VPN Downloads Surge in India After Government Restricts Telegram
NEW DELHI: A temporary ban on Telegram imposed by the Indian government has led to a sharp increase in VPN (virtual private network) downloads, as users seek ways to retain access to the messaging platform, according to data from App Figures, an app intelligence firm.
Downloads of the top 100 VPN apps in India reached 919,000 on June 17, up 76% from the average between June 9 and June 15, and 63% higher than the June 1-15 baseline. The surge followed the government's restrictions on Telegram on June 16, which were implemented to address concerns about exam-related fraudulent content on the platform. June 17 recorded the highest daily VPN downloads in India since at least the beginning of 2025.
VPNs encrypt internet traffic and route it through servers in other locations, allowing users to mask their IP addresses and bypass certain network restrictions. While commonly used for privacy and security, spikes in VPN downloads often occur when access to websites or apps is disrupted, as users look for ways to continue using affected services.
Proton VPN was among the biggest gainers, with downloads surging 157% from a recent daily average of around 60,500 to 155,430 on June 17. Turbo VPN nearly doubled to 122,030 downloads, while Ninja VPN recorded a 669% jump and ExpressVPN rose 345%, as per App Figures data. The rush also reshaped app store rankings: Proton VPN climbed from eighth place in Google Play's Tools category on June 17 to the top spot by June 19, while Turbo VPN rose from eleventh to second.
Users also turned to alternative messaging services. Telegram Messenger downloads plunged from a recent daily average of 125,048 to just 38 on June 17, reflecting the impact of the restrictions. At the same time, Telegram X, an alternative Telegram client, saw downloads soar 6,509% to 350,764, while Telegram-linked messaging app iMe jumped 22,018% to 170,372. Signal, a privacy-focused messaging app, recorded a 571% increase to 32,106 downloads.
The data suggests users responded to the restrictions in two ways: by using VPNs to maintain access to Telegram, and by experimenting with alternative or Telegram-adjacent messaging services. Major rivals such as WhatsApp saw only limited gains, likely due to their already extensive user bases.
