WhatsApp Bot vs Telegram Bot: Which Channel for Your Chatbot?
Compare WhatsApp and Telegram as chatbot channels on reach, API capabilities, cost, and business use. Discover which messaging platform fits best.
WhatsApp Bot
Chatbots running on the WhatsApp Business API, reaching users on the most used messaging platform in the world with 2+ billion active users.
Telegram Bot
Chatbots built on the free Telegram Bot API, with rich features like inline keyboards, payments, and group integration.
Comparison table
| Feature | WhatsApp Bot | Telegram Bot |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | Massive — WhatsApp has 2+ billion users worldwide | Growing — popular among tech-savvy and business users |
| API costs | Paid — per conversation via WhatsApp Business API | Free — the Telegram Bot API is completely free |
| Interaction richness | Basic — text, buttons, lists | Rich — inline keyboards, webhooks, mini-apps, payments |
| Approval | Required — WhatsApp must approve your template messages | No approval needed — deploy immediately |
| First contact | Customer must initiate contact first (opt-in) | Bot can be found via deep links and groups |
Verdict
WhatsApp has the largest reach and is the trusted channel for consumers. Telegram offers a richer, free API and more interaction possibilities. Many businesses choose both channels to combine maximum reach with rich functionality.
Our recommendation
OpenClaw Installeren supports both WhatsApp and Telegram. We recommend starting with Telegram due to its free API and rich capabilities. Add WhatsApp when you want to reach a broader audience. With OpenClaw, you serve both channels from a single AI assistant.
Frequently asked questions
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