Telegram Bot API Server vs qTox
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?
Telegram Bot API Server
Self-hosted local Telegram Bot API server
VS
qTox
Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging and calls over Tox
| Feature | Telegram Bot API Server | qTox |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | BSL-1.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,395 | ★ 4,977 |
| First released | 2021 | 2014 |
| Replaces | — | Skype, WhatsApp |
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++
Choose qTox if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Telegram Bot API Server or qTox better?
Neither is universally better. qTox has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Telegram Bot API Server and qTox free and open-source?
Yes. Telegram Bot API Server is licensed under BSL-1.0 and qTox under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Telegram Bot API Server and qTox with Docker?
Telegram Bot API Server: yes. qTox: check the project docs for container support.