Yes. In tShop, these are not two separate products - the bot and Mini App work together from the start; no separate switch is needed.
Comparison
Bot or Mini App for a Telegram store: which to choose
Both options work inside Telegram, but solve different tasks. Here is when a simple bot is enough and when your catalog needs a full Mini App.
Command-based bot
- The customer types /start and chooses menu items
- Catalog - a list in messages or a table
- Quick to build when there are few products
- Inconvenient to find a specific product among dozens
Mini App
- Opens as a separate screen inside Telegram
- Catalog with a grid, images, search, and categories
- The cart is preserved when moving between sections
- Requires more setup at the start
When a regular bot is enough
If you have 3–5 products and customers usually message you directly instead of choosing products themselves, a bot with a few buttons solves the problem and is easier to build manually without a builder.
When you need a Mini App
As your catalog grows beyond a couple dozen products, customers need to browse, search, and compare instead of reading a list in messages. This is where a Mini App wins: customers find what they need without interrupting you with questions about what is available.
Comparison by criteria
| Criteria | Command-based bot | Mini App |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small catalogs and appointment-based services | Catalogs with dozens of products |
| Customer experience | Chat and manual selection | Like a regular app |
| Search and filters | Usually unavailable | Available |
| Launch complexity | Low when built manually | A builder or development is needed |
| Scales well | Poorly as the catalog grows | Well |
Can they be combined
Yes. This is the standard tShop setup: you have your own Telegram bot (learn more on the page about the bot store), and the storefront inside it is a Mini App (learn more on the page about the Mini App). The bot accepts orders and notifies you, while customers use a full catalog instead of commands.
Frequently asked questions
No. These options are not mutually exclusive - the Mini App opens through your own bot, not instead of it.