Telegram vs Tinode Instant Messaging Server
Self-hosted for $4/mo on hetzner CAX11, versus $0-$0/user/mo on Telegram.
Side-by-side
| Telegram | Tinode Instant Messaging Server (self-hosted) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | $0-$0/user/mo | $4.13/mo flat (any team size) |
| Hosting | Telegram's servers | Your VPS (hetzner CAX11) |
| Data ownership | Telegram controls the data | Your disk, your encryption |
| Source code | Closed | Open (GPL-3.0) |
| Customization | API + integrations only | Full source access; modify freely |
| Maintenance burden | Zero | Backups + updates (manual) |
| Health score (ossreplace) | — | 73 / 100 |
Why teams leave Telegram
Tinode Instant Messaging Server answers this by: Open-source alternatives that can replace Telegram.
The cost math
Assumes 5-person team using Telegram at the midpoint price ($0/user/mo).
| Period | Telegram | Tinode Instant Messaging Server on hetzner | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $0 | $4.13 | $-4.13 |
| Yearly | $0 | $49.56 | $-49.56 |
| 3 years | $0 | $149 | $-149 |
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Common questions
Is Tinode Instant Messaging Server a good alternative to Telegram?
Tinode Instant Messaging Server is an open-source, self-hostable alternative to Telegram with an ossreplace health score of 73/100 — a composite of project activity, maturity, community, security, and adoption. It runs on your own hetzner VPS from $4.13/mo with full source access under the GPL-3.0 license, versus Telegram's $0–0/user/mo hosted plans.
How much cheaper is Tinode Instant Messaging Server than Telegram?
A 5-person team pays about $0/mo on Telegram. Self-hosting Tinode Instant Messaging Server on hetzner CAX11 costs a flat $4.13/mo regardless of team size — roughly $-149 less over three years (-Infinity% lower).
Is Tinode Instant Messaging Server hard to self-host?
Tinode Instant Messaging Server self-hosts on your own VPS. You handle the install, backups, and updates yourself in exchange for full data ownership and no per-seat fees.
Do you keep control of your data with Tinode Instant Messaging Server vs Telegram?
Yes. Because Tinode Instant Messaging Server runs on your own server, the data lives on your disk under your encryption. With Telegram, Telegram controls the hosting, storage, and access.