Russian Messenger MAX Adds Millions of Users in a Week
Private channel feature drives surge in activity
The national messaging platform MAX has rolled out a private channel feature, and users have embraced it quickly. In the first week alone, more than one million private channels were launched, attracting a combined audience of over 10 million users.
Record Growth
The option to create private channels became available on February 10. Within days, the platform recorded strong engagement, with users opening an average of about 145,000 channels per day.
The peak came on February 12, when 276,000 private channels were created in a single day. One author reportedly grew their audience from zero to 56,000 subscribers within a week.
How Private Channels Work
Channel creators can invite subscribers via a personal link. Users who follow the link automatically join the community.
Administrators can also enable a “join by request” mode, requiring moderator approval before new members gain access.
The model combines broad content distribution with controlled access, making the feature attractive for creators, experts and closed communities.
About MAX
MAX positions itself as a national messenger and ecosystem of user services. The app supports audio and video calls, messaging, voice notes, large file sharing and money transfers. Informational channels are also available in test mode.
The platform integrates mini-apps and chatbots for everyday tasks. It is included in the national software registry and is available on mobile, desktop and web. According to the company, MAX’s audience reached 89 million users at the end of January.
