How to build a Telegram mini app – your Telegram mini apps guide

Last updated: February 2026

Learn how to build a Telegram Mini App (Web App) for your business. This guide covers everything from setup, payments, and monetization to latest 2026 features and best practices for a successful launch.

This version focuses on clarity and includes evergreen elements while signaling that the article is current with updates for 2026. It also emphasizes the main value propositions (e.g., Web App setup, payments, monetization) for better SEO and engagement.

TL;DR
1. Telegram has 1B+ monthly active users — you can ship services where your audience already is.
2. Mini Apps are web apps that run inside Telegram using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, the Bot API, and the Web Apps API.
3. You can enable payments, subscriptions, and wallet connections through Telegram Payments, Stars, and TON Connect.
4. Start fast with the 12 steps below, then use our checklists to choose the right stack and hosting.

What are Telegram mini apps?

Telegram Mini Apps are web applications that run within the Telegram messenger. They are created using standard web technologies that developers use for websites - HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, as well as Telegram Bot API.

They use the Telegram Web Apps API for UI elements, data exchange, authentication, theming, and deep integration with chats.

Since TMAs are launched directly inside Telegram, they immediately provide a consistent user experience thanks to the familiarity users have with the platform itself.

One of the best things about Telegram Mini Apps is that they can also use many of Telegram's features, such as easy login, payments, and notifications. This makes it easy to create useful and fun apps.

In 2026, Telegram added full-screen layouts, landscape support, home-screen shortcuts, share flows, gyro, and subscriptions with Telegram Stars, which opened more serious product scenarios. Telegram has over 1 billion monthly active users — you can ship services directly inside Telegram where your audience already is.

Want a quick primer on Mini Apps vs bots? See our explainer – difference between Telegram mini app and Telegram bot.

Benefits of Telegram mini apps

First of all, think of user acquisition. Getting new users for your app can be tough, but Telegram Mini Apps make it easier. Since users are already comfortable with Telegram, they're more likely to try out your app. 

Plus, the design of Telegram Mini Apps encourages users to discover and try new apps, which can help your app grow in popularity.

Telegram Mini Apps can also do a lot of different things, like play games, share content, and help with productivity. They have features like pop-ups, navigation buttons, and vibrations, which make them feel more like native apps.

Apart from that, here are some more reasons to build Telegram mini apps now:

• Monetization. Telegram mini apps can make you money through in-app purchases, subscription models, or advertising, providing developers with a range of revenue streams.
• A huge audience. Telegram has over a billion users, and you can reach them all with just a few clicks.
• Web3 readiness. Using the TON Connect SDK, Telegram Mini Apps are Web3-ready, so you have smoother communication between wallets and apps.
• They work on any device. Telegram mini apps work on Android, iOS, PC, Mac, and Linux devices, so you don't have to worry about compatibility.
• Create interactive experiences. You can use Telegram bots to create interactive experiences, like games or quizzes, that respond to user input.

2026 updates:

• Enhanced UX features – The Web Apps API now includes improved fullscreen support, landscape mode, and home-screen shortcuts, offering a more native-like experience.
• Advanced Payment Options – Telegram Mini Apps now support Telegram Payments, Stars, and TON Connect for seamless Web3 wallet connections and digital goods sales, providing more monetization flexibility.
• Subscriptions and Digital Goods – Mini Apps can sell subscriptions through Telegram Stars, opening up more business model options with recurring payments.
• Web3 Integration – With the new TON Connect SDKs, Telegram Mini Apps enable Web3 features like wallet integration and crypto transactions across all supported platforms, including React components.

Telegram mini apps examples

Before we move on to the Telegram mini apps guide, check out some popular use cases of Telegram mini apps:

1. Sell products. You can integrate your online store with Telegram, enabling users to shop directly within the app.
2. Offer financial services. Banks and fintech companies can offer mini apps for balance inquiries, fund transfers, and transaction histories.
3. Provide customer support. Use Telegram Mini Apps to offer instant support and answer frequently asked questions, enhancing your customer service.
4. Book services and amenities. Mini Apps can be created to book flights, hotels, and restaurants directly in the app, streamlining the booking process.
5. Teach new skills. You can build interactive lessons and courses to teach users new skills directly within Telegram.
6. Entertain users. Mini Apps are perfect for creating interactive experiences like games, quizzes, or other engaging activities that captivate your users.

Based on that, a few examples of mini-applications:

• Wallet: A mini app that lets you store, send, and exchange crypto assets directly within Telegram.
• StickerWiz: Create personalized sticker packs and add a personal touch to your Telegram chats.
• ChessNowBot: Play live chess games with other users inside Telegram.
• TeleOTP: A one-time password generator to keep your accounts secure.
• MemoCard: A flashcard app designed to improve memory with spaced repetition.
• Notepher: A note-taking app synced with the Telegram cloud for quick access and ease of use.
• MiniWoo: A mini app for WooCommerce, bringing your store to Telegram.
• PaintBot: Create hand-drawn images and drawings, collaborating with others.
• Tribute: A content monetization app that enables donations and subscriptions.
• Web3-Ready: Telegram Mini Apps are now great for Web3 applications, offering smoother wallet integration and the ability to connect digital products directly within Telegram, powered by TON Connect SDKs.

More 2026 picks from public lists include TG Trivia, Blum, and FindMini – useful for seeing UI patterns and monetization flows.

Telegram Mini Apps vs Telegram bots vs native apps vs PWAs – comparison

Use this comparison when deciding where to start:

1. On-Telegram UX

• Mini App: Full UI inside chats with full-screen modes, landscape support, and home-screen shortcuts
• Bot only: Chat messages only
• Native mobile app: Outside Telegram, works as a standalone app
• PWA: Runs outside Telegram in a browser

2. Install friction

• Mini App: No app store install required — users can interact directly within Telegram
• Bot only: None
• Native mobile app: App Store review and installation required
• PWA: Browser prompt for installation (no app store)

3. Payments

• Mini App: Telegram Payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay via providers, Stars for subscriptions and digital goods
• Bot only: Limited to invoices (more limited than Mini Apps)
• Native mobile app: App Store billing stacks
• PWA: Web payments via browser

4. Subscriptions

• Mini App: Supported with Telegram Stars and in-app purchases
• Bot only: Limited to invoices and manual flows
• Native mobile app: Native subscriptions
• PWA: Web payments (limited features compared to Mini Apps)

5. Web3

• Mini App: TON Connect SDK for Web3 integration, allowing for smoother wallet connections and crypto transactions directly within Telegram
• Bot only: Not typically Web3-ready
• Native mobile app: Depends on the app’s functionality (could include Web3 integrations)
• PWA: Depends on app and browser capabilities (no built-in Web3 support)

6. Best for

• Mini App: Best for commerce, games, utilities, support flows, and Web3 integration
• Bot only: Best for simple notifications and command-based interactions
• Native mobile app: Best for heavy offline features, device APIs, and resource-intensive apps
• PWA: Best for marketing, content-based apps, and lightweight features

7. Time to market

• Mini App: Days to weeks
• Bot only: Hours to days
• Native mobile app: Weeks to months
• PWA: Days to weeks

Telegram mini apps guide: how to develop

Building a Telegram Mini App lets you deliver rich, interactive experiences directly inside the Telegram client — without forcing users to install a store app. With recent 2026 enhancements like full‑screen modes, better payments, and Web3 support, Telegram Mini Apps are now a powerful medium for commerce, utility tools, games, and more.

Below is a clear, step‑by‑step guide to planning, building, and launching your Mini App.

Step 1: Define what you need out of it

Before you start building, take some time to think about what you want to achieve with your mini app. Write down your goals and objectives to help you stay focused throughout the development process. Research to see if your idea is unique or how it can be improved,  then look at other apps to learn what works well.

To get started, ask yourself:

1. Who is going to use my app?
2. What are the needs and preferences of my audience?
3. What is different about my mini app that others don’t have?

Related reads: product design process and a quick product manager’s guide to UX research.

Step 2: Plan features

With your idea in place, think about how your app will work. Write down what your app must have to meet users' needs, then sketch the user journey. 

Think about what happens when they tap a button. Remember that good planning makes building your app smoother and helps prevent issues later.

Tips:

- Prioritize features that offer the most benefit.

- Keep the design clean, so it's easy to use.

If you plan an MVP, time-box the scope using our guide on how to prioritize features in MVP design.

Step 3: Learn how Telegram's Bot API and web apps work

To build a successful Telegram Mini App, you need to understand how Telegram works. That means starting with two things - Telegram mini apps API and web apps work. 

The former lets you create bots that interact with users via messages, and the latter allows you to run web-based apps inside Telegram chats. 

So, be sure to check out the official Telegram Bot API documentation and explore sample bots and mini apps.

Key Web Apps API methods include main buttons, popups, theming, and viewport management.

Step 4: Development environment

Now, it's time to choose the right development tools and platforms. You'll need to decide on a programming language, framework, and database. The right setup makes coding easier and helps avoid technical problems.

Some popular choices include:

1. Python, Node.js, or PHP for programming languages
2. Flask (Python) or Express (Node.js) for backend development
3. SQLite or PostgreSQL for databases

For Mini Apps, most teams pick Node.js with Express or Nest, plus React on the client to work well with the Telegram Web Apps API. See our post on the best tech stack for Telegram Mini Apps development.

Step 5: Create your bot

For the next step, you'll need to contact @BotFather and follow the instructions. This is Telegram's bot for creating new bots. It'll give you an API token. Then, give your bot a name and username. You can also add a profile picture.

Some tips to keep in mind:

• Choose a memorable and relevant bot username.
• Keep your API token private and never share it publicly.

Add a short start message that links to your Mini App with web_app parameters so users can open the app in one tap.

Step 6: Backend logic

Now, you'll create the logic that makes your app work since the backend is what makes your app functional and interactive:

1. Write code for how your bot responds to messages.
2. Handle messages and make sure your bot understands and replies appropriately.
3. If your app needs to remember information, set up a database like SQLite.

Tips:

• Include ways to handle errors gracefully.
• Keep your code organized for easier updates later.
• Add payment handlers for invoices and Stars if you sell content or subscriptions.

Step 7: Frontend interface

The frontend interface is what users will see when they interact with your mini app. So, first off, design your app to work well on phones and tablets. 

Use buttons and menus to make it easy to use. Frameworks like React will then help create a dynamic interface.

Tips:

• Make sure your app loads quickly.
• Use consistent colors and styles throughout.
• Follow Telegram theming so your app matches chat themes and respects dark mode.

Step 8: Integrate web apps with your bot

You'll now make sure your bot and app work together inside Telegram. Program your bot to send a message that opens your app within Telegram, and then use Telegram's Web App API so your app and bot can share information.

Use Telegram.WebApp.sendData to pass data back to the bot for order confirmations, quiz answers, or support flows.

Step 9: Security measures

Don’t forget about security when building your Telegram mini app. Use HTTPS and secure data transmission protocols, and verify user identities where necessary.

Tips:

• Regularly update your app to fix any security issues.
• Use strong passwords and encryption.
• Verify the integrity of initData on your server before trusting user IDs or usernames.

Step 10: Testing

Before sharing your app, make sure it works well. Go through your app to see if everything functions correctly, and if you find bugs or errors, correct them. How about also asking others to try your app and tell you what they think? 

Test paths across devices – Android, iOS, Desktop – and both portrait and landscape in full-screen.

Step 11: Deployment

Now it's time to make your app available to users:

• Choose a place to host your app. Services like Heroku or AWS can host your app online.
• Move your app from your computer to the hosting service.
• Prepare your app to work well even if many people use it at once.

Typical picks – Render or Railway for quick starts, then AWS, GCP, or Fly.io when traffic grows. Add a CDN for static assets.

Step 12: Promotion

Finally, it's time to promote your mini app. Use social media, Telegram groups, or email to tell people your app is ready. You can also encourage your friends and potential users to try your app. Consider promotions or special features to attract users.

Try a Mini App referral flow and share-to-chat actions. Launch in relevant public channels. For crypto apps, see our focused guide – building a crypto Telegram Mini App.

Tech stack and integrations

Our team recommends these:

• UI – React, Vue, or Svelte along with the Telegram Web Apps JS SDK.
• Backend – Node.js with Express or Nest for flexibility. Python Flask works well for smaller tools and prototypes.
• Database – Postgres for transactional data. Redis for managing sessions and caching.
• Payments – Telegram Payments, Apple Pay, and Google Pay supported through payment providers, with direct integration into Telegram Mini Apps for seamless purchases and transactions.
• Subscriptions – Telegram Stars for in-app subscriptions and TON Connect SDK for integrating cryptocurrency and wallet transactions.
• Web3 – TON Connect JS or React UI components for seamless Web3 integration with wallet connection and digital goods transactions.

Design help: How to develop a design system and Top AI design tools for UX/UI in 2026 to speed up delivery.

Monetization and payments

Some tips for monetization and payments in Telegram Mini Apps:

• One-time purchases and invoices through Telegram Payments and third-party providers, with support for Apple Payand Google Pay where available.
• Subscriptions through Telegram Stars for recurring payments or premium content access, making it easy to build a subscription model directly inside Telegram.
• Ads and sponsored content in Telegram channels that point to your Mini App, allowing you to promote and monetize your app via external advertising.
• Web3 flows with TON Connect SDK for connecting Web3 wallets and enabling cryptocurrency payments or transactions directly within your Mini App.

If you work in finance, check our guides on fintech UX best practices and gamification in fintech.

FAQ

Q1: Do Telegram Mini Apps work on desktop and mobile

Yes – Telegram Mini Apps are fully supported on Android, iOS, and desktop clients. Full-screen modes enhance layouts for mobile and desktop views, making them fully functional across all platforms.

Q2: How do I accept payments in a Mini App

Use Telegram Payments with supported providers, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, for easy in-app purchases and transactions. Payments can be seamlessly integrated into your Mini App experience.

Q3: Can I sell subscriptions inside a Mini App

Yes — Telegram Stars is used for managing in-app subscriptions. You can offer recurring payments for premium content, and with the new Web3 support from TON Connect SDK, you can also integrate cryptocurrency payments directly within Telegram Mini Apps.

Q4: How do I connect a TON wallet

Add TON Connect JS or use the React UI component for seamless wallet integration. Follow the updated handshake flow for secure wallet connections and transaction management.

Q5: What is the difference between a Mini App and a bot

A bot is chat-first, providing basic message interactions. A Mini App renders a full UI inside Telegram and can integrate with bots for richer experiences. For more detailed comparisons, check out our comparison guide.

Conclusion

Overall, Telegram Mini Apps will definitely improve on Telegram experience by offering additional functionalities and services while also providing you with an opportunity to create and distribute your applications within the Telegram ecosystem. 

Use our 12-step guide to build and launch your Telegram mini apps, and remember—you don’t have to do it alone. Merge has professional designers and developers who have experience creating successful applications. All you have to do is reach out.