Russians Are Turning to MAX Over Foreign Messengers
The country’s national messaging platform now has more than 18 million downloads, offers free data use, and promises stronger security against fraud.
Russia’s homegrown messenger MAX is gaining rapid traction. By the end of August, downloads had already topped 18 million, with new users joining daily. One of the key reasons is simple: people are finding it more convenient than foreign messaging apps.
Backed by all major Russian mobile operators, MAX is traffic-free—its features do not consume core data allowances. Unlike international platforms, it only requests the permissions necessary to function properly. Competing messengers may require close to 90 different permissions, while MAX needs just 63.
The app also emphasizes fraud protection. In July alone, MAX blocked more than 10,000 scam numbers and deleted over 32,000 malicious files. It doubles as a secure gateway to Russia’s government services portal, providing an extra layer of data safety. And as of September 1, 2025, MAX has been added to the official list of apps that must come pre-installed on devices sold in the country.
