AI Chatbot Message Credits: Real Cost Per Response (2026)

TL;DR: AI chatbot platforms use three pricing models for responses: flat messages, credit-based with multipliers, and unlimited. Boei offers the lowest cost per response at $0.007 with flat pricing regardless of AI model. Credit-based platforms like Chatbase, Dante AI, and FastBots can cost 5-330x more per response on premium models. Prices range from $14/month (Boei) to $500+/month at scale.

Training data limits tell you how much your chatbot can learn. But the other half of the equation, and often the bigger cost driver, is how many responses your chatbot can actually give. Every platform handles this differently, and the differences can mean paying 10x more per customer conversation depending on which AI model you use.

I spent a few hours going through the pricing pages, documentation, and support chatbots of 8 leading AI chatbot platforms to figure out what each response actually costs. The platforms I reviewed: Boei, Chatbase, Dante AI, FastBots, SiteGPT, CustomGPT, ChatNode, and Wonderchat.

For each platform, I dug into their credit systems, checked the multipliers for different AI models, calculated cost per response at different tiers, and tested their own chatbots to confirm details that weren't clear from the pricing pages alone. Here's what I found.

Three Pricing Models for Chatbot Responses

AI chatbot platforms use three fundamentally different approaches to limit and charge for chatbot responses.

1. Flat messages (1 response = 1 message, regardless of model)

The simplest approach. Every chatbot response counts as exactly one message, no matter which AI model generates it. You know exactly how many customer conversations you can handle.

Platforms using this model: Boei, SiteGPT

2. Credit-based with model multipliers

Each response consumes a variable number of credits depending on the AI model used. A response from a budget model might cost 1 credit, while the same response from a premium model could cost 5, 20, or even 330 credits. Your advertised credit count can be misleading because it depends entirely on which model you run.

Platforms using this model: Chatbase, Dante AI, FastBots

3. Unlimited responses

Some platforms advertise unlimited messages, removing response limits entirely. The trade-off is usually a higher base price or limits elsewhere (like fewer chatbots or less training data).

Platforms using this model: Dante AI (Enterprise only), CustomGPT (within query limits)

The Credit Multiplier Problem

The credit-based model creates a significant transparency issue. When Chatbase advertises "2,000 message credits" on their Hobby plan, most people assume that means 2,000 customer conversations. The reality depends heavily on which AI model powers those responses.

Chatbase Credit Costs Per Response

Chatbase's Hobby plan ($40/mo) includes 2,000 message credits. Here is what that actually translates to in real responses:

On the cheapest models, 2,000 credits gives you 2,000 responses. On Claude Opus, those same credits give you 400 responses. That is a 5x difference in actual value from the same plan. Chatbase keeps their multipliers relatively modest compared to other platforms, but it still means your real response count depends heavily on model choice. Extra credits cost $12-14 per 1,000, and auto-recharge adds $14 per 1,000 credits when you run out.

Dante AI Credit Costs Per Response

Dante AI's Starter plan ($29/mo) includes 3,000 credits, but uses a much more granular multiplier system with credits ranging from 0.15 to 330 per response:

The range here is staggering. On the cheapest Nano model, 3,000 credits gives you 20,000 responses. On Claude 4 Opus, you get 9 responses before your monthly credits are gone. Dante AI does offer excellent value on budget models, but switching to a premium model can make your costs explode.

FastBots Credit Costs Per Response

FastBots keeps their multiplier system simpler with just two tiers. Their Essential plan ($39/mo) includes 2,000 messages:

FastBots is more straightforward than Dante AI: budget models cost 1 credit, premium models cost 5 credits. No 330x multipliers to worry about. Chatbase uses a similar simple structure, though FastBots' 5x on premium models means your 2,000 messages drop to 400 on the best models.

Platforms With Flat Message Pricing

SiteGPT

SiteGPT offers two model choices (GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 Mini) and counts messages, not credits. Their Starter plan ($39/mo) includes 4,000 messages per month. GPT-4.1 Mini gives 10x more messages per dollar than GPT-4.1, but there is no complex credit system to navigate. Extra messages cost $39 per 5,000 messages.

Boei

Boei uses the simplest model of all: each chatbot gets 2,000 AI replies per month, regardless of which AI model generates the response. No multipliers, no credit tiers, no surprises. The first chatbot costs $14/mo (paid annually), and additional chatbots cost $6/mo each, also with 2,000 AI replies included. If you need more responses, you simply add another chatbot.

Normalized Cost Per Response Comparison

This is where it gets interesting. The table below shows the actual cost per response on each platform's entry-level paid plan, calculated for both a budget model and a premium model.

Using a Budget Model (GPT-4o Mini or equivalent)

On budget models, Dante AI looks like the runaway winner at $0.0024 per response. But there is an important caveat: Dante AI's cheapest models (GPT-4.1 Nano, Gemini Flash-Lite) are extremely lightweight and may not deliver the quality your customers expect. In practice, most businesses use at least a mid-tier model.

Using a Mid-Tier Model (GPT-4.1 Mini or equivalent, 1 credit tier)

At mid-tier models, the picture shifts. Boei becomes the clear value leader at less than half the cost per response of FastBots and Chatbase, because its flat pricing means no penalty for using a capable model.

Using a Premium Model (GPT-5.2 / Claude Sonnet tier)

This is where credit-based pricing really hurts. On a premium model like GPT-5, FastBots hits nearly $0.10 per response and Dante AI reaches $0.058. Chatbase is more moderate at $0.04 thanks to their lower multipliers (2x for GPT-5.2). Boei and SiteGPT stay flat because their pricing does not change with the model. Boei's $0.007 per response is 14x cheaper than FastBots at this tier.

The Extreme Case: Top-Tier Models

For businesses that want to use the most capable models (Claude Opus), credit-based platforms can become very expensive:

The contrast is most dramatic with Dante AI, where Claude Opus at 330 credits per response means your entire monthly budget covers roughly 9 conversations. Chatbase keeps Opus more accessible at 5 credits, but you still only get 400 responses versus Boei's 2,000 at any model.

The Hidden Cost: Overage Pricing

Running out of credits mid-month is where costs can really spike.

Chatbase charges $12-14 per 1,000 extra credits. With auto-recharge enabled (which most businesses need to avoid their chatbot going silent), this adds up fast during busy periods. On premium models, 1,000 credits might only cover 50-100 responses.

FastBots offers extra message add-ons at $10 per additional block. Simpler, but still an unpredictable cost.

Dante AI lets you buy additional credits through your dashboard. Pricing varies, but the per-credit cost is typically higher than what you get included in your plan.

Boei avoids overage charges entirely. If you need more responses, you add another chatbot at $6/mo (with 2,000 additional responses). This makes scaling costs completely predictable: $6 per additional 2,000 responses.

SiteGPT charges $39 per extra 5,000 messages, which is a clean and predictable overage model.

What "Unlimited" Actually Means

Some platforms advertise unlimited messages, but this deserves scrutiny.

Dante AI only offers truly unlimited responses on their Enterprise plan (custom pricing, typically $1,000+/mo). Their standard plans all have credit limits.

CustomGPT includes query allowances within their plans, but reaching higher limits requires jumping from $99/mo to $499/mo.

In practice, no platform at the $15-100/mo range offers genuinely unlimited AI responses. They all have limits, just expressed differently.

Practical Scenarios

Small Business: ~500 customer conversations per month

A small business website with moderate traffic, getting about 500 chatbot conversations monthly. Average conversation length: 3-4 exchanges (so roughly 500 responses per month if counting single responses, or 1,500-2,000 if counting full conversation threads).

At 500 responses/month using a mid-tier model:

• Boei ($14/mo): Comfortably within the 2,000 limit. Cost: $14/mo
• SiteGPT ($39/mo): Well within 4,000 limit. Cost: $39/mo
• Dante AI ($29/mo): Uses 500 credits at 1x. Well within 3,000 limit. Cost: $29/mo
• FastBots ($39/mo): Within 2,000 limit at 1x. Cost: $39/mo
• Chatbase ($40/mo): Within 2,000 limit at 1x. Cost: $40/mo

All platforms handle this volume fine. Boei is the cheapest at $14/mo.

Growing Business: ~2,000 conversations per month

A growing e-commerce store or SaaS product with 2,000 chatbot responses monthly using a premium model (GPT-5 tier):

• Boei ($14/mo): Exactly at the 2,000 limit. Add one extra chatbot for safety: $20/mo total
• SiteGPT ($39/mo): Within 4,000 limit. Cost: $39/mo
• Dante AI ($29/mo): 2,000 x 6 credits = 12,000 credits needed. Starter plan has 3,000. Would need Advanced plan at $99/mo
• FastBots ($39/mo): 2,000 x 5 = 10,000 credits needed. Would need Premium plan at $199/mo
• Chatbase ($40/mo): 2,000 x 2 credits = 4,000 credits needed. Would need Standard plan ($99/mo) or overage charges

At premium model volume, the credit multiplier forces upgrades to much more expensive plans. Boei and SiteGPT stay on their entry plans because they do not penalize model choice.

High-Volume: ~5,000 conversations per month

A busy support operation handling 5,000 responses monthly on a premium model:

• Boei: 3 chatbots ($14 + $6 + $6 = $26/mo) for 6,000 responses
• SiteGPT: Growth plan at $79/mo for 10,000 messages
• Dante AI: 5,000 x 6 = 30,000 credits. Would need Pro plan at $299/mo
• FastBots: 5,000 x 5 = 25,000 credits. Would need Premium + extras, well over $199/mo
• Chatbase: 5,000 x 2 = 10,000 credits. Standard plan at $99/mo

At high volume with premium models, the spread becomes enormous. Boei at $26/mo versus Dante AI at $299/mo for the same number of actual responses.

The Model Quality Trade-Off

Credit-based platforms create a real dilemma: you can use a cheap model to maximize your response count, but your customers get lower-quality answers. Or you can use a premium model for better answers but burn through your credits in days.

This trade-off does not exist on flat-pricing platforms. On Boei, switching from a budget model to a premium model does not cost you anything extra. Your 2,000 responses stay the same. This means you can always choose the best model for your use case without worrying about credit consumption.

The question to ask yourself: will you actually use a budget model in production? If your chatbot handles customer support, sales inquiries, or any high-stakes conversation, you probably want the best model you can get. And if you are going to use a premium model anyway, flat pricing platforms offer dramatically better value.

Key Findings

1. Credit-based pricing is inherently unpredictable. The same plan can give you anywhere from 9 to 20,000 responses depending on model choice. This makes budgeting extremely difficult.

2. Boei offers the lowest cost per response at $0.007, and it stays flat regardless of model. No other platform at this price point matches this combination of low cost and model flexibility.

3. Dante AI offers exceptional value on budget models but becomes one of the most expensive options on premium models. Their Claude Opus pricing at 330 credits per response is particularly punishing.

4. FastBots has the cleanest credit system among multiplier platforms (just 1x vs 5x), but 5x on premium models still cuts your effective responses by 80%.

5. SiteGPT offers strong value with simple pricing but at a higher base price ($39/mo) than Boei ($14/mo).

6. Overage charges can make any platform expensive. Chatbase's auto-recharge at $14/1,000 credits and FastBots' add-on blocks add up quickly during busy months. Boei's $6/chatbot scaling is the most predictable overage model.

7. Always calculate cost per actual response, not cost per credit. A plan with "12,500 credits" could mean 12,500 responses or 38 responses depending on the model. The credit number on the pricing page is almost meaningless without knowing which model you will use.

How to Compare Platforms Yourself

When evaluating any AI chatbot platform's message pricing, ask these questions:

1. How many credits or messages does the plan include?
2. Which AI model will I actually use in production?
3. How many credits does that specific model consume per response?
4. What is the real cost per response (plan price / actual responses)?
5. What happens when I run out? What do overages cost?
6. Can I switch models without changing my budget?

Run these numbers with the model you plan to use, not the cheapest model the platform offers. That gives you the true cost comparison.