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WhatsApp Still Russia’s Most Widely Used Messenger Despite Video Call Restrictions
AppWizard
September 22, 2025

WhatsApp Still Russia’s Most Widely Used Messenger Despite Video Call Restrictions

WhatsApp is Russia's most popular messaging application with 97 million unique monthly users as of August, while VK's Max app has 93.5 million users and Telegram has 91 million. Max, launched in March, had 32.2 million monthly users in August and over 34 million downloads in early September. Daily user engagement for Max is low, with 7 million daily users in August, increasing to 16.4 million by early September. The Russian government has imposed restrictions on voice calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, promoting Max, which is required to be pre-installed on new devices and is marketed in schools and government agencies. Analysts predict Max's user base could grow by 25% by the end of 2025, compared to a 1-9% growth for established competitors.
Russia is not planning to ban foreign messaging apps, provided they comply with Russian law | Tech Regulation
AppWizard
July 23, 2025

Russia is not planning to ban foreign messaging apps, provided they comply with Russian law | Tech Regulation

Russia's deputy head of President Putin’s administration, Maxim Oreshkin, stated that foreign messaging applications will not be banned as long as they comply with Russian laws, which include registration and measures to prevent fraud. He emphasized the development of a domestic messaging app called Max, created by VK, which aims to integrate with Russia's banking system. Oreshkin encouraged entrepreneurs to create user-friendly services for competitive advantage. His comments followed reports of Telegram seeking to align with Russian regulations by filing for registration with Roskomnadzor, although its founder, Pavel Durov, denied claims of exiting the Russian market.
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