The best Telegram proxy 2026 is a private one, used only by yourself. If you’re using Telegram Desktop or Telegram on iPhone, then WEB is the best. This proxy makes your traffic look like a visit to a plain website. If you’re using Telegram on Android, then MTProto is best. MTProto works in all official Telegram apps. Free proxies are available from public lists. But you share proxies with strangers, and many pin a sponsored Telegram channel to your chat list.
What is a Telegram Proxy?
Telegram proxies act as a middleman between the telegram application and the server. Your network is connected to a proxy instead of Telegram so your application will work fine if you are blocked or have a slow connection. This can all be controlled entirely from within the telegram application without any installation on your phone or computer. Your messages are still encrypted. Telegram encrypts all communication between the app and their servers regardless of the proxy in the middle. The proxy will only see your IP and that you are using the Telegram application it will be unable to see what you are sending or receiving. All that the proxy will be doing is transmitting the Telegram application. Your browser and other applications will all still use your normal connection.
MTProto and WEB proxy
MTProto is a protocol developed by Telegram, and an MTProto proxy server is a server that uses that protocol. They use a technique called “fake TLS” to get their connections. Their secrets start with “ee”, and then the connection is a TLS connection to a website on port 443. A WEB proxy server is an MTProto proxy server that uses the same encryption and authentication scheme as MTProto, but wraps the entire connection in HTTPS to a real website with a valid certificate. This means you can just open it up in a browser and see the normal web page. Only apps that know the secret are able to go through that proxy. In blocked countries, plain MTProto proxies are often less reliable than WEB proxy servers which are able to blend in with normal web traffic.
On the network level, a WEB proxy looks just like a visit to an ordinary website via HTTPS, and an MTProto proxy looks just like a TLS connection over port 443. A WEB proxy is available in Telegram Desktop 7.1 and newer and Telegram for iOS 13.0 and newer, and is still experimental on Android, while an MTProto proxy is available in every official app. A WEB proxy is available via a link of the form tg://webproxy, while an MTProto proxy is available via a link of the form tg://proxy. To add a WEB proxy by hand you need the server and secret, while adding a MTProto proxy by hand requires a server, secret and a port.
Use WEB for desktop and iPhone, and MTProto for Android. If it isn’t working on one on your network, try another. Windows users need to use Telegram Desktop 7.1.2 or newer as it has fixed some problems with the WEB proxy.
Is it possible to get free MTProto proxies?
There are lots of free proxies on the Internet, including GitHub and channels that send new proxies out twice a day. Telegram has a special tool that is called MTProxy software, which will let you register your proxy with @MTProxybot and have your channel pinned to the top of everyone’s list. It is allowed, and it’s how most public proxies make their money. Since they are used by thousands of people, they slow down in the evening, get blocked more quickly, and sometimes get pulled out altogether.
Private proxies are only for you, valid for the length of time you paid for them, and not pinned to anyone’s list.
How to get a Telegram Proxy in three ways
1. Proxya (Private MTProto & WEB Proxies)
Proxya’s private Telegram proxies are both private MTProto and WEB proxies meaning each private proxy will be issued to only one user for the entire period of time. All proxies listen on port 443, making it look like a standard HTTPS proxy. You can buy the proxy for $1.70 a month or $11.99 per year (almost $1 per month). They are unlimited bandwidth proxies and do not sponsor a channel, the link will work for 5 devices (phone, tablet and laptop).
Downsides are there isn’t a location picker (on purpose). Currenty card payments are not accepted.
2. Your Own Server
If you have some Linux experience, you can rent a small VPS, and install mtg, a free MTProto server which uses fake TLS, and nobody will know about the server. If the filters finds your IP address, you will have to rent a new VPS and provide the link to all of your devices.
3. Free Public Lists
Tap a link, and if it doesn’t work, tap the next one. Either a trip or a really bad day will be more than enough.
How to set a proxy in Telegram?
Easiest is just a link: open a tg://proxy or tg://webproxy link on device with Telegram installed and confirm when Telegram asks you.
Add it manually:
- iPhone: Settings → Data and Storage → Proxy → Add Proxy
- Android: Settings → Data and Storage → Proxy Settings → Add Proxy
- Telegram Desktop: Settings → Advanced → Connection type → Add proxy
MTProto needs server, port and secret. WEB needs server and secret only, as it always uses port 443.
If it doesn’t connect:
- Update Telegram. Older versions don’t have WEB type.
- Copy server and secret again. Even if it’s a single wrong character, Telegram will not connect and remain on “Connecting”.
- On Android: Update Android System WebView app from Google Play. WEB proxies need it.
- Try the other type.
No proxy can be unblocked forever. Filters get updated. And of course the best odds (but no guarantees) is a WEB proxy or fake-TLS proxy on port 443.
FAQ
Do I need a VPN to use Telegram?
No. Telegram has a built-in proxy setting and Telegram is the only app that uses it.
Does a proxy change my country on Telegram?
No, Telegram is linked to a data center once you register on the app. The MTProto or WEB proxy will not change this link.
Final thoughts
If your app supports WEB proxies, go there. Otherwise, use MTProto. Free lists are good for a day. If you’re opening an app every day, a private proxy will cost you less than a coffee a month.
