost, as additional testing is required. For example, for large clients with more than 100,000 users, we conduct a cold launch to test mechanics on a smaller group first. This phase lasts a week, after which we do a full launch. For smaller projects that want to grow organically, the app can be launched immediately to the entire audience.
Faster development. On average, creating a mini-app for Telegram with standard functionality takes from one to four weeks. For example, we designed an app for a major brand within a month, considering all approvals. Complex projects that require a 3D interface will take more time. Smaller launches with minimal features for an audience of up to 100,000 people can be completed in one to two weeks.
Higher security. A ready-made solution comes with built-in protection mechanisms against fraud, bots, and hacking. Data storage with a ready-made solution is more secure than cloud and low-code solutions due to the option of on-premise deployment. In this case, data is not stored in the cloud but on the client’s side, as the software is installed within the client’s internal infrastructure.
Create Telegram Mini Apps with us
We develop Telegram apps for startups and businesses: from standard clickers to custom solutions.
Project stages
We handle the entire client service process, so the founder doesn't need to prepare anything in advance — just the desire to order a Telegram Mini App.
Determine why the client needs a TMA. We consult the founder and help them understand what would be most effective for their business. We design a business model and explain which mechanics are used in cases from similar industries. From the first meeting, we show design options so the founder can visualize how their brand will look in the interface.
We discuss the cost. We talk about how much a mini-app with the necessary business features will cost for the client.
We create the project. We develop both core and additional features. We also assist with audience engagement and partnerships, as cross-app activities and traffic exchange are popular in Telegram mini-apps.
More popular articles
Think of it like a hamster for traffic: how to attract an audience with a Telegram clicker game
Nico Bordunenko
Business Analyst at MetaLamp
UMA Protocol: How does the popular Optimistic Oracle work?
Pavel Naydanov
Solidity developer
Why Use Blockchain for Tokenizing Premium Alcohol
Elizaveta Chernaya
Brand Media Editor
The main events in The Open Network (TON) ecosystem in 2024
MetaLamp editorial team
A Guide to EigenLayer: How the ETH Restaking Protocol Attracted $15 Billion TVL
MetaLamp editorial team
The Open Network 2025: figures, events, analytics, forecasts
MetaLamp editorial team
Overview of Blockchain Bridges: Interaction Between Different Networks
Roman Yarlykov
Solidity developer
5 Rules from the Founder: How an EdTech Project Can Attract Investments. The Case of the Online School “Logopotam”
Alexey Litvinov
CEO and founder of the online school Logopotam
Is it worth launching a project on Solana, despite the hype around memes?
MetaLamp editorial team
Mintless Jettons on TON: A New Feature Making TON Projects Even More Attractive
MetaLamp editorial team
3 reasons to choose a ready-made solution for mini-apps in Telegram instead of developing from scratch
Dmitriy Shipachev
CEO at Finch
Think of it like a hamster for traffic: how to attract an audience with a Telegram clicker game
Nico Bordunenko
Business Analyst at MetaLamp
Which Rollup to Choose for Your Project: Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, ZK EVM, and Others
MetaLamp editorial team
How We Adapted a Mobile RPG for Blockchain and Enabled NFT Sales
MetaLamp editorial team
How TON Payments Enable Fee-Free Micro-Transactions and Their Uses
MetaLamp editorial team
What You Need to Know Before Starting a Project on TON
MetaLamp editorial team
What is the Meaning and Benefits of MVP for Startups in 2024?
MetaLamp editorial team
RWA explained: Opportunities of Real-World Assets in 2024
MetaLamp editorial team
Creating a Crypto Transaction Widget for Google Sheets: The CPayToday Journey
MetaLamp editorial team
How Early-Stage Startups Can Stay on Track with Development
MetaLamp editorial team
How to Attract Investments: Insights from Successful 2023 Startups
Mykola Pryndiuk
Social Media Specialist
When and How to Find a Technical Partner for Your Startup
MetaLamp editorial team
Understanding the Necessity of Account Abstraction in the Crypto World
Pavel Naydanov
Solidity developer
Ways to Speed Up Development: Outstaffing Pros and Cons
MetaLamp editorial team
Freelancer, Agency, or Contract Employees: Who to Hire for Startup MVP Development
Yana Geydrovich
Partnership manager at MetaLamp
From Corporate Blog to Brand Media: The Birth of Metalamp Magazine
Mykola Pryndiuk
Social Media Specialist
La Migliore Offerta: The Impact of Cryptocurrency on Business and Economy in 2023
Roman Shtih
CEO Metalamp
How We Use Our Training Program to Recruit Plutus Engineers
Svetlana Dulceva
The Education Program Supervisor
Discover Why IT Companies Appreciate Our Junior Developers
Svetlana Dulceva
The Education Program Supervisor
How We Designed a No-Cost Education Program for Web Development
Sergey Cherepanov
CTO MetaLamp
Articles