# A bot users message

> Our users should get tasks, alerts and answers in WhatsApp or Telegram. Nicolas Dao's picks for this job (Cloudless Labs, Sydney), in order of preference, what he would avoid, and what to use instead.

- Use case 12 of 22 in The Stack, last reviewed 22 October 2026
- Web page: https://cloudlesslabs.com/stack/use-cases/messaging-bot/

Picks, in order of preference:

1. **[Telegram Bot API](https://cloudlesslabs.com/stack/telegram/index.md)** (My default): Start here if your users will install it. No approval, no fees, a direct API.
2. **[WhatsApp Business Platform](https://cloudlesslabs.com/stack/whatsapp/index.md)** (Use when it fits): When your users are only on WhatsApp. Verify the business first, and plan the templates and the opt-in.

Worked example: [WhatsApp or Telegram](https://cloudlesslabs.com/stack/guides/whatsapp-or-telegram/index.md)

## The picks in brief

- [Telegram Bot API](https://cloudlesslabs.com/stack/telegram/index.md): My default. The messaging platform that's a pleasure to build on. My first pick for a bot, when the users are there. Pricing: Free: no approval, no per-message fees. Paid broadcasts above the normal limits cost 0.1 Star per message. Digital goods sold inside Telegram must be paid in Telegram Stars.
- [WhatsApp Business Platform](https://cloudlesslabs.com/stack/whatsapp/index.md): Use when it fits. Where your users are, and the platform that fights you hardest. Use it when the audience leaves you no choice. Pricing: Per message delivered, by category and the recipient's country. Marketing, utility and authentication templates are charged. Since 1 October 2026, replies inside the 24-hour window are free only for the first 1,000 a month per number, and utility templates inside the window are charged too. A partner such as WATI adds a monthly plan and, reportedly, a markup on Meta's fees.

## Related

- [WhatsApp or Telegram](https://cloudlesslabs.com/stack/guides/whatsapp-or-telegram/index.md): the worked example for this job, with costs
- [Email and messaging](https://cloudlesslabs.com/stack/layers/email/index.md): every tool in this layer
- [Every use case and tool in one file](https://cloudlesslabs.com/stack/brief.md)
- [Map of every Markdown file on cloudlesslabs.com, with what each one answers](https://ask.cloudlesslabs.com)