How to easily create a Telegram bot: a complete guide

If you use Telegram daily, you've probably already come across a bot that responds on its own, launches polls, sends news, or even reminds you of things. The best part is that you too can create your own Telegram botWhether you know how to program or you have no idea about code.

In this guide you will learn How to create an easy Telegram bot step by stepWhat types of bots exist, what you can do with them, how to host them to work 24/7, how to add them Artificial Intelligence And, if you're interested, how to get money from them. All explained in plain Spanish, in a friendly tone and without unnecessary technical jargon.

What is a Telegram bot and what can it do for you?

A bot on Telegram is, basically, an automated account that responds to messages and commands without a person typing on it. To the user, it looks like a normal contact, but internally it's a program connected to the Telegram API.

These bots can receive and send messages, photos, files and downloads, interactive buttons and menusThey can also be integrated with external services via API (your website, your CRM, your online store, a ticketing system…) to perform much more advanced tasks.

Among the most common uses, a Telegram bot can be used to customer service, automating posts, moderating groups, translating messages, managing surveys, or sending remindersThe real limit is set by your imagination (and, if you program, by what you are capable of building).

Types of bots and their most common uses on Telegram

Before you start creating anything, it's good to be clear What kind of bot do you need depending on the problem you want to solve?A bot for sending newsletters is not the same as one for moderating a huge group.

One of the best-known types is the customer service chatbotIt works as a virtual assistant that answers frequently asked questions, guides the user through simple processes (order tracking, reservations, basic support, etc.) and can escalate to a human when things get complicated.

Also very popular are content automation botsThese feeds automatically publish to channels and groups from an RSS feed, a Twitter profile, a YouTube channel, or a website. They are ideal if you want your Telegram channel to update only when there is new content.

Another very widespread block are the productivity and utility botsReminders (like @SkeddyBot) and options for schedule messages in Telegram, translators (@TranslateBot), feed readers (@TheFeedReaderBot), bots to manage tasks or to receive alerts from systems or servers.

Finally, there are the business and monetization botswhich can manage payments, sell access to private channels of premium content, launch marketing campaigns, generate leads, or recommend products with affiliate links.

Advantages of using Telegram bots (with or without AI)

One of the main reasons why Telegram bots have skyrocketed in recent years is that They allow you to automate tasks without spending a fortune or relying on complicated integrations.With very little, you can achieve a lot.

To begin with, a bot gives you 24/7 support with immediate responseIf you use it for customer service or internal support, users get answers in seconds, at any time, without having to open tickets or wait for someone to be available.

They are also a brutal tool for send notifications and remindersOrder confirmations, appointment reminders, limited-time campaigns, new blog posts, price changes… All of this can be automatically sent from your bot without anyone having to remember to send anything.

If you're worried about lead generation, a well-designed bot can help. to capture user data in a natural and conversational wayName, email, preferences, specific problems... and then transfer that information to your CRM or a spreadsheet to work on it later.

Furthermore, as you grow, a single bot can scale and handle hundreds or thousands of conversations at once without having to hire more staff. This translates into cost savings, greater efficiency, and a much more stable experience for your users.

How to create a Telegram bot with BotFather

Every Telegram bot, without exception, starts in the same place: @BotFather, the official Telegram bot for managing other botsFrom there you will create, configure and, if necessary, delete your bots.

The basic steps to create your first bot are always the same: Log into BotFather, launch the appropriate command, choose a name and username, and obtain a token.That token will be the key that your code or no-code platform will use to communicate with the Telegram API.

Within the BotFather chat, you'll see a huge list of commands. The most important one to get started is... / newbotThis is the one that creates a new bot from scratch. Then you have others to change the name, description, profile picture, visible commands, group permissions, etc.

As soon as you finish creating it, BotFather will send you a message with Direct link to your bot (like t.me/YourBotName) and the HTTP access token. It's crucial that you store this token in a secure location, because anyone who has it can control your bot.

From that same chat with BotFather you can also enable or disable privacy of the bot in groups, allow it to join new groups, edit the public description and manage the list of commands that will appear when pressing “/” within the conversation.

Most important BotFather commands

BotFather offers many commands, but for everyday use, mastering just a few of the most frequently used ones will suffice. Configure and tweak your bot's behavior.

You've already seen the first one: / newbot, which creates a new bot and you step by step guide to give it a name and username. If you ever want to delete it completely, you'll have to use / deletebot and confirm the transaction.

To work with the API, the most critical ones are / token, which shows or regenerates your bot's token, and /revoke, which invalidates the current token to prevent misuse. If you suspect your token has been leaked, the wisest course of action is to revoke it and generate a new one..

You also have commands designed to improve public speaking: /setname to change the visible name, / setdescription for the short description text, /setabouttext for the "about" info, and / setuserpic to upload a new profile picture.

Finally, they are very useful /setprivacy (decides whether the bot sees all messages in a group or only those that mention it or use commands), / setcommands (to define the list of available commands) and /setjoingroups (allows or blocks your bot from being added to groups).

Programming your own bot: languages, libraries and hosting

If you want to have total control, you can program your bot from scratch using the Telegram APIIt's not mandatory, but it's the most flexible option when you want to do highly customized things or complex integrations with your own systems.

The most common languages ​​for working with Telegram bots are Python, Node.js and PHPAlthough you can actually use almost any language that can make HTTP requests. The community often recommends Python for beginners because of its simple syntax and the large number of available examples.

In Python, one of the most popular libraries is python-telegram-botwhich greatly simplifies working with the API. Node.js features include node-telegram-bot-api y Telegrafwhich are also very mature and well documented.

At the infrastructure level, keep in mind that Telegram does not execute your codeThe bot is a program that must be running continuously on a server or cloud service, listening for messages through polling or webhooks.

To host that code, you have free or freemium options such as Replit, Render or Railway...to VPS and paid cloud services like Digital ocean or other similar providers. Ideally, you should choose an option that can be on 24/7 and doesn't constantly go to sleep.

Create a Telegram bot without knowing how to program (no-code)

If coding isn't your thing, that's okay too. These days there are plenty of No-code platforms and online assistants to create Telegram bots without touching a single line of code programming.

Some options work like bots within Telegram (for example, Manybot or AradBot, even) AximoBot) that guide you step by step to connect your bot created with BotFather and configure it with menus, automatic responses, forms or scheduled posts.

Others are external web platforms, such as GPTBots, SnatchBot or Bots.Businesswhich offer you a visual panel to design conversation flows, train the bot with your own knowledge base and then integrate it with Telegram by pasting the token that BotFather gave you.

With these tools you can usually Add content blocks, buttons, conditions, forms, message sequences, and pre-designed templatesFor many simple projects (FAQs, lead generation, newsletters, basic inquiries) it is more than enough.

The strength of this approach is that You go very fast and have a low learning curveThe weak point is that, if you need something highly customized or unusual integrations, you'll end up noticing the limitations of the no-code platform.

Manybot and other assistants for setting up bots without programming

One of the oldest and best-known services within Telegram is ManybotIt allows users to create and manage bots without writing code, directly from within the app. According to its creators, tens of thousands of bots have already been generated using their system.

With Manybot you can, for example, define custom commands that they respond with the text you want, create multi-level menus through which the user navigates by pressing buttons, or configure Automatic posting from RSS, X or YouTube.

Its basic mechanics consist of Link your bot to Manybot by forwarding the BotFather message with the token.From there, the assistant can "manage" your bot and you simply choose options from the menus it sends you.

Other similar services such as AradBot They offer more business-focused features: user management with access levels, surveys and forms, group automation, shopping carts, stock control, offers, invoices, ticket support and automated responses.

There are also more business-oriented solutions such as Snatchbotwhich allow you to create voice bots, your own NLP models, social media integrations, advanced reporting, white-label elimination, and multichannel deployment (including WhatsApp in the payment plans).

AI-powered Telegram bots: how they work and what they offer

In recent years, the following have become very fashionable: Telegram bots with IAwhich are basically chatbots connected to language models and much more advanced natural language processing capabilities.

These bots can interpret complex sentences, understand the context of the conversation, and generate natural responsesThey no longer just recognize commands like "/help", but you can write to them just as you would speak to a person and they still understand you.

Inside, they usually combine NLP to detect intent and entities (what the user wants and what data they mention) with your own knowledge base or a generic model to which specific information about your business is provided.

Real-world examples of AI bots on Telegram include travel assistants such as Eddy Travels, which finds flights and accommodations; news bots like @NewsBot, which filter and send headlines; or smart reminders like @SkeddyBot, which understands phrases like "remind me to call Juan tomorrow at 10."

Platforms like GPTBots They allow you to create these types of bots by training the agent with your documents, web pages, or databasesand then connecting it to Telegram using a simple token. That way you can have an AI-powered bot that knows everything about your company without developing anything from scratch.

Key case: Where to host your bot and why it should always be running

One point that many beginners overlook is that, If your bot is programmed with your own code, it needs a server that is active 24 hours a day.. If he script It's not running, the bot isn't responding, no matter how well you programmed it.

That's why choosing well is so important where to host your botYou can choose free or free plan solutions, but keep in mind that many "put the service to sleep" if there is no activity, which can cause delays in responses.

If you want something quick to tinker with, services like repeat They allow you to get the bot up and running in just a few minutes and with very little difficulty. However, for serious projects, it's advisable to move to something more stable like Render, Railway, or a DigitalOcean-type VPS.

On a VPS, you'll have to take care of it yourself. Install the environment (Python, Node, libraries), upload the code, and configure the Boot automatic from the bot or Schedule tasks in Linux using cron and at so that it only starts if the server restarts. But in return, stability and control are much greater.

If you opt for no-code platforms like Manybot or GPTBots, they handle hosting the bot engine themselves, so You only worry about the logic of the conversationIn that case, the server that needs to be on at all times is not yours, but the platform's.

How to add your Telegram bot to groups and channels

Once your bot is working in a private chat, you'll probably want to put it in groups or channels to interact with more people: moderating, posting content, responding to commands, launching polls, etc.

The procedure is simple: From the bot's profile on Telegram, use the "Add to group or channel" option. Then choose the group or channel where you want it to be. If it's a large group, you'll probably want to make it an administrator so it has sufficient permissions.

Then you'll have to check permissions within the groupWhether it should read all messages, whether it can delete other people's messages, whether it can pin messages, ban users, etc. It will all depend on the role you want the bot to play.

Remember to also check the Privacy settings in BotFather using the /setprivacy command. If it's in ENABLED mode, the bot will only see messages that mention it or begin with "/". In DISABLED mode, it will see all traffic from the group.

A very typical use of bots in groups is the anti-spam moderation, the automatic sending of welcome messages with basic rules, the creation of quick surveys or the integration with external services (for example, receiving notifications from a monitoring system or a sales panel).

How to find useful bots and examples to inspire you

The Telegram ecosystem is so large that there is no single official centralized repository where all listed bots are locatedMost are created by users and companies and are discovered through recommendations or unofficial directories.

If you want to research what's being done and get ideas, you can turn to websites like TDGR or Telegramic, which compile bots by categories (productivity, leisure, downloads, business, etc.) and allow searching by keywords.

There you will find bots as varied as @Youtube to search for videos, @thefeedreaderbot to follow RSS, @pdfbot to work with PDFs, @mp3toolsbot to edit MP3 or bots to download videos and music from different platforms.

There are also some interesting niche bots: @Podcast_bot to listen to podcasts from Telegram, @sticker and @stickers to manage stickers, or even “Tinder” type bots like @Flirtu_bot to chat with new people without leaving the app.

Exploring these examples helps you understand Which experiences work well, which flows are comfortable for the user And what kind of value do people expect from a bot before they start recommending it and using it seriously?

Monetizing a Telegram bot: models and examples

If your bot gains traction, it's logical to consider how turn it into a recurring source of incomeThere is no single magic formula, but there are several models that are repeated quite frequently.

One of the most common are the premium content botsThese services offer access to exclusive channels or features in exchange for a monthly fee or a one-time payment. Tools like @InviteMember_bot automate subscriber and payment management.

Another approach is the bots as a serviceFor example, a bot that generates custom reports from a URL analyzes SEOIt summarizes documents or creates ad creatives. A free trial is offered, and then payment is processed through Stripe, PayPal, or another payment gateway.

There are also bots based on membershipThese bots search for deals (for example, on Amazon) and send them to users along with affiliate links. Each purchase generated earns a commission, so the bot makes money while providing value in the form of helpful recommendations.

Whatever the model, it's important to carefully consider the balance between free features and paid featuresIf you block too much from the start, you'll struggle to get traction; if you give everything away, nobody will have any reason to pay.

And don't forget the legal aspects: data protection, Telegram terms of use, and tax obligations if you are going to bill users, especially within the European Union.

Common mistakes when creating a Telegram bot

When you start out in this field, there are a number of mistakes that are almost always repeated and that are easy to avoid if you know them. The first is to start creating a bot without a clear understanding of its functionIf you don't know what it's for, the user certainly won't.

Another typical problem is mismanage the tokenThis can lead to problems: posting it on forums, accidentally uploading it to a public repository, or carelessly sharing it with others. If someone else has your token, they can control the bot or spam on your behalf.

It is also very common to configure incorrectly. group permissions and privacyThis causes the bot to "appear dead" because it doesn't read the messages it needs or doesn't have permission to perform the actions you designed it to do.

Finally, many bots enter the “real world” without having gone through a minimum testing phase: testing commands, simulating conversations, reviewing error messages, verifying that the bot behaves as it should in response to unusual inputs.

Spending some time testing with friends or in a private group will save you a lot of surprises and bad reviews when you open the bot to the general public.

As you can see, the universe of Telegram bots offers much more than it seems at first glance: you can create everything from small personal assistants to AI-powered customer service systems, as well as business tools, premium content bots, or simple utilities for your groups. The important thing is to be clear about the purpose of your bot, choose wisely whether you're going to program it or use no-code, ensure good hosting, and take care of the configuration and security details.From there, you'll gradually refine the experience based on how people respond.