How to Accept Payments and Telegram Stars in Bots
Use Telegram payments when the purchase starts inside Telegram and should be completed without sending the user to a separate checkout page.
Payments are processed with a provider like Stripe. The providers work in different countries and have different requirements; your bot may use different providers depending on users.
For digital goods and services, bots and Mini Apps must use Telegram Stars by specifying XTR as the currency. This restriction exists because of third-party store policies. Use ordinary payment providers for supported physical goods and services.
Show the invoice in Telegram
You can try the payment interface in the Demo Store channel.
Send an invoice message when the user is ready to buy. Invoices can appear in any chat, even from inline-mode. The first button under the message must be a “Buy” button.
Use Stars for digital goods
Telegram Stars are used across many bot and creator features:
- Digital goods and services in bots and Mini Apps.
- Paid media and paid messages.
- Bot and Mini App subscriptions.
- Gifts and Premium gifts.
- Suggested posts in channels.
- Affiliate programs for Mini Apps.
Stars may have special rules around refunds and withdrawals. For example, some Star balances become available for withdrawal only after a waiting period. If your bot handles paid content, design around refunds, failed payments, and delayed settlement.