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Messaging

Telegram bot integration: AI chatbot and channel announcements

Connect your Telegram bot to OrqLabs in minutes with the token from @BotFather. OrqLabs registers the webhook for you; messages sent to the bot land in the Inbox and the AI chatbot replies from your knowledge base.

Start freeStep-by-step setup guide
Connection type
Token
Scope
Per project: every brand connects its own account
Inbound webhook
Yes, you get a webhook URL for incoming events
Capabilities
send messages, receive messages, broadcast
Setup time
10 min

What it does in OrqLabs

Telegram is the simplest channel for a chatbot: the Bot API is free, there's no business verification, and the OrqLabs connection takes a single field. When you add the bot token, OrqLabs validates it and registers the webhook with Telegram together with a secret that every incoming request is checked against.

Private chats, group messages and channel posts open as conversations in the Inbox. With the WhatsApp & Telegram chatbot template, one workflow listens to both channels and replies on the channel each message came from – no separate flow needed for your Telegram chatbot.

The same bot doubles as an announcement tool: set a default chat or channel ID when connecting and the Notify team node posts team alerts there, while the Send message node publishes to a channel such as @yourchannel or to a group. Long texts are split automatically to fit Telegram's 4,096-character limit.

What you can automate

  • Telegram chatbot

    The AI Chatbot answers questions sent to the bot from your knowledge base, hands the conversation to your team when needed and saves shared contact details as a lead.

  • Channel and group announcements

    Post new content, a campaign or a report summary with the Send message node to a channel where the bot is an admin or to a group it belongs to.

  • Team notifications

    Pick Telegram in the Notify team node and approval requests, reports and alerts go to the default chat you set on the connection.

  • Messages to people who started the bot

    The Outreach Agent and the Broadcast node can message leads whose Telegram chat ID is on record and who have started the bot, at a per-minute rate.

Agents that work with it

Nodes that use this integration

In the workflow editor these nodes run with your Telegram Bot account.

  • Message received

    Starts when a customer message arrives on a connected channel like WhatsApp or Telegram; e.g. so your chatbot answers automatically.

  • Send message

    Sends a message to one person on WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS and more, e.g. delivering a chatbot reply or an appointment reminder.

  • Broadcast campaign

    Sends a personalised message to a group of leads at a controlled pace, e.g. announcing a webinar to qualified leads.

  • Hand off to human

    Passes the chat to someone on your team, silences the bot in that chat and alerts the team, e.g. when a customer complains or asks for a person.

Ready-made templates

Setup at a glance

  1. In Telegram, send /newbot to @BotFather, then enter a display name and a username ending in bot.

  2. Copy the token BotFather gives you; if the bot will work in groups, also set /setjoingroups → Enable and /setprivacy → Disable.

  3. In OrqLabs, go to Integrations → Telegram Bot → Connect, pick the project and paste the token into Bot Token.

  4. Optionally enter a default chat or channel ID for notifications, then click Connect – the webhook is registered automatically.

  5. Send /start to the bot from your phone; the conversation should appear in the Inbox.

Read the full setup guide →

Requirements

  • A Telegram account and a bot token from @BotFather.
  • Privacy mode turned off in @BotFather (/setprivacy → Disable) if the bot should read group messages.
  • For channel announcements, the bot added to the channel as an Administrator with the Post Messages permission.
  • Optional: a default chat or channel ID for notifications (-100… or @channelname).

What you enter when connecting

  • Bot Token *
  • Default channel / chat ID (optional)

Good to know

  • Telegram bots can't start a conversation: a person has to message the bot or press /start first. Campaigns and first-contact messages therefore only reach people who started the bot – share a t.me/<bot> link or a QR code to bring them in.
  • With privacy mode on, the bot only sees commands and messages that mention it in groups; the change takes effect after the bot is removed and re-added.
  • A bot belongs to one project – create a separate bot per brand. Using the same token elsewhere with getUpdates conflicts with the webhook.

Frequently asked questions

Does creating a Telegram bot cost anything?

No. The Telegram Bot API is free; on the OrqLabs side, the chatbot's AI usage is metered.

Can I send the first message to customers on Telegram?

No. Telegram requires the user to message the bot first. Share a t.me/<bot> link or a QR code on your website or packaging.

Can one chatbot run on both WhatsApp and Telegram?

Yes. The ready-made template's single workflow listens to both channels and replies on the one each message came from.

Does the bot work in Telegram groups?

Yes. Add the bot to the group and turn off privacy mode in @BotFather; otherwise it only sees commands and messages that mention it.

Get started with OrqLabs

Build your first workflow today

Start on the free plan: connect your accounts, pick a template and stay in control with approval steps. No credit card required.

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