The impact of the temporary ban on Telegram in India was not limited to just one app. Rather, as soon as millions of Indian users had limited access to this popular messaging platform, a new race started on the internet. People started looking for alternatives to Telegram and started downloading Virtual Private Network (VPN) apps in large numbers. The result was that VPN downloads in the country made the biggest record of 2026 so far.
According to data from app intelligence firm AppFigures, on June 17, 9.19 lakh downloads of the top 100 VPN apps were recorded in India, which was 76% more than on normal days. Interestingly, instead of abandoning Telegram, most users looked for ways to maintain access to it. Some moved towards VPN while some moved to other platforms like Telegram X, iMe and Signal. These figures show that in the digital era, the effect of ban on any app is no longer limited to that platform only, but also changes the online behavior of users and the internet ecosystem.
Ban on Telegram and flood of VPNs
VPN is usually used for online privacy and security, but in case of ban on any website or app, its demand suddenly increases. This is exactly what happened in India after the temporary ban on Telegram. On June 17, downloads of VPN apps reached 9.19 lakh, which is said to be the largest figure so far in 2026.
VPNs allow users to hide their IP address and route Internet traffic through another server. This can sometimes bypass regional restrictions. Even in India, after the Telegram ban, VPN was used. As soon as access to Telegram was affected, millions of users started installing VPNs. This shows how much dependence on digital platforms has increased and users are not ready to give up a popular service easily.
Is using VPN illegal in India?
Using VPN is not illegal in India. Anyone can use VPN to increase their online security and privacy. But if VPN is used for any illegal work, such as hacking, cyber crime or accessing restricted content, then it will be considered a violation of the law.
According to the rules of the Government of India, VPN companies running servers in the country have to keep some information and logs of their users safe for at least 5 years. Due to this rule, many big VPN companies, like ExpressVPN and Surfshark, closed their physical servers in India. Now these companies provide their services to Indian users through ‘virtual servers’ located outside India.
Why are users searching for ways to use Telegram?
Users’ interest in Telegram is not limited to just chatting. Millions of people use big channels, news updates, study material, job alerts, movie-file sharing, business community and public groups on this platform. Telegram provides the facility to reach millions of people simultaneously on a channel, which is not available in WhatsApp. This is the reason why after Telegram was banned, many users started looking for alternatives like VPN instead of leaving it. For them, Telegram is not just a messaging app, but a major medium of access to information, community and content. Therefore, even after the ban, a large number of people want to maintain its access in some way or the other.
What changed after Telegram ban?
- As soon as Telegram was banned, there was a record jump in VPN downloads.
- Millions of users turned to the alternatives of VPN and Telegram.
- Proton VPN, Telegram X and Signal were the biggest gainers.
- Despite the ban, users found new ways to access Telegram.
Which VPN apps got the most benefit?
Not all VPN apps got equal benefits after Telegram ban. Some big names registered record growth. Proton VPN was used the most. Its downloads increased from an average of around 60,500 to more than 1.55 lakh, a jump of 157%. Turbo VPN also almost doubled to 1.22 lakh downloads. The most interesting performance was of Ninja VPN, whose downloads increased by 669%. Whereas ExpressVPN saw a jump of 345%. These figures also changed the ranking of Google Play Store. Proton VPN went straight from eighth place to number 1 in the tools category in a few days, while Turbo VPN reached second place. This trend shows that users are increasingly moving towards tools that can provide them uninterrupted internet access.
Telegram messenger dropped, but Telegram ecosystem grew
The most direct impact of the ban was on the Telegram messenger app. While its average daily downloads were around 1.25 lakh, on June 17 this figure came down to only 38 downloads. Other platforms like Telegram X and iMe benefited from the Telegram ban. Telegram Similarly, iMe app recorded a surprising growth of 22,018% and its downloads reached above 1.70 lakh. This indicates that instead of leaving Telegram completely, users shifted towards its related options.
WhatsApp did not get any benefit
It was believed that WhatsApp would benefit the most from the ban on Telegram, but the figures tell a different story. WhatsApp already has a large user base. In such a situation, despite millions of new downloads, its percentage growth did not appear much. On the other hand, a large part of Telegram users were looking for a platform that offers features like privacy, large groups and channel features. This was the reason why there was a 571% increase in downloads of privacy-focused apps like Signal. This also makes it clear that many users were looking for special features and more freedom, not just a messaging app.
Changing mathematics of internet restrictions
It has been seen many times around the world that VPN downloads increase rapidly after an app or website is banned. This latest case from India also seems to be repeating the same pattern. In the digital age, blocking access to a platform has become more complex than ever before. Users have many options like VPN, mirror apps and alternative platforms. Therefore, the real impact of a ban is measured not just by the decline in downloads but by the change in user behavior. The Telegram case has shown that Internet users have become more technologically aware than ever before and that they quickly find new solutions in response to restrictions.
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