Telegram has started a closed beta test of the Serverless feature. There is no full release yet, but in the future the tool will allow bots to be hosted directly on Telegram’s servers without renting a separate VPS. You can already apply for early access through @BotFather.
How it will work after release
Currently, running a bot requires a separate VPS, a domain with an SSL certificate, and webhook configuration. For a bot to respond to commands, Telegram is given the address of an external server where the messenger forwards incoming requests and user actions. If the hosting provider has issues or the server is overloaded, the bot stops responding.
According to the developers’ plan, after the full launch of Serverless, the messenger will handle code execution itself. This will eliminate the need to pay for third-party hosting, monitor uptime, and manually connect scripts to the API through webhooks.
How to apply for testing
The tool is currently being tested in closed mode, and access is granted by application. To request access:
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Open @BotFather and select the required bot.
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Find the Serverless option.
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Click the Get access to Serverless button.
After the application is approved, BotFather will send a notification and instructions for working with scripts in the chat.
What tasks the tool is suitable for
Serverless will be suitable for simple bots:
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Bots for collecting contacts, lead forms, and initial traffic qualification;
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Forwarding notifications and leads from a CRM;
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Simple backends for Telegram Mini Apps;
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Bots for AI tools, where Telegram only receives a request and passes it to an external API.
For large-scale projects with PostgreSQL databases and integrations with third-party services, a separate server will still be required. But for simple scenarios and lead collection, Serverless will make it possible to completely eliminate VPS costs.
