TL;DR: Tidio and Crisp publish accessible starting plans for live chat + chatbot. Intercom publishes seat-based plans with usage-based AI resolution pricing. Drift is more quote-led for B2B conversational marketing. Order follows published list prices first.
Chatbot software (and modern AI agents) handles automated conversations on websites, messaging apps, and inside products. In 2026 the category spans simple rule-based bots, generative AI agents that resolve tickets, and hybrid live-chat + automation platforms.
Every entry uses the same fields: published pricing, free plan or trial, primary use case, and the main limitation. The order below is not a quality ranking. Public $0 / published price first, quote-led last.
Chatbot software compared at a glance
| Provider | Published pricing | Primary use | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidio | Free plan available; paid Growth and higher tiers with usage-based conversations and Lyro AI; Plus from $300/mo + usage | Live chat + AI agent + flows | SMBs wanting chat + AI on a clear usage model | Visit β |
| Crisp | Published free and paid plans starting low; higher tiers for teams and AI | Shared inbox + chatbot | Teams that want a simple shared inbox with bot capabilities | Visit β |
| Intercom | Essential from ~$29/seat/mo; Advanced and Expert higher; Fin AI usage-based (~$0.99/resolution) | Product messaging + AI agent | SaaS and product-led companies needing in-app messaging | Visit β |
| Drift | Primarily quote-based for conversational marketing and sales | B2B pipeline + chat | B2B sales teams focused on website-to-pipeline conversion | Visit β |
Tidio and Intercom published figures were cross-checked on 22 September 2026. Crisp maintains public tiers; Drift is predominantly sales-led. Confirm current conversation limits, AI resolution pricing, and annual discounts on the live pages.
Three platforms surface public starting prices. Drift remains largely quote-driven for enterprise conversational marketing.
Rule-based bots vs AI agents in 2026
Traditional chatbots follow decision trees. Modern AI agents (Lyro, Fin, etc.) resolve conversations using large language models and are often priced per resolution or per conversation rather than only per seat. Buyers should model both seat cost and expected resolution volume.
The 4 providers in detail
1. Tidio
Best for: Small and mid-size businesses that want live chat, visual Flows, and an AI agent (Lyro) on a usage-based model.
| Published pricing | Free plan; paid Growth and higher with billable conversations and Lyro AI quotas; Plus from $300/mo + usage |
| Free plan / trial | Permanent free plan with limited conversations |
| Core focus | Live chat, ticketing, Flows, Lyro AI agent |
| Main limitation | Higher volume or advanced AI quickly moves into usage-based or Plus/Premium pricing |
- Clear free tier and usage calculator on the pricing page.
- Lyro AI agent can be added with conversation quotas.
- Works well for ecommerce and support teams that need both chat and automation.
2. Crisp
Best for: Teams that want a clean shared inbox with chatbot capabilities and transparent entry pricing.
| Published pricing | Free and paid plans published; higher tiers unlock more seats and AI features |
| Free plan / trial | Free plan available |
| Core focus | Shared inbox, live chat, basic automation |
| Main limitation | Advanced AI and high-volume enterprise features sit on higher paid tiers |
- Simple pricing structure that is easy to start with.
- Strong shared-inbox experience for small support teams.
- Chatbot and automation features scale with plan level.
3. Intercom
Best for: Product-led and SaaS companies that need in-app messaging, help center, and an AI agent (Fin) priced per resolution.
| Published pricing | Seat-based plans starting Essential ~$29/seat/mo; Fin AI usage-based |
| Free plan / trial | Trial available; no permanent free production plan |
| Core focus | Conversational support, product tours, AI resolution |
| Main limitation | Total cost can rise with seat count plus Fin resolution volume |
- Published seat pricing plus transparent Fin AI resolution pricing.
- Deep product-led growth and in-app messaging capabilities.
- Strong knowledge-base and help-center integration.
4. Drift
Best for: B2B sales and marketing teams focused on converting website visitors into pipeline with conversational landing experiences.
| Published pricing | Primarily quote-based |
| Free plan / trial | Demo and sales-led evaluation |
| Core focus | Conversational marketing, ABM-style chat, sales routing |
| Main limitation | Not aimed at pure support ticket deflection; pricing is custom |
- Designed around B2B pipeline rather than pure support cost reduction.
- Strong sales and marketing alignment features.
- Expect a tailored quote based on volume and seats.
Kurums Match
I want a free starting point and simple live chat + AI
Tidio or Crisp. Both publish free tiers and clear upgrade paths.
I am a SaaS product team that needs in-app messaging and AI resolution
Intercom with Fin is built for product-led support and publishes both seat and resolution pricing.
I care most about turning website visitors into sales conversations
Drift focuses on conversational marketing and sales routing; plan on a custom quote.
I need to model cost by conversation volume rather than only seats
Look at Tidioβs usage calculator and Intercomβs Fin resolution pricing; both make volume economics explicit.
Buying tip
Separate seat cost from AI resolution or conversation cost. Run a 30-day volume estimate (live chats + AI resolutions) and ask each vendor for the projected monthly total at that volume. Confirm whether unused AI conversations roll over and whether there is a minimum monthly commitment on higher plans.
How this comparison was put together
Official Tidio, Intercom, and related public pricing pages were reviewed on 22 September 2026. Drift is treated as quote-led. Order prioritizes published pricing transparency. No commercial ranking influenced the sequence.
FAQ
Is Tidioβs free plan usable for production?
Yes for low volume. It includes limited billable conversations and a free Lyro quota. Most growing teams move to a paid Growth or higher plan once volume increases.
How does Intercom Fin pricing work?
Fin is typically charged per resolved conversation (commonly cited around $0.99). Confirm current resolution definition and any monthly minimums on the Intercom pricing page.
Can these tools replace a full help desk?
Tidio, Crisp, and Intercom all include ticketing or shared-inbox features. For complex SLA and multi-brand enterprise support, many teams still pair a chatbot with a dedicated help-desk platform.
Do I need a separate live-chat tool if I already have a chatbot?
Most modern platforms combine both. The practical question is whether the AI resolution rate and human hand-off quality meet your support SLAs.
Related: Best Customer Support Software in 2026 Β· Best Live Chat Software in 2026
Last updated 22 September 2026. Pricing and plan names change; always verify on the vendor site.
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