Telegram is far more than a messaging app. One of its most powerful features is bots — automated accounts that can do almost anything: download videos, generate images, count calories, answer questions using AI, send daily horoscopes, and much more. If you have never used a Telegram bot before, this guide will walk you through everything from scratch.
What Is a Telegram Bot?
A Telegram bot is a special type of account that is run by software, not a real person. Bots have usernames that always end in bot (for example, @SaveVideoBot or @photfit_bot). When you send a message to a bot, the software on the other end reads your message and replies automatically.
Bots can be simple (just answering a few commands) or surprisingly powerful (using artificial intelligence to analyze photos, generate text, or translate languages). The best part: they live right inside Telegram, so you do not need to install extra apps.
What can bots do?
- Download videos and music from the web
- Generate AI images from text descriptions
- Count calories from food photos
- Answer questions using ChatGPT-style AI
- Send daily horoscopes, weather, or news
- Accept anonymous questions from your followers
- Help you learn languages, track habits, and more
How to Find Bots in Telegram
There are three easy ways to discover new bots.
Method 1: Search by @username
If you already know a bot's username, this is the fastest method:
- Open Telegram and tap the search icon (magnifying glass) at the top.
- Type the bot's username, for example
@photfit_bot. - The bot will appear in the results — tap it to open the chat.
This works for any bot whose username you found in an article, a friend's recommendation, or a social media post.
Method 2: The In-App Bot Store / Search
Telegram has a built-in way to discover bots without knowing their usernames:
- Tap the search bar at the top of your chats list.
- Type a keyword describing what you want, such as
calorie counterorvideo downloader. - Scroll the results — bots matching your keyword will appear alongside regular chats and channels.
You can also visit @BotFather, Telegram's official bot for creating and managing bots. While BotFather is mainly for developers, it is the authoritative source if you want to verify whether a bot is genuine.
Method 3: Third-Party Bot Directories
Several websites maintain curated lists of Telegram bots, sorted by category:
- telegrambots.me — large searchable directory
- botostore.com — curated collections by topic
- telegram.me/storebot — in-Telegram bot discovery bot
Browse by category (entertainment, productivity, AI, utilities) to find bots you would never have thought to search for.
How to Start a Bot (Step by Step)
Starting a bot for the first time is straightforward:
- Find the bot using one of the methods above.
- Open the chat by tapping the bot's name.
- Tap "Start" — a blue button that appears at the bottom of the screen the first time you open a bot.
- The bot sends you a welcome message explaining what it can do.
- Follow the instructions or type
/helpto see a list of available commands.
That is it. You are now using a Telegram bot.
Tip: If the Start button does not appear, simply type
/startand send it. This is the universal command to activate any bot.
Basic Bot Commands
Most bots follow a standard set of commands. You can type any of these and send them at any time:
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
/start |
Activates the bot and shows the welcome message |
/help |
Shows a list of available commands and instructions |
/settings |
Opens the bot's settings (language, preferences, etc.) |
/stop |
Tells the bot to stop sending you messages |
Some bots also have a menu button — a small square icon next to the text input field. Tap it to see a visual list of all available commands without having to type anything.
How to Stop or Delete a Bot
If you no longer want to use a bot, you have a few options:
Option 1: Send /stop
Type /stop and send it. Many bots will acknowledge this and stop messaging you.
Option 2: Stop the bot from the chat Open the bot chat, tap the bot's name or avatar at the top of the screen, then look for a "Stop Bot" option in the menu.
Option 3: Block the bot If a bot keeps messaging you even after /stop, open the bot's profile and tap Block. This completely prevents the bot from contacting you.
Option 4: Delete the chat Long-press on the bot's chat in your chat list and choose Delete Chat. This removes the conversation from your list. You can always find the bot again later and start fresh.
Are Telegram Bots Safe?
Most bots are completely safe to use, but it helps to know a few things:
What bots CAN see:
- Messages you send directly to them
- Your Telegram username and display name
- Messages in group chats where the bot has been added as a member
What bots CANNOT see:
- Your private conversations with other people
- Your phone number (unless you choose to share it)
- Messages in groups where the bot is not a member
How to stay safe:
- Only use bots from trusted sources (official channels, reputable directories, recommendations from this site)
- Avoid bots that ask for your password, payment details, or personal documents
- If a bot link arrives in an unsolicited message, be cautious — check the username carefully
- Verified bots often have a checkmark badge on their profile
The bots recommended on TG Base are all hand-tested and chosen for their reliability and usefulness.
Recommended Bots to Try
Now that you know how to use bots, here are some of the best ones to explore. Each has a full guide on this site:
- Video downloader — SaveVideoBot: Download videos from YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and more directly to your phone.
- AI chat — GPT4Telegrambot: Chat with a powerful AI assistant right inside Telegram.
- AI image generator — imagegenbot: Turn text descriptions into stunning images in seconds.
- Music downloader — vkm_bot: Find and download songs without leaving Telegram.
- Astrology — arcanta_bot: Get your daily horoscope and personalized astrological readings.
- Calorie counter — photfit_bot: Snap a photo of your meal and get an instant calorie breakdown.
- Anonymous Q&A — anonimka_voprosik_bot: Collect anonymous questions from your audience and share them with your followers.
Conclusion
Telegram bots are one of the app's best-kept secrets — once you start using them, it is hard to imagine going back. Finding a bot takes a few seconds, starting one requires a single tap, and the range of things they can do is impressive.
Start with one of the recommended bots above, explore a directory to find something that matches your interests, and remember: if a bot ever annoys you, a quick /stop or block is all it takes to move on.
Happy exploring!
Article updated: June 24, 2026