Better Telegram MCP - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Better Telegram MCP

before you install - you'll need

Set TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN, MCP_TRANSPORT, PUBLIC_URL, MCP_DCR_SERVER_SECRET before connecting.

Claude Code

claude mcp add n24q02m-better-telegram-mcp -- uvx better-telegram-mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "n24q02m-better-telegram-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "better-telegram-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as local process (stdio) - runs on your machine with your user's permissions · container (OCI image) - can be sandboxed away from your filesystem

license Apache-2.0 - declared in the repository

pypi package better-telegram-mcp - check the name against the project README before installing (PyPI has no namespace ownership)

registry namespace io.github.n24q02m is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What Better Telegram MCP can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

What you can build

With this server connected, an agent can send, edit, delete, forward messages. Pin, react, search, browse history, list and manage chats, groups, channels. Members, admin, forum topics, send photos, files, voice notes, videos. Download media from messages, and list, search, add contacts. Block/unblock users (user mode only).

Capability map

Tools grouped from the project's README - what Better Telegram MCP lets an agent do.

Config

2 tools - e.g. Server status, runtime settings, cache, credential setup (relay, status, reset, complete); Re-trigger the zero-config relay setup flow (prints a fresh relay URL for the browser form). Registered via…

config · config__open_relay

Message

1 tool - e.g. Send, edit, delete, forward messages. Pin, react, search, browse history

message

Chat

1 tool - e.g. List and manage chats, groups, channels. Members, admin, forum topics

chat

Media

1 tool - e.g. Send photos, files, voice notes, videos. Download media from messages

media

Contact

1 tool - e.g. List, search, add contacts. Block/unblock users (user mode only)

contact

Help

1 tool - e.g. Full documentation for any topic

help

Latest releases

v4.17.0 · 2026-07-18

v4.17.0 (2026-07-18) · _This release is published under the MIT License._ · --- · Detailed Changes: v4.17.0-beta.1...v4.17.0

v4.16.0 · 2026-07-14

v4.16.0 (2026-07-14) · _This release is published under the MIT License._ · Lock file maintenance (#931, 4505561) · Add smithery.yaml for stdio deployment (#933, 74acd75) · --- · Detailed Changes…

04 · Who maintains Better Telegram MCP

Better Telegram MCP is maintained by n24q02m. We track 9 MCP servers from n24q02m - 9 actively maintained, 209 combined GitHub stars, oldest repo from Dec 2025. Full record: all servers from n24q02m.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/n24q02m/better-telegram-mcp
category: communication - ranked #18 of 99 actively-maintained communication servers as of 2026-08-25.
release cadence: 2 releases in the last 90 days (latest 2026-07-18)
registry: io.github.n24q02m/better-telegram-mcp (active, first published 2026-03-15 · 61 versions)
packages: pypi:better-telegram-mcp · oci:docker.io/n24q02m/better-telegram-mcp:latest

06 · Better Telegram MCP FAQ

Is Better Telegram MCP still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-08-24 and it shipped 2 releases in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

What can Better Telegram MCP do?

With this server connected, an agent can send, edit, delete, forward messages. Pin, react, search, browse history, list and manage chats, groups, channels. Members, admin, forum topics, send photos, files, voice notes, videos. Download media from messages, and list, search, add contacts. Block/unblock users (user mode only).

How do I install Better Telegram MCP?

Run `uvx better-telegram-mcp`. The README documents 4 environment variables (TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN, MCP_TRANSPORT, PUBLIC_URL…) to set first. Set TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN, MCP_TRANSPORT, PUBLIC_URL, MCP_DCR_SERVER_SECRET before connecting. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Better Telegram MCP run locally?

Yes - it's a stdio server: it runs on your machine (via uvx) with your user's permissions. Your data stays local unless the server itself calls external APIs.

07 · Alternatives to Better Telegram MCP

Alternatives to Better Telegram MCP

Maintained communication servers if Better Telegram MCP isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

Servers that cover what Better Telegram MCP doesn't - only shown when the pairing reason fits the companion.

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