Better-TG-CLI (Telegram)

Name: Better-TG-CLI (Telegram)
Author: TheVilfer

by TheVilferversion 0.39.6i★ 7iRuns on your computer

Registry nameio.github.TheVilfer/better-tg-cli

How to install

What it does

Telegram on your own account: read, search, send and press bot buttons. Writes need your approval.

Connects Runs on your computer
Account or key No key needed
Category Chat & email

Install

Pick the AI app you use, then copy the settings.

Passed 3/3 checks · Runs on your computer · ✓ Commands checked Nov 13, 2026

First: which AI do you use?

ClaudeWeb · app · phoneChatGPTWebClaude CodeTerminalCursorCode editorVS CodeCode editorOtherOther apps

Pick your app and the steps appear below.

Works with Claude, with some setup first

You need a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key (create it on the maker’s site) · Install Node.js on your computer first (one time) · Only the Claude desktop app (Windows or Mac), not the web or phone

Install Node.js
One time only; it works for every server that needs Node.js
Open the Node.js download page ↗
Done
Sign up and create a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key
Open the maker’s site, sign up and create an API key for the next step. Check the maker’s site for pricing and free plans.
Open the Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) site ↗
Done
Open the Claude desktop app’s settings file
SettingsDeveloperEdit Config
Done

Paste these settings and save the file

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "better-tg-cli": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "better-tg-cli",
        "mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "TG_PROFILE": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Paste the key only into the app’s field, never into a chat or to anyone

Done

Quit Claude and open it again
Done
Try it
Use Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) and tell me what you can do for me, then show me one thing
✓ If Claude says it is using Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) or shows a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) tool in the answer, you are connected

Menu names checked against Anthropic’s help page on Nov 11, 2026 · your screen may differ slightly by app version

ChatGPT cannot connect Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) yet

Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) runs on your computer, but ChatGPT can only connect servers that run on the web

What you can do instead

A · Use an app that can connect Better-TG-CLI (Telegram)

Steps for Claude →You need a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key (create it on the maker’s site) · Install Node.js on your computer first (one time) · Only the Claude desktop app (Windows or Mac), not the web or phone
Steps for Claude Code →You need a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key (create it on the maker’s site) · Install Node.js on your computer first (one time)
Steps for Cursor →You need a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key (create it on the maker’s site) · Install Node.js on your computer first (one time)
Steps for VS Code →You need a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key (create it on the maker’s site) · Install Node.js on your computer first (one time)

B · Others in Chat & email that work with ChatGPT

Picked from the most used in the same category, only ones that connect by address with no key

Inbox Zero✓ ChatGPT
draw.io✓ ChatGPT
TradingMCP✓ ChatGPT

Works with Claude Code, with some setup first

You need a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key (create it on the maker’s site) · Install Node.js on your computer first (one time)

Install Node.js
One time only; it works for every server that needs Node.js
Open the Node.js download page ↗
Done
Sign up and create a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key
Open the maker’s site, sign up and create an API key for the next step. Check the maker’s site for pricing and free plans.
Open the Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) site ↗
Done
Open Terminal
Mac: press Command+Space and type Terminal · Windows: open PowerShell
Done
4
Paste this command and press Enter
```
claude mcp add --scope user better-tg-cli --env TG_PROFILE=your-value -- npx -y better-tg-cli mcp
```
Replace “your-value” with your key before pressing Enter
Paste the key only into the app’s field, never into a chat or to anyone
Done
Type /mcp in Claude Code
You should see Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) listed as connected
Done
Try it
Use Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) and tell me what you can do for me, then show me one thing
✓ If Claude Code says it is using Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) or shows a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) tool in the answer, you are connected

Menu names checked against Anthropic’s help page on Nov 11, 2026 · your screen may differ slightly by app version

Works with Cursor, with some setup first

You need a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key (create it on the maker’s site) · Install Node.js on your computer first (one time)

Install Node.js
One time only; it works for every server that needs Node.js
Open the Node.js download page ↗
Done
Sign up and create a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key
Open the maker’s site, sign up and create an API key for the next step. Check the maker’s site for pricing and free plans.
Open the Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) site ↗
Done
Click this button to open Cursor
Open in Cursor
Cursor asks you to confirm; click Install
Done
Fill in your key
In the Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) settings, TG_PROFILE is empty; add your key and save
Paste the key only into the app’s field, never into a chat or to anyone
Done
Open the AI chat in Cursor in Agent mode
Done
Try it
Use Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) and tell me what you can do for me, then show me one thing
✓ If Cursor says it is using Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) or shows a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) tool in the answer, you are connected

Menu names checked against Cursor’s help page on Nov 11, 2026 · your screen may differ slightly by app version

Works with VS Code, with some setup first

You need a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key (create it on the maker’s site) · Install Node.js on your computer first (one time)

Install Node.js
One time only; it works for every server that needs Node.js
Open the Node.js download page ↗
Done
Sign up and create a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key
Open the maker’s site, sign up and create an API key for the next step. Check the maker’s site for pricing and free plans.
Open the Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) site ↗
Done
Click this button to open VS Code
Open in VS Code
VS Code asks you to confirm; click Install
Done
Fill in your key
In the Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) settings, TG_PROFILE is empty; add your key and save
Paste the key only into the app’s field, never into a chat or to anyone
Done
Open the AI chat in VS Code in Agent mode
Done
Try it
Use Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) and tell me what you can do for me, then show me one thing
✓ If VS Code says it is using Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) or shows a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) tool in the answer, you are connected

Menu names checked against VS Code’s help page on Nov 11, 2026 · your screen may differ slightly by app version

Other apps that use MCP, such as Windsurf, Zed or Gemini CLI, each add servers differently. See how in the app list.

See every app that uses MCP →

JSON settings are under “For developers” below

Stuck? Ask people who use Better-TG-CLI (Telegram)💬 Discussion →

For developers: Terminal commands and JSON settings

Installed on your computer

Claude Code

claude mcp add --scope user better-tg-cli --env TG_PROFILE=your-value -- npx -y better-tg-cli mcp

Claude Desktop (claude_desktop_config.json)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "better-tg-cli": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "better-tg-cli",
        "mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "TG_PROFILE": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cursor (~/.cursor/mcp.json)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "better-tg-cli": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "better-tg-cli",
        "mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "TG_PROFILE": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

VS Code (mcp.json)

{
  "servers": {
    "better-tg-cli": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "better-tg-cli",
        "mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "TG_PROFILE": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Values you fill in

TG_PROFILE env
Optional profile name, to keep this client on a separate Telegram session

These settings are generated from the maker’s registry entry. If the README says otherwise, follow the README.

At a glance

GitHub stars i: 7
Downloads per weeki: 1,834/wk
Licence i: MIT
Connection: Runs on your computer
Transport: stdio
Latest versioni: 0.39.6
Categoryi: Chat & email
Published to registryi: Nov 6, 2026
Code last changedi: Nov 8, 2026
Maker: TheVilfer
Packages: npm: better-tg-cli
Repo: TheVilfer/better-tg-cli
Website: github.com
Registry status: Active

Which apps can use it

Based on how this server connects and on each app’s own docs, checked Nov 10, 2026.

Run on your computer in

Claude Goose LM Studio Msty Studio Cherry Studio Cursor VS Code + GitHub Copilot Visual Studio Windsurf (Devin Desktop)Zed Kiro Cline Continue JetBrains AI Assistant Claude Code Codex CLI Gemini CLI OpenCode nodecode Warp LibreChat Raycast

All apps, with pros and cons →

What it can do

Runs on your computer; the tool list appears in your AI app after you install it.

Basic checksi

We check information anyone can see; we have not read the code. Checks that do not apply are left out of the count. · Checked Nov 13, 2026

✓ Pass
Maker matches the repo
The registry name was verified with the GitHub account TheVilfer, which owns the repo
✓ Pass
Still maintained
Code last changed 5 days ago
✓ Pass
Has a licence
Uses MIT
– Not applicable
Endpoint responds
This one runs on your computer; there is no internet endpoint
– Not applicable
Sign-in with OAuth
Runs on your computer and uses local settings instead
… Not checked yet
No hidden instructions in tool descriptions
Runs on your computer; we can only read tool lists from internet endpoints

Discussion

Ask, share a tip or report that it does not work. Sorted by what people marked helpful.

No posts yet. Be the first to ask or share.

Posts here are written by users, not the PopNx team.

User reviews

No reviews yet

Compared with others in Chat & emaili

More stars than 94% of the other 1996 servers in this category
Published to the registry more recently than 80% of the other 1996 servers in this category
Basic checks equal to or better than 100% of the other 1996 servers in this category

Compared with every active server in this category in the registry. Stars count only when the publisher owns the repo.

Common questions

Is Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) safe?

It passed 3 of 3 applicable basic checks. We have not read the code. Before adding a key or token, see what access the server asks for and use a key with only the permissions you need.

What keys or codes does it need?

The registry does not list a required key, though some servers ask you to sign in on first use.

Does it run on my computer or in the cloud?

It runs on your computer. Your AI app starts it when needed, and data does not pass through the maker’s servers (unless it calls an online service itself).

Is it still maintained?

The GitHub repo last changed 5 days ago, and the latest version (0.39.6) reached the registry 7 days ago.

Which apps can use it?

Apps that support MCP, such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code. You also need Node.js on your computer.

What can I use instead?

In the same category: Inbox Zero, draw.io, TradingMCP

Others in the same category

Servers in the same category from other makers, sorted by stars.

Reading a card:↓ Downloads per weeki★ GitHub starsiThree pillars: reviews · checks · usageiUpdated = latest version published to the registryi

Inbox Zero

Search Gmail and Outlook, save drafts, manage email rules, and view email stats.

by elie222Widely used★ 13KUpdated 43 days ago

Runs in the cloud

How to connect

draw.io

Create draw.io diagrams in chat from Mermaid or XML, shown live and interactive. 10,000+ shapes.

by jgraphWidely used★ 5.8KUpdated 3 days ago

Runs in the cloud✓ service owner · draw.io

How to connect

TradingMCP

Market analysis for AI assistants: screeners, multi-timeframe analysis, backtests, in-chat charts.

by atilaahmettanerWidely used★ 5.3KUpdated 22 days ago

Runs in the cloud

How to connect

README from the maker

Open the README

Copied from the maker’s repo as written. PopNx MCP has not reviewed or endorsed it. HTML, images and scripts are removed. Links lead off this site.

Install · Reference · Security · Issues · Русский · Español

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d143f7c7-7d50-439c-b373-cbcbff5a6675

Better-TG-CLI is a Telegram CLI and MCP server for AI agents (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Claude Desktop, Gemini CLI) that works on your own Telegram account: agents read, search and send messages and press bot buttons, and you approve every send.

It is an unofficial, open-source client (MTProto via teleproto, TL layer 229). The command is telegram: about 60 commands for reading, searching, writing, bots, groups and exports, built so that agents can drive it cheaply and safely. It also ships as an MCP server (telegram mcp) and an agent skill.

$ telegram inbox -n 3

48 unread in 7 chats (showing 3) 1234567890 user unread=2 Alice @alice | see you at 7? -1001234567 supergroup muted unread=41 Rust Seattle @rust_sea | anyone tried 1.90? -1009876543 channel unread=5 Changelog | v2.4 is out $ telegram read @alice -n 1 --json {"chatTitle":"Alice","messages":[{"id":812,"date":"2026-09-27T10:02:11.000Z","sender":"Alice","senderId":"1234567890","text":"see you at 7?"}]}

[!WARNING]

Your account, your risk. This is an unofficial client that logs in as you. Telegram may

limit or freeze accounts that behave like bots. The risk is highest for new accounts, bulk

messaging, mass joins or invites, and anything that looks like spam. Use it the way you would

use Telegram yourself, keep writes off unless you need them, and read SECURITY.md

before letting an agent write. The authors are not responsible for restricted accounts.

Contents: Why Better-TG-CLI · Install · Log in · Usage · MCP server · FAQ · Development · Privacy · License

Why Better-TG-CLI

Made for agents:

Current Telegram layer. Bot replies with rich (layer 228+) content show real text instead of (no text). You can press bot buttons (click) and walk bot menus.
Token-efficient output. Off a TTY you get one compact line per item with the ID first, and JSON on one line with empty fields dropped. --max-text trims long posts. telegram help-all -g prints every flag, generated from the code.
Exact reads. Real pagination for --since/--until, --unread, threads and channel comments, forum topics, get by ID, search filters by type, sender or date, and me / Избранное for Saved Messages.
You approve every message. After login the agent asks you in the chat before each send, edit or delete, and shows the exact text; it sends only after your yes. Writing without asking (write-access on) needs your own confirmation in a terminal or a macOS dialog. Every write is logged to ~/.config/tg/audit.jsonl. Secrets live in the macOS Keychain, the Linux Secret Service or 1Password.
Small and self-contained. The npm package is one 0.3 MB file with zero runtime dependencies. Homebrew installs a standalone binary with no Node.

It started as a fork of skillhq/telegram and has since been reworked throughout.

Compared with other Telegram MCP servers

	Better-TG-CLI	chigwell/telegram-mcp	chaindead/telegram-mcp	WireCatLabs/tg-cli
What you get	CLI, MCP server, agent skill	MCP server	MCP server	CLI, MCP server, agent skill
Language	TypeScript (Node 20+ or a standalone binary)	Python	Go	TypeScript
Telegram library	teleproto (GramJS fork, layer 229)	Telethon	gotd/td	mtcute
Runtime dependencies	none (one file)	Python packages	one Go binary	npm packages
Install	Homebrew, Scoop, npm, binaries	pip, uvx, Docker	Homebrew, npx, go install	npm, bun

Taken from each project's README and manifest in November 2026; open an issue if something here is out of date. What sets Better-TG-CLI apart is the write model (read-only, ask, on, with approvals bound to the exact text) and output made for agents.

Install

brew install thevilfer/tap/better-tg-cli   # standalone binary, macOS and Linux

npm install -g better-tg-cli # Node >= 20, any OS

On Windows (experimental), with Scoop or npm:

scoop bucket add thevilfer https://github.com/TheVilfer/scoop-bucket

scoop install better-tg-cli

The Windows telegram.exe is not code-signed, so SmartScreen may warn about the release download.

telegram update upgrades an existing install, whichever of these you used. On a terminal the CLI checks for new versions once a day. Agents and pipes never see that notice, and TG_NO_UPDATE_CHECK=1 turns it off.

Downloading a binary from Releases by hand on macOS? It is not notarized, so remove the quarantine flag once: xattr -d com.apple.quarantine ./telegram. Homebrew handles this for you.

Do not install @skillhq/telegram. It is the old upstream build on GramJS (layer 198).

Every channel ships the same version from one release:

Where	What you get	Install
Homebrew	standalone binary	`brew install thevilfer/tap/better-tg-cli`
npm	CLI and MCP server (Node 20+)	`npm install -g better-tg-cli`
Scoop (Windows, experimental)	standalone `telegram.exe`	`scoop bucket add thevilfer https://github.com/TheVilfer/scoop-bucket` then `scoop install better-tg-cli`
GitHub Releases	binaries and SHA256SUMS	download by hand
Claude Code plugin	skill (uses the installed CLI)	see below
Claude Desktop extension	MCP server, runs on Claude's built-in Node	download `.mcpb` and open it
Grok Build plugin	skill and MCP server	see below
Gemini CLI extension	skill and MCP server	`gemini extensions install https://github.com/TheVilfer/better-tg-cli`
Cursor, VS Code	MCP server	one-click buttons
Grok Bot	MCP server over HTTP from your Mac	see below
The CLI itself	agent skill for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI and 7 more	`telegram skill install`
skills.sh	agent skill for any shell agent	`npx skills add TheVilfer/better-tg-cli`
MCP Registry	MCP server entry `io.github.TheVilfer/better-tg-cli`	through your MCP client

Claude Code plugin

The skill as a plugin, kept up to date by Claude Code:

/plugin marketplace add TheVilfer/better-tg-cli

/plugin install better-tg-cli@better-tg-cli

The plugin is the skill alone, so install the CLI first (above) and log in once with telegram onboard in a terminal. Claude Code then runs telegram itself. Anthropic's plugin directory accepts MCP servers that run on your computer only from Verified organizations, so the MCP server is added on its own if you want it: claude mcp add telegram -- telegram mcp.

Codex plugin

The skill and the MCP server as a Codex plugin (also shows up in the ChatGPT desktop app):

codex plugin marketplace add TheVilfer/better-tg-cli

codex plugin add better-tg-cli@better-tg-cli

Grok Build plugin

Grok Build installs the plugin with the skill and the MCP server together:

grok plugin install TheVilfer/better-tg-cli --trust

or add the marketplace first, then install from the /plugins menu:

grok plugin marketplace add TheVilfer/better-tg-cli && grok plugin install better-tg-cli --trust

As an agent skill

The skill (skills/better-tg-cli) teaches any agent with a shell (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode and others) to use the CLI safely. It checks the setup, never logs in on its own, keeps writes behind your approval, and avoids ban-prone patterns. The CLI carries the skill and installs it itself, so it always matches your version:

telegram skill install                  # every supported agent found on this machine

telegram skill install -a claude-code codex telegram skill status # installed, outdated, linked or missing, per agent

It knows Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot, Grok Build, OpenCode, Goose, Droid, Windsurf and Pi (telegram skill status lists the folders). Run it again after telegram update to refresh the skill. A skill folder that is a symlink is left alone unless you pass --force. For other agents, use the skills CLI:

npx skills add TheVilfer/better-tg-cli          # pick agents interactively

npx skills add TheVilfer/better-tg-cli -g -a claude-code -a codex -y

Log in

Through your agent (easiest): ask it to set up Telegram, or run telegram onboard yourself. It opens a page on 127.0.0.1 where you get a login key from better-tg-cli.com (it comes back to the page by itself) or enter your own keys, scan a QR code and type your 2FA password. The agent only starts the command and waits: it never sees the login key, the QR code or the password. The page answers only on a random secret path and closes when you're done.

With your own API keys (the default):

Open https://my.telegram.org/apps, create an application, and copy its api_id and api_hash.
Run telegram auth --qr and enter them. Then, on your phone, go to Settings → Devices → Link Desktop Device and scan the QR code. Enter your 2FA password if you have one. Plain telegram auth asks for y

Only the beginning is shown; read the rest in the repo

Better-TG-CLI (Telegram)

What it does

Install

Install Node.js

Sign up and create a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key

Open the Claude desktop app’s settings file

Paste these settings and save the file

Quit Claude and open it again

Try it

What you can do instead

Install Node.js

Sign up and create a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key

Open Terminal

Paste this command and press Enter

Type /mcp in Claude Code

Try it

Install Node.js

Sign up and create a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key

Click this button to open Cursor

Fill in your key

Open the AI chat in Cursor in Agent mode

Try it

Install Node.js

Sign up and create a Better-TG-CLI (Telegram) key

Click this button to open VS Code

Fill in your key

Open the AI chat in VS Code in Agent mode

Try it

Installed on your computer

Values you fill in

At a glance

Which apps can use it

Related guides

What it can do

Basic checksi

Maker matches the repo

Still maintained

Has a licence

Endpoint responds

Sign-in with OAuth

No hidden instructions in tool descriptions

Discussion

User reviews

Compared with others in Chat & emaili

Common questions

Others in the same category

Inbox Zero

draw.io

TradingMCP

README from the maker

Why Better-TG-CLI

Compared with other Telegram MCP servers

Install

Claude Code plugin

Codex plugin

Grok Build plugin

or add the marketplace first, then install from the /plugins menu:

As an agent skill

Log in