Telegram Bot API Server vs The Lounge

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
FeatureTelegram Bot API ServerThe Lounge
CategoryChat & CommunicationChat & Communication
LicenseBSL-1.0MIT
LanguageC++TypeScript
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM256 MB256 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metal, sourcedocker, binary, source
GitHub stars★ 4,395★ 6,309
First released20212014
ReplacesIRCCloud, Slack

Why pick each one

Choose Telegram Bot API Server if…

  • Released under the BSL-1.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Active community (4.4k GitHub stars)
  • Written in C++
Telegram Bot API Server details

Choose The Lounge if…

  • Great IRC experience in the browser
  • Multi-user support
The Lounge details

Frequently asked questions

Is Telegram Bot API Server or The Lounge better?

The Lounge is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Telegram Bot API Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Telegram Bot API Server and The Lounge free and open-source?

Yes. Telegram Bot API Server is licensed under BSL-1.0 and The Lounge under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Telegram Bot API Server and The Lounge with Docker?

Telegram Bot API Server: yes. The Lounge: yes.

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