Comparison · checked 27 July 2026

EzForwardBot vs tgcf

For when you'd rather not run your own server.

Start free Move my rules across

tgcf is a well-regarded open-source Telegram forwarder you host yourself. If you're comfortable with Python, Docker and a VPS, it's free and endlessly tweakable, and you keep total control. EzForwardBot is the hosted answer to the same problem: nothing to deploy, nothing to keep patched, and someone else on call when Telegram changes something.

 EzForwardBot tgcf
HostingWe run it — nothing to installYou run it (VPS, Docker or local)
CostFree plan, then £9.99/moFree software + your server and time
SetupConnect an account in the app, about two minutesInstall Python, configure, deploy, keep it running
Upgrades & Telegram API changesHandled for youYou update it
UptimeManaged serviceAs good as your server
Customisable in codeNo — settings onlyYes, it's yours
SupportUsCommunity / GitHub issues

Which should you pick?

If you enjoy self-hosting and want to modify the forwarder itself, use tgcf — it's genuinely good and it's free. Use EzForwardBot if your time is worth more than the subscription and you'd rather not be the one debugging a stalled session at midnight.

Questions people ask

Is a hosted forwarder safer than self-hosting?

Different trade-offs. Self-hosting means your session file never leaves your machine. With us, the session is encrypted at rest and you can disconnect it at any time, but you are trusting a third party — that's a fair thing to weigh up.

Can I move from tgcf to EzForwardBot?

Yes. Paste your source → destination list into the switch tool and we rebuild the routes as connections, paused, for you to review.

Every tgcf figure above was read from their own site on 27 July 2026, and converted at that day's ECB rate where a currency conversion was needed. Prices change — if you spot something out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.

Try it on one channel first

The free plan takes about two minutes and needs no card.

Start free in Telegram