Side by side
| Telegram | ||
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Minutes: create a bot in BotFather and connect the code | Days: WhatsApp Business account, phone number and Meta approval |
| Running cost | Free from Telegram; you pay only for the server | Meta charges for some business-initiated (template) messages; replies within 24 hours of the customer's message are free |
| Interface | Buttons, menus, inline keyboards, payments, full mini apps | Buttons and lists, templates, product catalogs |
| Audience | Popular in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, tech communities, channels | The default messenger in much of Europe and Latin America; fewer users in the US |
| Best for | Rich internal tools, communities, mini apps, quick launch | Customer service and orders where clients already use WhatsApp |
Which one to choose
Choose Telegram ifyou want to launch fast and cheaply, need a rich interface or a mini app, or the bot is for your own team.
Choose WhatsApp ifyour customers in Europe already message you there, and the bot mostly answers and takes orders.
Can I have both?
Yes. The logic of the bot is written once and connected to both messengers; the Bot + admin panel package includes Telegram and WhatsApp.
Questions
Is the WhatsApp Business app enough?
For a few chats a day, yes. A bot needs the WhatsApp Business Platform (API), which is what I connect.