Guide to setting up a simple bot on Telegram

Telegram bots They're small programs that converse and interact without a human having to be present in real time. They complete tasks at full speed, learn as they go, and are available 24/7 for whatever you ask of them. If you want to set one up to automate responses, publish content, or serve your customers, you have several options, both with and without programming.

In this guide you will find a complete, clear and practical explanation to create, configure, and host a simple bot in Telegram with BotFather, options for editing and managing it, no-code tools for those who don't want to hack code, real-life examples that already work, security tips, and even monetization ideas. Let's get started, because it's not a mystery if you follow the steps.

Common types of bots and their uses

Before you get started, it's a good idea to understand what each type of bot does and why they're so popular. The possibilities are very varied and they cover everything from marketing tasks to pure automation.

• Web tracker: crawls links and analyzes pages following predefined rules to classify or detect changes.
• Automated publishing: Schedule posts on websites or social media without having to worry about the day and time, ideal for brands and community managers.
• Site monitoring: Monitors your website's performance and alerts you to any outages or relevant metrics.
• Mass mailing: Trigger email campaigns without manual intervention, saving time and effort.
• 24/7 Chat Assistant: Instantly respond to thousands of users at once with consistent, AI-powered responses.
• Text editing: detects typos, maintains consistency, and even predictively suggests content.
• Daily actions: Set alarms, make reservations, or send reminders at any time.
• Lead capture: Combines ads with automated messages to convert interested parties into potential customers.
• Content download: locates and offers ways to obtain books, series or videos on demand for the user.

As you see, the grace of bots They execute orders tirelessly, precisely, and at scale. They don't tire and respond equally well to 10 or 10.000 people.

Malicious Bots: Risks You Should Know About

Technology is neutral: it all depends on the useThere are also bots that are used for malicious purposes, from exploiting bugs to overwhelming services or spreading spam.

• Vulnerability Search: scan computers and servers for weak spots to steal data or compromise systems.
• DoS/DDoS attacks: They try to take down services with massive requests.
• Large-scale spam: They collect emails and send unwanted content automatically.
• Brute force: They constantly try out access combinations to enter private areas.

If you are going to create your own, respects the legislation and Telegram rules, protect your users' data and apply good security practices.

Create and register your bot with BotFather

The starting point is always the same: @BotFather is the official bot which manages the rest of the bots. From any Telegram app (mobile or desktop), search for it and tap Start.

• Send / newbot to start the wizard.
• Choose a display name (your users will see it).
• Choose a unique username that ends in “bot”.
• Save the token that it gives you: it is the access key to the API.

That token is sacred: If you leak it, anyone could control your bot.Later, you can add a photo, description, and more details to make it look presentable.

Related article:

The Ultimate Guide to Telegram Bots: The Most Useful Bots, How They Work, and How to Get the Most Out of Them

Useful BotFather commands to manage your bot

BotFather has a good handful of commands to configure your custom project. These are the most practical when you are starting out:

• / newbot: create a new bot.
• / deletebot: delete the selected bot.
• /cancel: cancel the current operation.
• / token: Get the HTTP token from the API.
• /revoke: Invalidate the token and generate a new one.
• /setname: : change the bot name.
• /setabouttext: : adjust the “About” text.
• / setdescription: Edit the description that users see.
• / setuserpic: set or change your profile picture.
• / setinline y / setinlinefeedback: permissions and behavior in inline mode.
• / setcommands: define the list of available commands.
• /setjoingroups: Allow or prevent your bot from being added to groups.
• /setprivacy: determine whether to read all messages or only those that mention you.

Once created, You can come back to @BotFather, go to /mybots, choose your bot, and use “Edit Bot” to fine-tune every detail whenever you want.

Edit and customize behavior

With the bot already registered, the fun part begins: define how you respond. It's best to prepare typical commands and messages, and test that everything fits together before uploading them to a group or channel.

In BotFather, use “Edit Commands” To add your commands, use this format: a command in lowercase (no unusual characters) and a clear description. This way, when you type "/," a menu will appear showing what your bot understands and does.

Be careful, if your bot does not yet have code or integration behind it, the commands will do nothing. To bring them to life, you'll need to connect your token to a program or no-code platform.

Where to host and how to program your bot

A key point: Telegram does not execute your codeYour bot should run 24/7 on a server or cloud platform. There are affordable and easy options to get it up and running without the hassle.

In language, you have several ways: Python (libraries like python-telegram-bot), Node.js (Telegraf or node-telegram-bot-api) or PHPIf you're starting from scratch, Python is easy to read and has a huge community; if you're coming from JavaScript, Node will feel very natural.

Minimum code and implementation

For a first test, install the environment and a Telegram API library. In Python, for example, with pip you can have it ready in a minute.

pip install python-telegram-bot
# Crea un archivo bot.py con handlers para /start y para eco de mensajes
# Ejecuta: python bot.py y habla con tu bot en Telegram

Save your token in an environment variable to avoid exposing it to the repository; if you publish it by mistake, regenerate a new one with /revoke and run it. Check in the terminal that your bot is listening, open Telegram, type /start, and verify that it responds.

How to add the bot to a group and adjust permissions

If you need the bot to act in a group, add it from your profile with “Add to group or channel.” Then, decide what they can do: read messages, reply, moderate, etc.

• Go to the bot's profile and tap “Add to group or channel".
• Grant permissions according to their function (reading, writing, administration).
• Test commands and mentions to confirm that it reacts well.

If the bot doesn't respond, check the privacy in BotFather (/setprivacy) and group permissions: many times the “error” is that.

Build a bot without programming (no-code)

If you don't want to write code, there are assistants that will guide you. They are perfect for MVPs and simple bots with menus and forms.

Manybot

With Manybot you can create bots in a few steps using the command / addbot and follow an assistant. Allows personalized messages to subscribers, own commands, scheduled publications from RSS, X or YouTube, multiadmin and forms. Its star feature is the multi-level menus that guide the user visually. It's available in several languages ​​and is free.

Once ready, share the your bot link so that people can subscribe and you can send them one-off or scheduled campaigns whenever you want.

AradBot

AradBot boasts that it can get your bot up and running in a minute. Send periodic or batch messages, adds actionable buttons, offers statistics, and has video tutorials to get started quickly. It allows you to manage users by access level, create surveys and forms with reports, and manage groups with exclusive access to members.

In addition, you can cover purchase-sale processes with stock management, shopping cart, offers, invoices and technical support with tickets and automated responses. It also publishes news and categorizes content with metrics.

Snatchbot

A platform with templates and professional scaling. Its free version already includes broadcast, NLP, TTS/STT, live chat, and reporting. With the Pro Plan (starting at $30 per month, 10.000 messages, and an extra charge), you can remove mark, customize the design, access premium support, integrate with Hootsuite, use advanced add-ons, and connect map/API keys.

Their bots convert text to speech in over sixty languages ​​and in English you have several voices to choose from; if you need WhatsApp, there is a specific Pro option starting at $75 per month.

Bots.Business

Android application with web version, ideal if you want to create from your mobileThe free plan allows up to 1.000 responses per month; if you run out of time, you have scaled paid plans (Start, Pro, Business, and Big Business). Run in the cloud, you can sync with GitHub, import/export and is powered by a JavaScript Bot engine.

PollBot

Perfect for quick polls in groups or channels. With /newpoll you create a survey and with /results You see the count. It's a shortcut to get quality data without leaving Telegram.

Zoom Bot

If you are short on space or don't want to install anything, this bot lets you create and join Zoom meetings from Telegram. Simple and practical for teleworking and online classes.

Examples of popular bots you can try

It's not all about creating: you can also leverage existing bots ready to use in your daily life.

• @Youtube: Search for videos without leaving Telegram.
• @gamee: casual games to kill time.
• @wiki: quick queries to Wikipedia.
• @converto_bot: download from YouTube on mp3/mp4 just by pasting the link.
• @uploadbot: Upload files from their URL.
• @thefeedreaderbot: RSS reader to follow up to 10 sources.
• @pdfbot: merge, encrypt, rotate, or extract content from PDFs on the fly.
• @mp3toolsbot: Trim and edit MP3, change bitrate or ID3 tags.
• @TwitterDownloaderBot, @getmediabot, @converto_bot: Download videos from X, Instagram and YouTube.
• @vkmusic_bot: music on demand.
• @ytranslatebot: translations within Telegram.
• @Podcast_bot: Listen to podcasts directly.
• @sticker y @stickers: Discover and create sticker packs.
• @Flirtu_bot: connect with people in a “matchmaking” style.
• @imdb: synopsis, cast and technical information of films.

To locate bots, type “bots for Telegram” in your browser or use the app's magnifying glass and search by @username. Official ones usually have a blue checkmark.

Where to find and rate third-party bots

There is no official repository that lists everything, but there are useful directories. TDGR y Telegramic They are two well-known websites where you can filter by category and discover new things.

Take a moment to review descriptions and reviews: Filters don't always nail what you're looking for, but they are a good starting point to get inspired or find the bot you need.

Advanced automation with SendPulse

If you want powerful flows without the hassle, SendPulse offers a visual builder for Telegram bots with Integrated AI, triggers and customization.

• 24 / 7 Support: automatic responses, campaigns, and event or update notifications.
• Personalization.: branches with the Filter element according to variables, group membership or message type.
• Triggers: Start streams by keywords, join groups/channels, or Telegram Business messages.
• Integrated AI: Connect ChatGPT or other models for open-ended questions.
• Integrations: API calls to your systems to bring in real-time data and respond based on it.

To connect it: create your bot with BotFather, copy the token and in SendPulse go to Chatbots > Connect > Telegram > paste the token and press Connect. Then, in the Telegram app, subscribe to your own bot by touching Start.

If you already had a bot, you can retrieve the token from / token on @BotFather and choose the corresponding bot. From there, set up flows like Welcome message, Standard response y Cancel subscription, create new triggers and add buttons, filters or a AI Agent for advanced designs.

Finally, share the bot link on your website, use pop-ups, import subscriber IDs if you have them and check statistics to improve the experience.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common pitfall is launching a bot without a clear objective: If it doesn't solve anything, no one will use it.Define a specific use case (FAQs, notifications, forms) and focus on doing it well.

It is also common to forget the permissions in groups or message privacy: if the bot doesn't "see" anything, it won't react. Adjust /setprivacy and admin roles according to your needs.

And take care of the token: save it in environment variablesDon't upload it to GitHub, and rotate access with /revoke if you suspect it's been leaked. Test it thoroughly before releasing it to the public.

Monetize your bot sustainably

Making money with a bot is possible if it provides real value. You can offer premium features under subscription, use payment gateways or derive traffic to your own and affiliate products.

• premium content: gives access to a private paid channel with tools like @InviteMember_bot.
• Bot as a service: For example, reports from a URL with a free trial and subscription via Stripe.
• Membership: Amazon offers with affiliate links and deal curation.

Remember to comply GDPR, Telegram terms and tax obligations. If you lock features behind a paywall, be transparent about what the free version includes and what the premium version provides.

Case studies for companies

A well-designed bot cuts costs and improves the customer experience. In e-commerce, answer FAQs, check orders and send logistics notifications. In online academies, manages registrations, queries and deliveries. In restoration, assists with reservations and promotions.

They also serve for collect forms, sending internal alerts, or onboarding the team. Well-known examples like @RevolutBot or @BabelBot demonstrate how good design makes a difference without major investments.

FAQs

If you've made it this far, you've mastered the basics of creating and configuring a simple bot in Telegram: since registration with BotFatherFrom script editing and hosting choices to no-code alternatives, useful examples, automation with SendPulse, and monetization strategies, all you have to do is choose your approach (code or no-code), secure your token, and launch a bot that solves a real problem for your users.