Hey friend! Thinking about creating your own Telegram bot? Great idea! These digital assistants can work wonders: from simple notifications and news parsing to complex smart home control systems, customer support, or even entire interactive games and services. And to ensure your bot runs like a Swiss watch, 24/7, without interruptions and independent of your home computer, it’s best to host it on a reliable VPS or VDS, for example, from Valebyte. Stability is key!

But here’s the question: what language to use? If you, like me, love Python for its simplicity, power, and huge community, then you’re on the right track! For Python, there are several excellent libraries that greatly simplify interaction with the Telegram Bot API. Choosing the right library can save you a lot of time and frustration. Some are better for beginners, some for high-load projects, and some are tailored for specific tasks. Let’s explore the top 5 most popular and relevant Python libraries for Telegram bots in 2025. Let’s see what they can do, how they differ, and which one is right for you.

What’s on the Menu:

Why does a bot need a VPS/VDS?

Listen, of course, you can run the bot on your home laptop. But let’s be honest: laptop turned off – bot asleep. Home internet went down – bot offline. The computer decided to update and restart at the most inconvenient moment – the bot is unavailable again. This is not serious if you want your bot to work stably and be available to users at any time.

A VPS/VDS (virtual or dedicated server) is just what the doctor ordered. You get your own piece of a server in a data center with guaranteed power, stable internet, and the ability to work 24/7/365. Your bot will live its own life there, regardless of your computer. Plus, you get complete control over the environment, you can configure everything as needed, install the necessary dependencies, and be sure that no one accidentally closes the console with the running script. For a serious Python project, especially if many users are expected, a VPS from Valebyte is a must-have.

“Automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.”

Bill Gates

So let’s choose an efficient tool (library) for our automation!

What criteria will we use to compare libraries?

To understand which library is best suited for your tasks, let’s define the evaluation criteria:

  • Type (Synchronous/Asynchronous): Does the library use the asyncio module? Asynchronous libraries usually handle a larger number of concurrent requests and I/O operations better (e.g., waiting for a response from the Telegram API or working with a database).
  • Ease of use (for beginners): How easy is it to get started and write your first working bot? Is the syntax clear, is the structure logical?
  • Functionality: How completely does the library cover the capabilities of the Telegram Bot API? Support for buttons (regular and inline), working with files (sending/receiving photos, videos, documents), inline mode, payments, games, managing groups and channels. An important aspect is the presence of built-in tools for managing user state (FSM — Finite State Machine), which is very convenient for creating multi-step dialogs.
  • Documentation and examples: How good is the official documentation? Are there clear code examples, tutorials that will help you get started quickly?
  • Development activity: Is the library alive? How often are updates released, bugs fixed, and support for new Telegram API features added? Abandoned projects are not our option.
  • Community: How large and active is the community around the library? Are there active chats on Telegram, an active Issues section on GitHub where you can ask a question or find a solution to a problem?
  • Performance: How efficiently does the library use the resources of your VPS and handle a flurry of updates from Telegram if the bot becomes popular?

python-telegram-bot: The Good Old Veteran

Let’s start with python-telegram-bot (PTB). This is one of the oldest, most well-known, and for a long time, most popular libraries. It has come a long way, and its main advantage is incredible functionality and stability. PTB seems to cover all the possibilities of the Bot API.

Important point: up to version 20, PTB was synchronous, which made it easy to start but less efficient under load. Starting with version 20 (released in 2022), the library was completely rewritten using asyncio! This is a huge plus for performance, but the learning curve for those unfamiliar with asynchronous programming has become slightly steeper. If you’re looking for old guides, pay attention to the version – the code for v13 and v20+ is very different.

Logo or symbol of the python-telegram-bot library
python-telegram-bot: Powerful and functional

Installation

Installed like all Python packages, via pip. Make sure you have Python 3.8+ for the latest version.

pip install python-telegram-bot

Key Features

  • Type: Asynchronous (starting from v20).
  • Ease of use: For beginners in asyncio, it may seem more complex than purely synchronous or some other asynchronous libraries with a higher level of abstraction. But the structure of handlers is quite logical.
  • Functionality: Excellent. Full support for the Bot API. Powerful handler system (message handlers, command handlers, callbacks). Built-in utilities for working with persistence (saving data between restarts), ConversationHandler for creating dialogs (FSM implementation).
  • Documentation and examples: Very good, detailed documentation. Many code examples in the official repository, covering almost all aspects of work. There is a Wiki.
  • Development activity: Very active. Regular updates, prompt addition of new Telegram API features, active bug fixing.
  • Community: Huge, one of the largest. Active Telegram chat, lively GitHub Issues. Finding help is easy.
  • Performance: With the transition to asyncio (v20+), performance has significantly increased and become very good, suitable for high-load bots.

Verdict: A reliable, powerful, time-tested choice. If you are not afraid of asyncio and need maximum functionality with good support – PTB is a great candidate. Official website.

aiogram: The Asynchronous King of the CIS

aiogram is a relatively young but incredibly popular library, especially in the Russian-speaking community. It was initially created as a fully asynchronous (asyncio-based) library and quickly gained the love of developers thanks to its modern approach, clean API, and excellent out-of-the-box capabilities.

Many consider it more «Pythonic» and intuitive than PTB (especially when compared to the asynchronous version of PTB). If you are already familiar with asyncio or want to master it in practice – aiogram is a great start.

Logo or symbol of the aiogram library
aiogram: Modern, asynchronous, popular

Installation

Standardly via pip. Requires Python 3.7+.

pip install -U aiogram

Key Features

  • Type: Fully asynchronous.
  • Ease of use: Considered one of the easiest to get into asynchronous bot development. Logical structure using decorators to register handlers.
  • Functionality: Excellent. Supports all the main features of the Bot API. Has a very convenient built-in state machine (FSM) for creating complex dialogs – one of the killer features. Flexible filter system for handlers. Middlewares for processing incoming and outgoing requests.
  • Documentation and examples: Good documentation, available in Russian and English. Many examples in the repository and in the documentation itself.
  • Development activity: Very active. The library is constantly evolving, version 3.x is released with new features and improvements.
  • Community: Huge, especially in the CIS. Very active support chats on Telegram (Russian and English), where you can quickly get help. Active GitHub.
  • Performance: Excellent, thanks to asyncio, it handles high loads well.

Verdict: A modern, powerful, convenient, and very popular choice for asynchronous bots. If you are focused on asyncio and want a convenient FSM out of the box – aiogram is most likely your favorite. Official website.

Telethon: The Power of the Client API for Bots

And here’s where it gets interesting. Telethon is also an asynchronous library, but its main purpose is working with the Telegram API at a lower level, via the MTProto protocol. This is the same protocol used by official Telegram clients (desktop, mobile). This means that with Telethon you can not only create bots but also automate actions on behalf of a regular user (user-bot) or access functions not available through the standard Bot API (for example, read chat history, manage contacts, etc.).

Although Telethon can also work with the Bot API, its syntax and approach may seem less convenient for purely bot tasks compared to PTB or aiogram, which are specifically designed for the Bot API. But if you need the power of MTProto – Telethon is one of the best options.

Logo or symbol of the Telethon library
Telethon: Deep dive into the Telegram API (MTProto)

Installation

As usual, via pip. Python 3.6+.

pip install -U telethon

Key Features

  • Type: Fully asynchronous.
  • Ease of use: For simple bots, it can be more complex than specialized libraries. Requires understanding of MTProto concepts and the Telegram API at a lower level. But for those who need client-side features, the API is quite logical.
  • Functionality: Huge. Allows you to do almost everything that the official Telegram client can do. Can work both as a bot (via Bot API token) and as a client (via API ID/Hash obtained at my.telegram.org).
  • Documentation and examples: Very good and detailed documentation (docs.telethon.dev), which explains many concepts of the Telegram API. There are usage examples.
  • Development activity: Active. The library is supported and updated.
  • Community: A fairly large and active community, especially among those who work with user-bots or complex automation. There is a support chat on Telegram.
  • Performance: Good, thanks to asynchronous operation and direct work with MTProto.

Verdict: A powerful tool if you need more than just the Bot API. Great for user-bots, parsers, complex integrations. For creating «regular» bots, it may be redundant and slightly more difficult to learn than aiogram or PTB. Official website.

Pyrogram: Modern MTProto-Combiner

Pyrogram is another modern, elegant, and powerful asynchronous library for working with the Telegram API via MTProto. In many ways, it is similar to Telethon and is its direct competitor. It also allows you to create both bots and user-bots, providing full access to Telegram’s capabilities.

The choice between Pyrogram and Telethon often comes down to personal preferences in syntax and library architecture. Pyrogram is often praised for its more «Pythonic» and object-oriented approach, as well as for some convenient high-level abstractions.

Logo or symbol of the Pyrogram library
Pyrogram: Elegant work with MTProto and Bot API

Installation

Via pip. Requires Python 3.6+.

pip install -U pyrogram

For working with files and cryptography, tgcrypto may be required:

pip install -U tgcrypto

Key Features

  • Type: Fully asynchronous.
  • Ease of use: Like Telethon, it can be more difficult for beginners in bot development compared to PTB/aiogram, but it has an elegant API for working with MTProto. It is considered quite friendly for those already familiar with asynchronous Python.
  • Functionality: Huge. Full access to the MTProto API. Can work as a bot and as a client. Convenient handlers, filters.
  • Documentation and examples: Very good, structured documentation (docs.pyrogram.org) with many examples.
  • Development activity: Active. The library is alive and developing.
  • Community: Active community, support chats on Telegram (English, Italian and others).
  • Performance: Excellent, comparable to Telethon.

Verdict: An excellent alternative to Telethon for working with MTProto. If you need access to the client API and like the modern OOP approach – be sure to take a look at Pyrogram. For purely bot tasks, it may also be redundant, but it is quite applicable. Official website.

Telepot: Simplicity (with nuances)

Telepot was once a fairly popular library, especially among beginners, due to its simplicity and clear syntax. It offered both synchronous and asynchronous (asyncio and tornado) ways of working.

But there is a big caveat: Telepot development has practically stopped. The last commits in the repository were a long time ago, support for new Telegram API functions is not being carried out. Although the library can still work for simple tasks on old API versions, I would not recommend using it for new projects in 2025. It is much more reasonable to choose one of the actively developing libraries, such as PTB or aiogram.

Logo or symbol of the Telepot library
Telepot: Simple, but outdated

Installation

(Showing for information, but remember about inactivity):

pip install telepot

Key Features (Historically)

  • Type: Synchronous / Asynchronous (`asyncio`, `tornado`).
  • Ease of Use: Considered very simple for beginners.
  • Functionality: Supported basic Bot API functions at the time of its active development. Lacks support for many new features.
  • Documentation and Examples: Documentation exists, but may be outdated.
  • Development Activity: Practically nonexistent. Major drawback.
  • Community: Inactive. Finding up-to-date help is difficult.
  • Performance: The synchronous version is not suitable for heavy loads. Asynchronous versions are better, but underperform compared to modern PTB/aiogram.

Verdict: Not recommended for new projects in 2025 due to lack of development and support. It’s better to choose PTB or aiogram right away. Documentation (archived).

Comparison Table: A Quick Glance

Let’s summarize the key characteristics in a table for clarity:

LibraryTypeEase of Use (Beginner)Functionality (Bot API + FSM)Development ActivityWebsite/Docs
python-telegram-botAsync (v20+)Medium (due to asyncio)Excellent + Built-in FSM (ConversationHandler)Very Highpython-telegram-bot.org
aiogramAsyncHigh (for async)Excellent + Built-in FSM (very convenient)Very Highaiogram.dev
TelethonAsyncLow (for bots) / Medium (for MTProto)Maximum (MTProto) / Basic (Bot API) / No out-of-the-box FSMHighdocs.telethon.dev
PyrogramAsyncLow (for bots) / Medium (for MTProto)Maximum (MTProto) / Good (Bot API) / No out-of-the-box FSMHighdocs.pyrogram.org
TelepotSync/AsyncHigh (historically)Basic (outdated) / No FSMNonetelepot.readthedocs.io
Comparison table of Python libraries for Telegram bots

Conclusions: Which Library Should You Choose?

So, friend, we’ve gone through the most notable Python libraries for creating Telegram bots. We figured out why you need a VPS/VDS for stable operation, discussed selection criteria, and examined five candidates in detail, including their strengths and weaknesses, the installation process, and key features. You now know that not all libraries are equally useful, and some (like Telepot) are best avoided in new projects.

So which one should you choose? Here’s my friendly advice:

  • Are you new to `asyncio` or do you want the most convenient work with states (FSM) and a modern approach? Take aiogram. A huge Russian-speaking community will help if anything.
  • Are you already familiar with `asyncio` or ready to learn it, value stability, detailed documentation, and the most complete coverage of the Bot API from a time-tested solution? Your choice is python-telegram-bot (v20+).
  • Do you need to do something beyond the standard Bot API? Need a user bot, a chat parser, or access to low-level Telegram functions? Look towards Telethon or Pyrogram. Choose the one whose API and philosophy seem closer to you.
  • Want to use Telepot? Think again and choose aiogram or PTB 😉.

Remember, the best way to choose is to try! Create a simple echo bot using two or three libraries you like. Look at the code, read the documentation, try adding buttons or a simple dialog. This way you will quickly feel which tool lies better in your hand.

In any case, with any of the actively developed libraries (PTB, aiogram, Telethon, Pyrogram) and a reliable VPS/VDS from Valebyte you can create a cool and useful Telegram bot. Good luck with your development!