MAX User Base Reaches 85 Million
Five million new accounts were registered in just two weeks.
Comparable to a Country’s Population
The national messaging platform MAX continues to scale at a striking pace. User adoption is accelerating so rapidly that it has become a signal not just of effective distribution, but of usability, reliability, and clear product-market fit in a tightly regulated environment.
According to the latest data, MAX has surpassed 85 million registered users, while daily reach has exceeded 55 million active users.
The growth curve over the past two months illustrates the scale of this expansion. In mid-November, the messenger had around 55 million accounts. By the end of December, the figure had climbed to 80 million. Another five million users joined in just a couple of weeks.
A Highly Active Platform
Users are not just signing up – they are actively engaging with the platform.
Since launch, users have sent more than 18 billion messages and made over 2.5 billion voice calls. They have also recorded more than 200 million short video messages and sent over one billion stickers, according to the press service of VK, which develops the platform.
Despite ongoing restrictions tied to information security requirements, the number of public channels on MAX is growing quickly. Bloggers, businesses, and government bodies have created more than 140,000 public channels, with a combined audience exceeding 54 million subscribers.
Digital ID as a Growth Driver
One of MAX’s most practical features is its Digital ID. This tool functions as a QR-code-based analogue of physical documents and allows users to verify their age, student status, or large-family status. At present, age verification is the most widely used function.
Users can confirm their age via MAX when purchasing goods at major retail chains, including Magnit, Pyaterochka, Perekrestok, VkusVill, Maria-Ra, Dixie, Lenta, and Monetka. The feature is already available in 40,000 stores nationwide, with coverage continuing to expand. Age verification is also expected to roll out soon at Auchan, where it is currently being tested in Moscow and the surrounding region.
The Digital ID is valid only on the device on which it was created. Technically, it operates as a dynamic QR code that refreshes every 30 seconds. Screenshots are disabled – captured images display a blank screen instead of the code. Access to the QR code requires biometric authentication via Face ID or fingerprint recognition.
Business Interest and Strategic Positioning
Although MAX launched less than a year ago, it is increasingly viewed as a domestic alternative to foreign platforms such as WhatsApp (owned by Meta) and Telegram. Rapid user growth is making the platform more attractive to businesses, including for advertising placements and the development of internal corporate applications.
MAX’s popularity is also reinforced by its inclusion on the Ministry of Digital Development’s so-called “white list”. Services on this list remain accessible during temporary mobile internet restrictions introduced in response to hostile drone threats.
The launch of MAX in March 2025 marked another step toward building a sovereign digital infrastructure in Russia. Import substitution in this sector accelerated sharply in 2022, after foreign digital platform operators exited the market. Today, users already have access to a broad ecosystem of domestic apps, including contactless payment services, office software, and other everyday digital tools.
There is little doubt that throughout 2026, MAX will continue to evolve, gradually transforming from a messaging service into a universal digital platform for everyday tasks. This trajectory is supported by deeper integration with government e-services. While the messenger is currently focused on the domestic market, future expansion into CIS and Eurasian Economic Union countries remains a realistic option, particularly in regions seeking sovereign communication solutions.
