India’s Telegram Block Sparks Huge Rise in VPN Downloads and Messaging App Alternatives
India’s temporary restriction on Telegram has triggered a sharp surge in VPN downloads, new VPN signups, and interest in alternative messaging apps, as users looked for ways to stay connected during the week-long block.
The restriction was introduced over concerns that Telegram was being used to spread fake exam papers and scams connected to the NEET-UG re-test, one of India’s biggest entrance exams. The government said the temporary measure was necessary to prevent exam-related fraud, while Telegram has challenged the move in the Delhi High Court, arguing that authorities should remove specific harmful content rather than restrict the entire platform.
VPN downloads in India hit a major high after Telegram restriction
According to app intelligence firm Appfigures, the day India announced the Telegram restriction became the biggest day for VPN app downloads in the country since at least the beginning of 2025.
Downloads of leading VPN apps jumped 49%, rising from a recent daily average of around 139,000 to 208,000. The spike shows how quickly users in India responded to the block by searching for tools that could help them bypass online restrictions.
Several VPN apps saw particularly strong growth. Proton VPN downloads on Apple’s App Store in India rose 113%, while Turbo VPN increased 85%. On Google Play, Proton VPN downloads climbed 64%, and Turbo VPN rose 35%. NordVPN also saw a 41% increase on the App Store, while ExpressVPN downloads on Google Play grew 31%.
The sudden demand also pushed VPN services higher in India’s app store rankings. Proton VPN moved from 18th to 5th place in Apple’s Utilities category between June 16 and June 18. On Google Play, it rose from 8th to 2nd in the Tools category.
VPN signups also climbed sharply
The increase was not limited to app downloads. Proton reported that daily registrations from India rose 120% above normal levels on Wednesday. The company said hourly registrations had already jumped 150% on Tuesday evening, shortly after the Telegram restriction was announced.
Windscribe, a Canadian VPN provider, also reported a similar pattern. The company said signups from India peaked at about 100% above normal levels, while first-time downloads of its iOS app in the country rose roughly 89%.
Windscribe’s growth operations manager Rebecca Rosenberg said the increase followed a familiar pattern seen in regions where governments block certain apps, introduce verification rules, or limit internet access.
Wider VPN category sees renewed growth
Data from Sensor Tower also pointed to a broader rise across the VPN market in India. VPN app downloads in the country rose 10% day-over-day on June 17, reversing a decline that had been seen over the previous two weeks.
This suggests the Telegram restriction did not simply benefit a few major VPN brands. Instead, it appears to have created a wider wave of demand across the VPN app category as Indian users searched for privacy tools, unblock apps, and secure internet access options.
Users explore Telegram alternatives
Alongside the surge in VPN apps, many users also began downloading alternative messaging platforms.
Appfigures reported that Signal downloads in India increased 72% on Apple’s App Store and 322% on Google Play after the Telegram restriction. Viber also saw a major boost, with App Store downloads rising 216%.
One of the biggest jumps came from iMe, a messaging app connected to the Telegram ecosystem. Its Google Play downloads rose from a recent daily average of about 827 to 50,900 on June 16, according to Appfigures.
These numbers show that many users were not only looking for ways to access Telegram but were also testing other secure messaging apps in case the restriction continued or expanded.
Telegram usage still rose despite the restriction
Interestingly, the temporary block did not immediately reduce Telegram activity in India. Sensor Tower said Telegram’s daily active users in the country rose 17% on the day the restriction was announced. That marked the app’s largest day-over-day increase in India since a major Meta service outage in 2021.
Other internet traffic signals also suggest that users were actively trying to reach Telegram after the block was introduced. Cloudflare Radar lead Lai Yi Ohlsen said DNS requests for Telegram domains in India increased sharply over the two days following the announcement.
However, Cloudflare noted that higher DNS traffic does not necessarily mean users were successfully accessing Telegram. It may also reflect repeated attempts to connect to the app after access was restricted.
Telegram challenges India’s temporary block
Telegram has argued in court that it has cooperated with Indian authorities. The company’s lawyers said Telegram had already removed channels identified by officials and questioned why a platform-wide restriction was needed.
Telegram says it has more than 150 million users in India, making the impact of a full restriction significant. Its legal argument centers on proportionality: instead of blocking the whole service, the company believes authorities should target specific channels, groups, or messages linked to fraud.
Government lawyers defended the measure, saying it was temporary and directly connected to the NEET-UG re-test. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Delhi High Court that while a permanent ban could raise concerns, the current restriction had a clear connection to the government’s objective of preventing exam scams.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the Delhi High Court reserved its order and is expected to deliver its decision soon.
Telegram block highlights growing demand for VPNs in India
The situation has once again highlighted how quickly internet users turn to VPNs when access to a popular platform is restricted. Similar patterns have been seen in other countries when governments limit access to social media apps, messaging services, or websites.
In India, the Telegram restriction has created a sudden rise in searches and downloads for VPN apps, private browsing tools, encrypted messaging apps, and Telegram alternatives. It has also renewed debate over digital rights, online safety, exam fraud prevention, and the balance between government enforcement and user access.
For now, the restriction remains a major moment for India’s digital ecosystem. Whether the court sides with Telegram or the government, the response from users is already clear: when access to a major messaging app is cut off, millions quickly look for another way online.
