How Much Does a Chatbot Cost in 2024? (Chatbot Pricing)

Thinking of getting your own chatbot? With all the hype around AI, it can be tempting to jump on the bandwagon. But between licensing fees, hosting costs, and development expenses, chatbots don't always come cheap. 

And to make matters worse, many companies aren’t exactly upfront about their chatbot’s pricing. 

Lucky for you, this article breaks down chatbot pricing in 2024 so you can make an informed decision before taking the plunge — and maybe even choose a more cost-effective option than starting from scratch! 

We’ll cover: 

How can you build a chatbot? 

Use a platform like Lindy! 

There are many free and paid options out there. But you can’t go wrong with building a chatbot using Lindy, the premier AI platform.

Instead of having to start from scratch, you can have a completely customized chatbot by signing up to the platform (you get 200 free credits) and following a simple process that takes a few minutes

Plus, you’ll find many ready-made templates in the marketplace, so getting started may only take about 30 seconds

Going the full-on design route

Building a chatbot from scratch gives you the most control over its features and functionality

However, unless you have those development skills in-house, be ready for a major investment in developer time. Expect to pay hourly rates, which typically range from $50-$200+ per hour, depending on the developer's experience. 

According to Glassdoor, that’s over $120k a year. 

Also, you’ll have to consider these potential difficulties and chatbot pricing issues. 

On average, costs can range from a few hundred dollars for a basic chatbot to tens or even hundreds of thousands for a complex, highly integrated chatbot system.

Outsourcing galore!

If you need custom functionality or a highly polished chatbot solution, a freelance developer or specialized agency might be the answer. 

Keep in mind that rates will vary, so it's very important to get quotes and carefully compare portfolios and expertise. Make sure to factor in communication time and project management aspects into your budget.

Chatbot pricing comparison table 

Chatbot pricing can vary quite a bit depending on the type of chatbot and platform you choose. 

Let's break it down:

Type

Cost range

Pros

Cons

Best For

Ongoing costs

Pre-built Bots

Free to a few hundred dollars/month

Low cost, quick setup

Limited control over personality, limited integrations

Businesses of all sizes

Updates often included in subscription

Custom Chatbots

$5,000 to $30,000 upfront

Highly tailored experience, advanced features

Higher costs, longer time to build

Complex conversations
and personalization needs

Maintenance, hosting, AI training, updates

Hiring a Developer

Variable (project fees or hourly rates)

Specialized skills, tailored solutions

Communication overhead, potential timeline delays

Need for specialized skills, tailored solutions

Depends on the nature of the project and upkeep

The best chatbot building platforms

With so many chatbot platforms available, choosing the right one for your needs can be tricky. 

The top options are:

Lindy

Lindy prioritizes user-friendliness and collaborative power, with templates up the wazoo and ease of use at the forefront. 

Dialogflow (Google Cloud)

Dialogflow uses Google's robust AI capabilities and offers deep integration with Google products.

Manychat

Manychat simplifies connecting your chatbot to social media platforms, especially Facebook Messenger, making it a strong tool for marketing and engagement.

BotsFree

BotsFree stands out for its budget-friendly pricing and support for multilingual chatbots. (Not actually free, though)

Chatfuel

The best free chatbot building platforms

Truly free chatbot platforms that offer both decent functionality and sustainable business models are incredibly rare, or even nonexistent. Most platforms that advertise as "free" either have severe limitations or transition their free plans into paid tiers over time.

That being said, both of these options have free elements. Botpress is open-source, and Rasa has a free, limited mode for non-production uses. 

Botpress

Botpress is a popular open-source chatbot platform offering flexibility and customization potential.

Rasa

Rasa gives developers complete control over their chatbot's functionality and natural language understanding capabilities.

Where to find a chatbot developer (and how it affects chatbot pricing) 

Here's a breakdown of where to look and the typical costs involved:

Freelance marketplaces galore

Platforms: Sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal offer a wide range of freelance developers.

Costs:

Specialized agencies

Agencies focusing on chatbots offer in-depth expertise, but that will drive the overall chatbot pricing up. 

Costs:

Things to keep in mind about costs

What can chatbots do?

The better question is, what can’t they do? Let’s take a look at some of the most common use cases:

How do chatbots actually work?

It may look like magic, but it isn’t.

Here’s how chatbots work: 

Frequently asked questions

How much does a chatbot cost to develop? 

The cost to build a chatbot can range from free to $100,000 or more, depending on its complexity. If you want to build a basic chatbot yourself using a free platform, the only cost is your time.

However, hiring a developer to build a custom chatbot for your business typically starts around $30,000 to $50,000 for a simple bot and up to $100,000 or more for an advanced AI-based bot.

How long does it take to build a chatbot? 

The time it takes to develop a chatbot depends on its complexity. A simple chatbot with a few basic conversations can take a few days to set up yourself using a free platform. An enterprise-level chatbot with advanced AI and natural language capabilities can take 3-6 months or longer to develop with a team of experts. If you use a no-code platform like Lindy, it takes all of 30 seconds. 

Will chatbots replace humans? 

While chatbots are getting more sophisticated, human agents still have some advantages like emotional intelligence, complex reasoning, and creative thinking. But chatbots are getting there, and they’re already starting to eclipse our capabilities. So far, it looks like a hybrid model is what works best. 

Summing up

Chatbots can do some pretty amazing things these days, and the technology behind them keeps getting more advanced. 

But like most tech, chatbot pricing can vary wildly. Depending on your needs and budget, you've got options — from low-cost platforms like Lindy that offer all the benefits, to the DIY route for the brave, the bold, and those with deep pockets.

The way forward is up to you! 

Next steps 

Lindy isn't your average chatbot. It's designed to handle a wide range of tasks and answer those questions that keep you up at night. 

Here's what makes Lindy stand out:

Try Lindy today with a free first week, and enjoy access for just $29.99 per month afterward.