Telegram vs. WeChat: The Battle of the Super Apps
WeChat has been the undisputed leader among super apps for years. Launched in 2011, it became an integral part of daily life in China by seamlessly combining messaging, social media, payments, and e-commerce into a single platform. Telegram, although a later entrant in 2013, has rapidly gained ground and is making waves as a strong contender in the global super app space.
Key Differences Between Telegram and WeChat:
| Feature | Telegram | |
| Launch Year | 2011 | 2013 |
| Primary Market | China (Global presence limited) | Global |
| Privacy | Limited encryption; complies with Chinese laws | End-to-end encryption; strict privacy policies |
| Super App Features | Mature ecosystem: payments, shopping, services | Rapidly expanding with Mini Apps and crypto wallets |
| User Base | ~1.3 billion monthly active users (mostly China) | Over 800 million monthly active users (global) |
WeChat has long dominated the Chinese market as an all-in-one app, but Telegram is making serious moves to challenge it on the global stage. With its focus on privacy, cutting-edge features, and tools for developers, Telegram is carving out a unique space. Thanks to Telegram Mini Apps (TMA), developers can now create web apps that integrate seamlessly into the platform, helping it quickly narrow the gap and expand its appeal worldwide.
Now, let’s dive into how you can create your own mini app and join the growing wave of developers leveraging Telegram’s potential.
What Are Telegram Mini Apps, and Why Are They So Popular?
Telegram Mini Apps (TMA) are essentially web applications running inside the Telegram ecosystem. Think of them as standard websites built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but with access to Telegram’s unique features. These include user data integration and built-in payment systems.
Why Developers Love TMAs:
| Feature | Benefit |
| No App Store or Google Play Review | Skip the lengthy moderation process and launch faster. |
| No Installation Needed | Users can access your app directly in Telegram. |
| Freedom of Tech Stack | Build with React, Vue, or plain JavaScript—whatever suits you. |
| Huge Audience | Reach over 800 million Telegram users. |
Examples of Successful Telegram Mini Apps
Let’s take a look at a few real-world examples to see what’s possible:
- Wallet – A TON wallet with a feature to purchase usernames.
- Hamster Kombat – A tapper game that gained massive engagement.
- DurgerKing – A parody fast-food chain experience, just for fun.
How to Get Started with Telegram Mini Apps
What You Need:
- A code editor (VS Code or WebStorm will work fine).
- Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Telegram installed on your phone and computer.
- The desire to explore something new.
Step 1: Create a Helper Bot
Your journey starts with creating a bot. This bot will act as the entry point for your application. Here’s how to do it:
- Search for @BotFather in Telegram.
- Send the command /newbot.
- Choose a name for your bot.
- Save the token provided by BotFather—you’ll need it to interact with the API.
For instance, here’s a simple bot built with Node.js:
const TelegramBot = require(‘node-telegram-bot-api’);
const bot = new TelegramBot(token, { polling: true });
bot.onText(/\/start/, (msg) => {
const chatId = msg.chat.id;
bot.sendMessage(chatId, ‘Welcome! Click the button below to open the app.’, {
reply_markup: {
inline_keyboard: [[
{
text: ‘Open App’,
web_app: { url: ‘https://your-domain.com/app’ }
}
]]
}
});
});
Step 2: Set Up Your Environment
Create a basic project structure:
my-tma/
├── index.html
├── styles/
│ └── main.css
├── scripts/
│ └── app.js
└── assets/
└── images/
Minimal index.html:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset=”UTF-8″>
<meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0″>
<title>My First TMA</title>
<link rel=”stylesheet” href=”styles/main.css”>
<script src=”https://telegram.org/js/telegram-web-app.js”></script>
</head>
<body>
<div id=”app”>
<h1>Hello, Telegram!</h1>
</div>
<script src=”scripts/app.js”></script>
</body>
</html>
Step 3: Build Your App
Here’s an example of a simple counter app:
app.js:
const app = {
data: { count: 0 },
init() {
this.setupTheme();
this.setupCounter();
this.setupMainButton();
},
setupTheme() {
const theme = window.Telegram.WebApp.themeParams;
document.body.style.backgroundColor = theme.bg_color;
document.body.style.color = theme.text_color;
},
setupCounter() {
const counter = document.createElement(‘div’);
counter.innerHTML = `
<h2>Counter: <span id=”count”>0</span></h2>
<button id=”increment”>+1</button>
<button id=”decrement”>-1</button>
`;
document.querySelector(‘#app’).appendChild(counter);
document.querySelector(‘#increment’).onclick = () => this.updateCount(1);
document.querySelector(‘#decrement’).onclick = () => this.updateCount(-1);
},
setupMainButton() {
const MainButton = window.Telegram.WebApp.MainButton;
MainButton.setText(‘Save’);
MainButton.onClick(() => this.saveData());
MainButton.show();
},
updateCount(delta) {
this.data.count += delta;
document.querySelector(‘#count’).textContent = this.data.count;
},
saveData() {
window.Telegram.WebApp.sendData(JSON.stringify(this.data));
}
};
window.Telegram.WebApp.ready();
app.init();
Styling Your App
Use Telegram’s design guidelines to ensure a native look. Here are basic styles:
/* main.css */
body {
margin: 0;
padding: 16px;
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ‘Segoe UI’, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
}
#app {
max-width: 600px;
margin: 0 auto;
}
button {
background: var(–tg-theme-button-color, #3390ec);
color: var(–tg-theme-button-text-color, #ffffff);
border: none;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 8px 16px;
margin: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
}
button:hover {
opacity: 0.9;
}
Expanding Functionality
After building the basics, you can:
- Integrate TON for payments.
- Save user data on a server.
- Add animations and advanced logic.
What’s Next?
- Host your app on an HTTPS server.
- Add the app URL via @BotFather.
- Test in real-world conditions.
- Gather user feedback and iterate.
By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful Telegram Mini App that takes full advantage of the platform’s growing ecosystem.
