Chatbot Pricing Comparison 2026: Complete Cost Guide

This chatbot pricing comparison covers 10+ platforms including Tidio, Intercom, Crisp, Drift, and Zendesk. Most businesses pay €14-200/month. Per-conversation pricing (€0.50-2.00/chat) gets expensive fast—flat-rate options offer better value.

See also: Boei's AI chatbot pricing (€14/month, everything included).

Chatbot Pricing Models Explained

Before comparing specific platforms, understand how chatbot pricing works:

Per-Conversation / Per-Resolution Pricing

Platforms like Intercom and Zendesk charge €0.50-2.00 for each conversation handled by AI. Sounds affordable until you do the math:

• 100 conversations/month = €50-200

• 500 conversations/month = €250-1,000

• 3,000 conversations/month = €1,500-6,000

Who it suits: Very low-volume use cases or enterprises with massive budgets.

Per-Seat / Per-Agent Pricing

LiveChat, Freshchat, and Zendesk charge €15-100 per team member monthly. A 5-person support team pays €75-500/month just for platform access, regardless of conversation volume.

Who it suits: Teams with consistent staffing who want predictable costs.

Flat Monthly Rate

Platforms like Boei (€14/month) and Crisp (€25/month) charge fixed fees with usage limits. You know exactly what you'll pay each month.

Who it suits: Growing businesses wanting predictable budgets without per-conversation penalties.

Workspace / Site-Based Pricing

Crisp charges per workspace, meaning agencies or businesses with multiple sites pay separately for each. Others like Boei include unlimited sites in one subscription.

Who it suits: Single-site businesses. Multi-site agencies should check policies carefully.

Chatbot Pricing Comparison Table (2026)

Here's what the major platforms actually cost:

Prices as of January 2026. Check vendor sites for current rates.

Chatbot Pricing by Business Size

What you'll actually pay depends on your team size and conversation volume:

Solopreneurs & Freelancers (€0-30/month)

Typical needs: Basic chat widget, simple automation, 50-200 conversations/month

Best options:

• Boei (€14/mo) - Full AI chatbot with WhatsApp included

• Tidio Free - Basic live chat, 50 conversations

• Crisp Free - 2 seats, basic features

Avoid: Per-conversation pricing—even low volumes add up.

Small Teams (2-5 people, €14-100/month)

Typical needs: AI chatbot, multiple channels, team inbox, 200-1,000 conversations/month

Best options:

• Boei Pro (€14/mo) - Unlimited seats, 2,000 AI messages

• Tidio Starter (€29/mo) - Good for e-commerce

• Crisp Pro (€25/mo) - EU hosting option

Watch out for: Per-seat pricing multiplying your costs.

Growing Companies (€100-500/month)

Typical needs: Advanced AI, integrations, analytics, 1,000-5,000 conversations/month

Best options:

• Boei Business (€99/mo) - 10,000 AI messages, priority support

• Tidio Growth (€59/mo + Lyro) - Advanced e-commerce features

• Intercom Starter (€74/seat) - If budget allows

Critical consideration: At this volume, per-conversation fees explode. 3,000 Intercom resolutions = €2,970/month extra.

Enterprise (€500-5,000+/month)

Typical needs: Custom AI training, compliance, SLAs, dedicated support

Best options:

• Intercom - Cutting-edge AI, expensive

• Drift - B2B sales focus, starts at $2,500/mo

• Ada - Complex workflows, typically $30,000+/year

• Zendesk Suite - Full support ecosystem

Enterprise reality: Budget €1,000-5,000/month minimum. Implementation often costs €10,000-50,000 extra.

Real-World Cost Scenarios

Let me show you what businesses actually pay:

Scenario 1: Shopify Store Owner

Sarah runs an online boutique with 500 monthly visitors and ~100 support conversations.

Best choice: Boei at €14/month saves €800-1,900/year vs alternatives.

Scenario 2: Marketing Agency (5 Client Sites)

A 3-person agency manages chatbots for 5 client websites.

Best choice: Boei's unlimited sites policy saves €1,300+/year.

Scenario 3: SaaS Company (8 Support Agents)

A software company handles 3,000 conversations monthly with 8 support agents.

Best choice: Boei or Freshchat, depending on feature needs. Intercom/Zendesk cost 30x more.

Hidden Costs to Watch For

The sticker price rarely tells the full story. Watch for these:

1. AI Message Overage Fees

Many platforms include limited AI responses, then charge €0.50-2.00 per additional message. A viral marketing campaign could trigger €500+ in surprise fees.

How to avoid: Choose flat-rate pricing or carefully monitor usage limits.

2. Channel Add-Ons

WhatsApp, SMS, and social media integrations often cost extra:

• Tidio WhatsApp: €59/month extra

• Intercom WhatsApp: €99/month extra

• LiveChat WhatsApp: €49/month extra

How to avoid: Choose platforms like Boei that include channels in base pricing.

3. Per-Seat Scaling

Adding team members multiplies costs on per-seat platforms. Growing from 3 to 8 agents on Intercom adds €370/month.

How to avoid: Choose unlimited-seat options.

4. Implementation & Training

Enterprise platforms often require professional setup:

• Intercom implementation: €2,000-10,000

• Zendesk implementation: €5,000-20,000

• Ada implementation: €10,000-50,000

How to avoid: Choose self-service platforms with 5-minute setup.

5. Integration Costs

Premium integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, custom APIs) may require higher-tier plans or additional fees.

Total Cost of Ownership (First Year)

Here's what you'll really pay in year one, including setup and hidden costs:

Custom Chatbot Development Costs

Thinking about building instead of buying? Here's what custom development costs:

Rule-Based Chatbots

Simple decision-tree chatbots with scripted responses: €5,000-30,000 to develop.

AI-Powered Chatbots

Chatbots with NLP and machine learning: €30,000-150,000+ plus:

• AI API costs (OpenAI, Claude): €100-1,000/month

• Hosting: €500-2,000/month

• Maintenance: €1,000-5,000/month

• Quarterly retraining: €2,000-10,000

When Custom Makes Sense

Custom development only makes sense for:

• Highly specialized industry requirements

• Deep integration with proprietary systems

• Enterprises with €100,000+ annual budgets

For 95% of businesses, SaaS platforms offer better value.

Chatbot Costs by Industry

Different industries have different requirements:

E-commerce & Retail

Typical spend: €14-200/month

Key needs: Product recommendations, order tracking, cart recovery

Best options: Boei, Tidio, Gorgias (Shopify)

SaaS & Technology

Typical spend: €50-500/month

Key needs: Knowledge base integration, ticket deflection, API access

Best options: Boei, Intercom, Freshchat

Healthcare

Typical spend: €200-1,000/month

Key needs: HIPAA compliance, appointment scheduling, secure messaging

Best options: Specialized healthcare platforms, enterprise solutions

Financial Services

Typical spend: €500-3,000/month

Key needs: Encryption, compliance, fraud detection, audit trails

Best options: Enterprise solutions with certifications

Local Services

Typical spend: €14-50/month

Key needs: Appointment booking, basic Q&A, lead capture

Best options: Boei, Tidio, Crisp

Is a Chatbot Cheaper Than Hiring Staff?

Let's do the math:

Human support agent:

• Salary: €2,500-4,000/month

• Benefits/overhead: €500-1,000/month

• Training: €1,000-3,000 one-time

• Limited to 40 hours/week

• Handles ~50-100 conversations/day

AI chatbot (Boei):

• Cost: €14-99/month

• Available 24/7/365

• Handles unlimited simultaneous conversations

• Resolves 60-80% of inquiries automatically

The verdict: One chatbot can replace 2-3 full-time agents for routine questions, saving €50,000-100,000/year. The ROI is typically positive within the first week.

How to Calculate Your Chatbot ROI

Use this formula:

Monthly ROI = (Time Saved × Hourly Rate) + (Additional Leads × Lead Value) - Chatbot Cost

Example for a small business:

• Time saved: 20 hours/month × €25/hour = €500

• Additional leads: 10 leads × €50 value = €500

• Chatbot cost: €14/month

• Monthly ROI: €986

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a chatbot cost?

Chatbot costs range from free to €5,000+/month. Small business plans typically cost €14-50/month. Enterprise solutions start at €500/month and can exceed €5,000/month.

What's the cheapest AI chatbot?

Boei offers AI chatbot features starting at €14/month with 2,000 AI messages included. Crisp offers a free tier with basic AI. Tidio's AI (Lyro) starts at €29/month plus per-conversation fees.

Is per-conversation pricing worth it?

Rarely. Per-conversation pricing (€0.50-2.00/chat) seems affordable but costs explode as you grow. At 1,000 monthly conversations, you could pay €500-2,000 vs €14-99 for flat-rate alternatives.

Do I need to pay extra for WhatsApp?

On most platforms, yes. Tidio charges €59+/month extra, Intercom charges €99+/month. Boei includes WhatsApp in all paid plans at no extra cost.

How many conversations can I expect?

Typical conversion: 2-5% of website visitors start a chat. A site with 5,000 monthly visitors might see 100-250 conversations.

Should I choose per-seat or flat-rate pricing?

Flat-rate pricing is better for growing teams. Per-seat costs multiply as you hire. A 10-person team on Intercom (€74/seat) pays €740/month just for platform access.

Can I switch platforms later?

Yes, but migration costs €3,500-17,000 for enterprise platforms (data export, rebuilding, retraining). Choose carefully to avoid switching costs.

The Best Chatbot for Your Budget

Based on my analysis:

Best overall value: Boei (€14/month) - Flat pricing, AI included, WhatsApp included, unlimited sites

Best free option: Crisp - Generous free tier with basic AI

Best for Shopify: Gorgias or Tidio - E-commerce specific features

Best for enterprise: Intercom or Drift - Advanced features justify premium pricing

Best for existing ecosystems: Stick with your current vendor (Zendesk → Answer Bot, Freshworks → Freddy)

Conclusion

Chatbot pricing doesn't have to be complicated. Most businesses benefit from flat-rate plans in the €14-100/month range. Per-conversation pricing only makes sense for very low volume or unlimited enterprise budgets.

Before committing:

1. Calculate your expected conversation volume

2. List must-have features (WhatsApp, AI, integrations)

3. Check for hidden costs (overages, add-ons, setup fees)

4. Calculate total cost of ownership, not just base price

5. Start with a free trial to test real-world performance

The right chatbot should reduce support costs while improving customer experience. At €14-100/month, that's an easy ROI for most businesses.

Ready to compare? Try Boei's AI chatbot free or explore the alternatives listed above.