MAX API: A Complete Developer's Guide

On February 10, 2026, Roskomnadzor began throttling Telegram in Russia. Slowing down media files is just the first step. What should bot developers do? I ran a 5-iteration deep dive into the MAX API — Russia's VK-backed messenger positioning itself as the replacement. Here's what I found.

Why This Matters Right Now

I'd been following the news and thinking: "So they'll throttle it a bit — what's the big deal?" But then I looked deeper. Roskomnadzor gets expanded enforcement powers starting March 1, 2026. Lawmakers haven't ruled out a full block by year's end.

If you're a chatbot developer, this is your reality. Businesses will leave Telegram. Major companies (Aeroflot, Russian Railways, Ozon) have already moved to MAX. The question is: are you ready?

What Is MAX

MAX is a Russian messenger by VK, launched in 2025. It positions itself as a "domestic WeChat" — complete with mini-apps, instant payments via SBP (Russia's fast payment system), and deep integration with the VK ecosystem.

Numbers as of February 2026

• 75 million registered users
• 19 million average daily reach
• 61 million daily Telegram users in Russia (for comparison)
• 700,000+ companies with access (via MSP.RF)

The engagement gap is massive: Telegram channels have 60x the audience. But MAX is growing fast — being pre-installed on all new Android devices since September 1, 2025 guarantees a "multi-million user base out of the box."

MAX vs Telegram API Comparison

How to Create a Bot in MAX

The process is more involved than Telegram. Here's the full walkthrough:

Step 1: Organization Verification

Mandatory since August 2025. Head to verify.vk.com, register your legal entity, and pass moderation (1–7 days). There's no way around it.

Step 2: Create via @MasterBot

1. Find @MasterBot in MAX
2. Send /create
3. Choose a name (up to 16 characters)
4. Choose a username — minimum 11 characters, must end with _bot or bot
5. Receive your token

Step 3: Publishing

The bot is created, but to make it publicly available, you need to pass VK moderation. Limit: 1 bot per organization (can be expanded through support).

Technical Implementation

Base URL

https://platform-api.max.ru

Simple Python Bot

from maxapi import Bot

bot = Bot(token="YOUR_TOKEN")

@bot.message_handler(content_types=['text'])
def echo(message):
    bot.reply_to(message, f"You said: {message.text}")

bot.polling()

Bot with Buttons

from maxapi.types import InlineKeyboardMarkup, InlineKeyboardButton

@bot.message_handler(commands=['start'])
def send_welcome(message):
    markup = InlineKeyboardMarkup()
    markup.row(
        InlineKeyboardButton("Yes", callback_data='yes'),
        InlineKeyboardButton("No", callback_data='no')
    )
    bot.send_message(
        message.chat.id,
        "Choose an action:",
        reply_markup=markup
    )

Webhook

from flask import Flask, request

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/webhook', methods=['POST'])
def webhook():
    update = request.get_json()
    bot.process_new_updates([update])
    return 'OK', 200

bot.set_webhook(url="https://yourdomain.com/webhook")

Libraries

Official (by max-messenger)

• Python: pip install maxapi-python
• JavaScript: npm install @max-messenger/bot-api-client
• Go: go get github.com/max-messenger/max-bot-api-client-go
• Java: Maven/Gradle

Unofficial

There's PyMax, vkmax, maxgram — but they're unstable. For production, I recommend sticking with the official libraries.

Workarounds: Bypassing the Restrictions

GREEN-API

If you don't have a verified Russian legal entity — there's a workaround. GREEN-API provides a gateway to the MAX API without requiring verification.

• Capabilities: sending messages, notifications, group management
• Languages: Python, Go, PHP, 1C, VBA
• Pricing: free for 100 messages/day, paid after that

This works for testing or low-volume use. For any serious project, you'll still need a Russian legal entity.

Who's Already on MAX

The list is impressive: Aeroflot, Russian Railways, Gazprom, Sberbank, Ozon, Avito. State-owned companies were required to switch (Ministry of Digital Development directive, August 25, 2025). Private businesses — voluntarily or under pressure.

My Experience and Recommendations

I tested the MAX API over the course of a week. Here's my honest take:

Where MAX Works Well

• ✅ Large businesses with a verified Russian legal entity
• ✅ State-owned companies (mandatory transition)
• ✅ Projects focused on the Russian market
• ✅ VK integration (unified ecosystem)

Where MAX Falls Short

• ❌ Startups without a registered legal entity
• ❌ Foreign companies
• ✅ Channels are now available (since late 2025, private channels since February 2026)
• ❌ High privacy requirements (no E2E encryption)

Implementation Timeline

The Future: What to Expect

VK is investing 50.8 billion rubles in development (2024). MAX is a top priority. That means: the API will evolve, bugs will get fixed, and features will grow.

But there are risks. Requirements could tighten further (even more restrictions) or loosen up (access for individuals). The current trend leans toward tightening.

Conclusion

The MAX API is technically ready for chatbot integration. It covers about 80% of typical use cases: messages, buttons, webhooks, groups. But there's one critical barrier — Russian legal entities only.

If you don't have a legal entity — use GREEN-API for testing or find a partner with verification. Startups can stay on Telegram for now, but should have a Plan B ready.

P.S. The full technical report with code samples, architecture diagrams, and checklists is on our GitHub. And you can validate your startup idea at deathscore.ai — it's free for now.