Chatbots split into two markets: customer-support deflection (Intercom Fin, Ada, Zendesk AI) where the goal is to resolve tickets without a human, and conversational marketing/sales (Drift, Qualified) where the goal is to qualify visitors and book meetings. Picking the wrong category for your use case is the most common mistake. ## Top 3 chatbots 1. [Zoho Desk](https://toolradar.com/tools/zoho-desk) #1 Top pick Customer service software for businessesPricingFree plan4.4 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 10,148 ratings, Sep 2026Our takeBest overall[Read the review](https://toolradar.com/tools/zoho-desk) 2. [Zendesk for E-commerce](https://toolradar.com/tools/zendesk-ecommerce) #2 Omnichannel e-commerce support with AI and automationStarting priceFrom $19 /moCheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 20264.3 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 11,487 ratings, Sep 2026[Read the review](https://toolradar.com/tools/zendesk-ecommerce) 3. [Character.AI](https://toolradar.com/tools/character-ai) #3 AI characters you can chat withStarting priceFrom $9.99 /moCheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 20263.2 /5 across G2, Capterra, SourceForge and more · 3,196 ratings, Sep 2026Our takeMost affordable[Read the review](https://toolradar.com/tools/character-ai) ## 10 top chatbots compared | Tool | Our take | Starting price (Nov 2026) | Rating | Watch out for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Zoho Desk](https://toolradar.com/tools/zoho-desk) | Best overall | Price: Free + paid | 4.4 out of 5, from 10,148 ratings across G2 and Capterra G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.5 | n/a | | [Zendesk for E-commerce](https://toolradar.com/tools/zendesk-ecommerce) | | Price: $19/mo | 4.3 out of 5, from 11,487 ratings across G2 and Capterra G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.4 | Watch out: Annual billing required for 20% savings. | | [Character.AI](https://toolradar.com/tools/character-ai) | Most affordable | Price: $9.99/mo | 3.2 out of 5, from 3,196 ratings across G2, Capterra, SourceForge and more G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.5 | n/a | | [Zendesk Messaging](https://toolradar.com/tools/zendesk-messaging) | | Price: Not published | 4.3 out of 5, from 7,061 ratings on G2 G2 4.3 | Watch out: Add-ons for advanced features | | [Intercom](https://toolradar.com/tools/intercom) | | Price: $29/mo | 4.5 out of 5, from 3,906 ratings on G2 G2 4.5 | n/a | | [Tidio](https://toolradar.com/tools/tidio) | | Price: $24.17/mo | 4.6 out of 5, from 2,552 ratings across G2 and Capterra G2 4.6 · Capterra 4.7 | Watch out: Conversation limits can lead to overage if not monitored. | | [Qualified](https://toolradar.com/tools/qualified) | Highest rated | Price: Contact sales | 4.9 out of 5, from 1,555 ratings on G2 G2 4.9 | n/a | | [OpenAI Operator](https://toolradar.com/tools/openai-operator) | | Price: Free + paid | 4.6 out of 5, from 2,400 ratings on G2 G2 4.6 | n/a | | [Retell AI](https://toolradar.com/tools/retell-ai) | | Price: Free + paid | 4.5 out of 5, from 2,640 ratings across G2 and SourceForge G2 4.8 · SourceForge 0.5 | n/a | | [Smartsupp](https://toolradar.com/tools/smartsupp) | | Price: $17/mo | 4.7 out of 5, from 1,419 ratings across TrustRadius, G2 and Capterra G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.6 | n/a | ## Chatbots pricing compared | Tool | Cheapest paid plan | Free plan | Billing basis | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Zoho Desk](https://toolradar.com/tools/zoho-desk) | Cheapest paid plan: Not published | Free plan: Yes | Billing: Not published | | [Zendesk for E-commerce](https://toolradar.com/tools/zendesk-ecommerce) | Cheapest paid plan: Support Team, $19/mo | Free plan: No | Billing: Per user, billed monthly | | [Character.AI](https://toolradar.com/tools/character-ai) | Cheapest paid plan: c.ai+, $9.99/mo | Free plan: Yes | Billing: Billed monthly | | [Zendesk Messaging](https://toolradar.com/tools/zendesk-messaging) | Cheapest paid plan: Not published | Free plan: No | Billing: Not published | | [Intercom](https://toolradar.com/tools/intercom) | Cheapest paid plan: Essential, $29/mo | Free plan: No | Billing: Billed monthly | | [Tidio](https://toolradar.com/tools/tidio) | Cheapest paid plan: Starter, $24.17/mo (billed yearly) | Free plan: Yes | Billing: Billed yearly | | [Qualified](https://toolradar.com/tools/qualified) | Cheapest paid plan: Not published | Free plan: No | Billing: Not published | | [OpenAI Operator](https://toolradar.com/tools/openai-operator) | Cheapest paid plan: Not published | Free plan: Yes | Billing: Not published | | [Retell AI](https://toolradar.com/tools/retell-ai) | Cheapest paid plan: Not published | Free plan: Yes | Billing: Not published | | [Smartsupp](https://toolradar.com/tools/smartsupp) | Cheapest paid plan: Solo, $17/mo | Free plan: Yes | Billing: Billed monthly | Toolradar pricing data, last verified November 2026. Prices are the cheapest paid plan converted to a monthly figure; "Not published" means the vendor publishes no price for a self-serve paid plan. 5 of 10 tools publish a paid price; median cheapest paid plan $19/mo. Toolradar data ## The chatbots market in numbers **Toolradar data:** Toolradar tracks 95 chatbots as of November 2, 2026. 57% of the chatbots on Toolradar are free, freemium or open source. The median cheapest paid plan for chatbots is $31/mo, across the 31 that publish a price. Toolradar re-checked the pricing of 79% of chatbots in the last 90 days. Toolradar aggregates 56,422 public user reviews (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot and other review sites) across 52 rated chatbots. The most cross-shopped chatbot is Intercom, listed as an alternative to 103 other tools on Toolradar. The most compared chatbot on Toolradar over the last 90 days is FlowiseAI, with 522 side-by-side comparisons. Computed from the Toolradar catalog and on-site activity. - 95 chatbots tracked - 57% are free, freemium or open source - $31/mo median cheapest paid plan, across the 31 chatbots that publish one - 79% of prices re-checked in the last 90 days - 56,422 public user reviews aggregated across 52 rated tools | Rank | Tool | Listed as an alternative to | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [Intercom](https://toolradar.com/tools/intercom) | 103 tools | | 2 | [FlowiseAI](https://toolradar.com/tools/flowise) | 97 tools | | 3 | [Drift](https://toolradar.com/tools/drift) | 38 tools | | Rank | Tool | Comparisons | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [FlowiseAI](https://toolradar.com/tools/flowise) | 522 | | 2 | [Intercom](https://toolradar.com/tools/intercom) | 447 | | 3 | [Poe](https://toolradar.com/tools/poe-ai) | 226 | Source and method: [live chatbots statistics](https://toolradar.com/statistics/chatbots) ## Chatbots leaderboards from Toolradar data Toolradar ranks Chatbots tools on one measure at a time, only where at least 8 tools have data. As of Nov 2026. CSV download of these Chatbots leaderboards, licensed CC BY 4.0 ### Lowest entry price, plans with no stated unit Cheapest standard paid plan per month (annual prices divided by 12), read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis. Counted among 36 tools with no stated price unit, verified price. | # | Tool | Entry plan | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [Character.AI](https://toolradar.com/tools/character-ai) | $9.99/mo, billed monthly | | 2 | [FlowHunt AI](https://toolradar.com/tools/flowhunt-ai) | $10.80/mo, billed monthly | | 3 | [ManyChat](https://toolradar.com/tools/manychat) | $15/mo, billed monthly | | 4 | [Botsonic](https://toolradar.com/tools/botsonic) | $16/mo, billed monthly | | 5 | [Poe](https://toolradar.com/tools/poe-ai) | $16.67/mo, billed yearly | A position exists only when at least 8 tools have data for that metric. 36 of 94 Chatbots tools have a verified price; the others publish none we could read (often "contact sales"). Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source. [How we compute this](https://toolradar.com/how-we-rate#toolradar-data). Cite this: Toolradar, “Chatbots leaderboards”, Nov 2026. Data licensed CC BY 4.0. [All Chatbots statistics](https://toolradar.com/statistics/chatbots). ## How the top chatbots compare 6 of the 10 chatbots listed here have a free plan (Zoho Desk, Character.AI, Tidio, OpenAI Operator, Retell AI, Smartsupp); the other 4 (Zendesk for E-commerce, Zendesk Messaging, Intercom, Qualified) are paid only. Teams on a budget should start with Zoho Desk, our free pick. Rankings are computed from G2/Capterra review volume and rating, and media mentions. [Editorial policy](https://toolradar.com/editorial-policy) ## Top chatbots Order: Toolradar ranking score, which is the public review volume times the average rating on G2, Capterra, Trustpilot and other review sites, plus media mentions (recent ones count more). Paid placements are labelled and never change the score. [How we rank](https://toolradar.com/how-we-rate). ### Zoho Desk Free plan Customer service software for businesses 4.4 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 10,148 ratings, Sep 2026 Zoho Desk is an omnichannel help desk that unifies email, live chat, phone, social media, and instant messaging into a single ticket stream. Its Zia AI engine handles sentiment analysis, auto-tagging, and chatbot responses, while Blueprint automation enforces SLA-driven workflows. Used by 100K+ companies, it scales from a free 3-agent plan to a full enterprise suite with custom modules and sandbox environments. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/zoho-desk) [Visit website](https://www.zoho.com/desk/) [Zoho Desk alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/zoho-desk) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Zoho Desk? Rate it - Pro: Generous free plan for up to 3 agents - Pro: Deep AI capabilities baked into every tier - Pro: Tight integration with the broader Zoho ecosystem - Con: UI can feel overwhelming for small teams - Con: Phone and advanced automation locked to higher tiers Good value The Free plan is generous for very small teams. ### Zendesk for E-commerce Paid Omnichannel e-commerce support with AI and automation 4.3 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 11,487 ratings, Sep 2026 Zendesk is a comprehensive customer service platform widely adopted by e-commerce businesses for omnichannel support across email, live chat, social media, phone, and messaging. It provides AI-powered ticket routing, automated workflows, a self-service help center, and detailed analytics to manage high-volume customer inquiries. E-commerce teams use it to handle order issues, returns, shipping questions, and pre-sale support with SLA management and integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other platforms. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/zendesk-ecommerce) [Visit website](https://www.zendesk.com/ecommerce/) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Zendesk for E-commerce? Rate it - Pro: Industry-leading omnichannel support covering every major communication channel - Pro: Extensive app marketplace with 1,500+ integrations including all major e-commerce platforms - Pro: Powerful automation reduces manual ticket handling for high-volume stores - Con: Per-agent pricing gets expensive as support teams grow - Con: Complex configuration and steep learning curve for full feature utilization Fair value Zendesk's pricing for e-commerce is on the expensive side, particularly for smaller businesses. Watch out Annual billing required for 20% savings. ### Character.AI Free plan AI characters you can chat with 3.2 /5 across G2, Capterra, SourceForge and more · 3,196 ratings, Sep 2026 Character.AI lets you create and chat with AI characters with distinct personalities. Talk to historical figures, fictional characters, or create your own. Millions of community-created characters to explore. Characters maintain consistent personalities across conversations. Used for entertainment, roleplay, learning, and creative writing. The platform where AI conversations become immersive character experiences. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/character-ai) [Visit website](https://character.ai) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Character.AI? Rate it - Pro: Very creative - Pro: Good character memory - Pro: Free tier generous - Con: Output filtered - Con: Can be addictive Good value Character.AI's pricing is quite generous, offering a robust Free tier with unlimited chats. ### Zendesk Messaging Paid Improve live chat with AI-powered messaging for seamless customer support across all channels. 4.3 /5 on G2 · 7,061 ratings, Sep 2026 Zendesk Messaging enhances customer service by providing an omnichannel messaging platform that integrates across web, mobile apps, and social media (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram). It allows customers to get help instantly without waiting or repeating themselves, offering a consistent experience tailored to the brand's look and feel. The platform centralizes conversations, channels, and customer data into a unified workspace for support agents. Key features include AI Agents for automating FAQs and resolving common issues 24/7, intelligent distribution to route conversations to the right agents, and analytics dashboards for identifying customer trends. It aims to reduce waiting times and improve response speed, making support faster and more efficient. Zendesk Messaging is ideal for businesses looking to scale their customer support, improve agent productivity, and deliver personalized service through conversational AI and streamlined workflows. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/zendesk-messaging) [Visit website](https://zendesk.com/service/messaging) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Zendesk Messaging? Rate it - Pro: Messaging support - Pro: Zendesk integration - Pro: Good features - Con: Zendesk required - Con: Per-agent pricing Good value It's best for established businesses that prioritize a comprehensive, integrated support suite and have the budget for it. Watch out Add-ons for advanced features ### Intercom Paid AI-first customer service platform 4.5 /5 on G2 · 3,906 ratings, Aug 2026 Intercom is a customer communication platform that combines AI-powered chatbots, live chat, help center, and email automation for customer support and engagement. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/intercom) [Visit website](https://www.intercom.com) [Intercom alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/intercom) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Intercom? Rate it - Pro: Powerful Fin AI agent - Pro: Unified inbox for all channels - Pro: Strong automation capabilities - Con: Expensive for small teams - Con: Complex pricing model Fair value Intercom is the gold standard for AI-first customer support with its Fin AI agent resolving ~60% of conversations. ### Tidio Free plan Live chat, AI chatbots, and email to convert visitors 4.6 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 2,552 ratings, Sep 2026 Tidio is a customer service platform combining live chat, chatbots, and email. Chat widget engages visitors in real-time. AI chatbots handle common questions automatically. Visual chatbot builder requires no coding. Integrations with popular e-commerce platforms and content management systems. Customer communication that converts visitors to customers. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/tidio) [Visit website](https://toolradar.com/visit/tidio?p=best&c=chatbots) [Tidio alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/tidio) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Tidio? Rate it - Pro: Easy setup - Pro: AI chatbots - Pro: Good value - Con: Limited customization - Con: Bot features extra Good value It's best for small to medium businesses prioritizing live chat and chatbot automation, with the Plus plan targeting enterprise-level needs. Watch out Conversation limits can lead to overage if not monitored. ### Qualified Paid Pipeline generation platform for B2B 4.9 /5 on G2 · 1,555 ratings, Sep 2026 Qualified converts website visitors into conversations. Chatbots that qualify leads in real-time-sales conversations when buyers are ready. The qualification happens instantly. The routing is intelligent. The integration connects to sales. B2B sales teams wanting instant engagement use Qualified for real-time visitor conversion. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/qualified) [Visit website](https://qualified.com) [Qualified alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/qualified) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Qualified? Rate it - Pro: Conversational marketing - Pro: Salesforce integration - Pro: Good for B2B - Con: Expensive - Con: Salesforce dependent Fair value Qualified's pricing is expensive, starting at ~$40K/year for Premier and ~$68K/year for Enterprise. ### OpenAI Operator Free plan Engage in natural language conversations with an advanced AI chatbot. 4.6 /5 on G2 · 2,400 ratings, Apr 2026 ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, designed to understand and generate human-like text based on the input it receives. It can engage in dynamic conversations, answer questions, provide explanations, generate creative content, and assist with various tasks requiring natural language understanding and generation. The AI is trained on a vast dataset of text and code, enabling it to respond coherently and contextually across a wide range of topics. This tool is ideal for individuals seeking quick information, creative inspiration, writing assistance, or simply an interactive conversational experience with an AI. It benefits students, writers, developers, customer service professionals, and anyone who needs to process or generate text efficiently. Key benefits include instant access to information, enhanced productivity through automated text generation, and a versatile platform for exploring ideas and solving problems through dialogue. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/openai-operator) [Visit website](https://operator.chatgpt.com) [OpenAI Operator alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/openai-operator) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used OpenAI Operator? Rate it - Pro: Provides instant and relevant responses to queries. - Pro: Highly versatile for various text-based tasks. - Pro: Continuously learning and improving its conversational abilities. - Con: Responses can sometimes be overly verbose or repetitive. - Con: May occasionally generate incorrect or nonsensical information. ### Retell AI Free plan Automate customer interactions with human-sounding AI voice agents 4.5 /5 across G2 and SourceForge · 2,640 ratings, Oct 2026 Retell AI is an advanced conversational AI platform designed to automate customer interactions across phone calls, chat, and SMS. It enables businesses to create and deploy AI voice agents that sound human, execute tasks, and scale effortlessly. The platform leverages large language models (LLMs) to deliver natural, low-latency conversations, handling complex, multi-turn interactions and edge cases that traditional IVR or IVA systems cannot. This platform is ideal for businesses looking to streamline operations, enhance customer service, and reduce support costs by automating routine requests and qualifying leads. It offers a highly configurable agentic framework with drag-and-drop capabilities, built-in guardrails, and real-time function calling for tasks like appointment booking, payment processing, and record updates. Retell AI also includes comprehensive testing and analytics tools to ensure continuous improvement and performance monitoring of AI agents, making it suitable for various industries and use cases, from customer service and lead qualification to debt collection and appointment setting. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/retell-ai) [Visit website](https://www.retellai.com) [Retell AI alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/retell-ai) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Retell AI? Rate it - Pro: Delivers highly natural and human-like AI conversations with low latency. - Pro: Offers extensive configurability and control over AI agent behavior. - Pro: Supports complex, multi-turn conversations and handles edge cases effectively. - Con: Pricing model is usage-based and can become complex with multiple add-ons and LLM choices. - Con: Requires some technical understanding for full customization and API integration. Good value Retell AI's pay-as-you-go pricing of $0.07-$0.31 per minute for voice agents is competitive with other hosted AI voice platforms, though it can add up at high volumes. 10 ### Smartsupp Free plan Increase sales and customer satisfaction with AI-powered live chat, chatbots, and a shopping assistant. 4.7 /5 across TrustRadius, G2 and Capterra · 1,419 ratings, Sep 2026 Smartsupp is a comprehensive customer communication platform designed to help businesses, particularly e-commerce sites, engage with their customers, generate leads, and boost sales. It unifies live chat, chatbots, WhatsApp, Messenger, and email into a single dashboard, allowing teams to manage all customer interactions efficiently. The platform features an AI Shopping Assistant named Mira AI, which learns about a business's products and can provide instant assistance, product recommendations, and answer up to 80% of common and technical questions. Smartsupp also offers tools for lead generation, automated visitor engagement, and team management, including agent roles, performance tracking, and conversation history. It aims to streamline customer support, increase conversion rates, and improve overall customer experience by providing timely and relevant assistance. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/smartsupp) [Visit website](https://www.smartsupp.com) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Smartsupp? Rate it - Pro: Consolidates multiple communication channels into one platform. - Pro: AI Shopping Assistant can significantly reduce support workload and improve customer experience. - Pro: Offers a free plan for basic live chat functionality. - Con: Advanced AI features and higher conversation limits are only available in paid plans. - Con: Pricing scales with the number of live chat conversations, which might be unpredictable for some businesses. Good value Smartsupp offers a generous Free tier, making it accessible for small businesses. ## Why other chatbots didn't make our top 10 We evaluated 95 tools in this category and these 20 ranked 11 through 30. They're solid options that fell short on one or two axes (review depth, pricing transparency, feature parity), but worth a look if the leaders don't fit your stack or budget. [DriftConversational marketing platform](https://toolradar.com/tools/drift)[WatiWhatsApp engagement platform for businesses](https://toolradar.com/tools/wati)[Sprinklr ServiceUnified customer service platform](https://toolradar.com/tools/sprinklr-service)[OlarkLive chat software for customer support](https://toolradar.com/tools/olark)[ChatraEngage website visitors and manage customer communications across multiple channels from one dashboard.](https://toolradar.com/tools/chatra)[BotpressOpen-source conversational AI platform for chatbots](https://toolradar.com/tools/botpress)[LandbotBuild no-code chatbots for web, WhatsApp, and Messenger](https://toolradar.com/tools/landbot)[CrispAll-in-one customer messaging: chat, bots, CRM](https://toolradar.com/tools/crisp)[KommoBoost sales and manage client communications across all messaging apps in one unified CRM.](https://toolradar.com/tools/kommo)[ReplikaYour AI friend for emotional growth and personal well-being](https://toolradar.com/tools/replika)[HelpshiftAI-first customer service platform combining AI, human specialists, and state-of-the-art technology.](https://toolradar.com/tools/helpshift)[BotsonicNo-code AI chatbot builder by Writesonic](https://toolradar.com/tools/botsonic)[ManyChatAutomate customer conversations across Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, SMS, and email](https://toolradar.com/tools/manychat)[WANotifierTurn WhatsApp into your primary high-ROI revenue channel with marketing and automation.](https://toolradar.com/tools/wanotifier)[AdaAutomate customer interactions with an AI-powered chatbot platform.](https://toolradar.com/tools/ada)[ChaportAn all-in-one messaging platform for sales, support, and customer engagement.](https://toolradar.com/tools/chaport)[Yellow.aiTransform CX & EX with AI agents that think, act, and resolve autonomously.](https://toolradar.com/tools/yellow-ai)[RichpanelAI-powered customer service platform for e-commerce to cut costs, boost agent productivity, and delight customers.](https://toolradar.com/tools/richpanel)[CustomerlyAI-powered customer support suite for SaaS teams to deliver instant, human-like support.](https://toolradar.com/tools/customerly)[Re:amazeCustomer service and live chat for e-commerce brands](https://toolradar.com/tools/reamaze) ## Popular chatbots comparisons See how the leading chatbots stack up head-to-head. - [Zoho Desk vs Intercom](https://toolradar.com/compare/intercom-vs-zoho-desk) - [Zendesk Messaging vs Intercom](https://toolradar.com/compare/intercom-vs-zendesk-messaging) - [Zendesk Messaging vs Drift](https://toolradar.com/compare/drift-vs-zendesk-messaging) - [Intercom vs Drift](https://toolradar.com/compare/drift-vs-intercom) - [Intercom vs Crisp](https://toolradar.com/compare/crisp-vs-intercom) - [Tidio vs Intercom](https://toolradar.com/compare/intercom-vs-tidio) - [Tidio vs ManyChat](https://toolradar.com/compare/manychat-vs-tidio) - [OpenAI Operator vs Botsonic](https://toolradar.com/compare/botsonic-vs-openai-operator) - [Retell AI vs Yellow.ai](https://toolradar.com/compare/retell-ai-vs-yellow-ai) - [Smartsupp vs Intercom](https://toolradar.com/compare/intercom-vs-smartsupp) - [Smartsupp vs Drift](https://toolradar.com/compare/drift-vs-smartsupp) - [Smartsupp vs Tidio](https://toolradar.com/compare/smartsupp-vs-tidio) Compare all 95 chatbots side by side ## Pricing breakdowns for chatbots Real plans and the hidden costs for each tool. - [Zoho Desk pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/zoho-desk/pricing) - [Zendesk for E-commerce pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/zendesk-ecommerce/pricing) - [Character.AI pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/character-ai/pricing) - [Zendesk Messaging pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/zendesk-messaging/pricing) - [Intercom pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/intercom/pricing) - [Tidio pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/tidio/pricing) - [Qualified pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/qualified/pricing) - [Retell AI pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/retell-ai/pricing) ## Browse all chatbots tools 95 tools Pricing - [100% free](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?pricing=free#browse) - [Free plan](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?pricing=freemium#browse) - [Paid](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?pricing=paid#browse) Platform - [Web](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?os=Web#browse) - [iOS](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?os=iOS#browse) - [Android](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?os=Android#browse) - [Windows](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?os=Windows#browse) - [macOS](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?os=macOS#browse) - [Linux](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?os=Linux#browse) - [Chrome](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?os=Chrome#browse) Industry - [Healthcare 12](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?industry=healthcare#browse) - [Retail 12](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?industry=retail#browse) - [E-commerce 8](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?industry=ecommerce#browse) - [Education 8](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?industry=education#browse) - [Finance & Banking 8](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?industry=finance#browse) - [Government 6](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?industry=government#browse) - [Hospitality & Travel 6](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?industry=hospitality#browse) - [SaaS & Technology 6](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?industry=saas#browse) - [Manufacturing 3](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?industry=manufacturing#browse) - [Real Estate 3](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots?industry=real-estate#browse) [HugoYour best AI support agent teammatePaid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/hugo)[ParadoxConversational AI recruiting assistantPaid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/paradox)[TypebotBuild advanced, interactive chatbots with a no-code platform for websites and chat apps.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/typebot)[KommunicateAI + Human Customer Service Automation Platform for seamless support across all channels.Paid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/kommunicate)[Expertise AITurn website visitors into qualified meetings and pipeline with an AI sales agent.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/expertise-ai)[InteraktWhatsApp Business API platform for growthPaid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/interakt)[ChatfuelAutomate customer support and sales on WhatsApp, Instagram, and other social platforms with AI.Paid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/chatfuel)[UseResponseComplete customer service suite for multi-channel support, feedback, and knowledge management.Paid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/useresponse)[Google Cloud Contact Center AIAI-powered contact center platformPaid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/google-ccai)[ChatbaseBuild custom AI chatbots trained on your dataFree plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/chatbase)[FreshmarketerAI-powered marketing automation for lead generation, multichannel engagement, and revenue growth.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/freshmarketer)[DecagonConversational AI for customer experiences across voice, chat, and email.Paid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/decagon)[FreshsuccessAI-powered customer service platform for faster, more accurate resolutions and empowered teams.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/freshsuccess)[TolstoyThe AI Commerce platform for creating shoppable videos, AI-generated content, and sales chatbots.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/tolstoy)[PoeMulti-AI chat platform by QuoraFree plan](https://toolradar.com/tools/poe-ai)[YoggiSafe, adaptive AI conversations for kids with parental controlsFree plan](https://toolradar.com/tools/yoggi)[RasaBuild trustworthy AI agents for real-world complexity with full control over behavior and performance.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/rasa)[TalkieChat with AI characters, from fiction to celebrities, via text and voice100% free](https://toolradar.com/tools/talkie)[FlowiseAIVisually build, deploy, and scale AI agents and chatbots with an open-source, low-code platform.Free plan · Web, macOS, Linux](https://toolradar.com/tools/flowise)[Ivy by GoMomentAI-powered digital concierge for hotels, automating guest requests and driving commerce.Paid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/ivy-by-gomoment)[Knock Knock AppTurn website visitors into paying customers with AI voice and chat agents and live video calls.Paid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/knock-knock-app)[HelpySecure, self-hosted, and open-source customer support helpdesk software with data control.Paid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/helpy)[Loop AIAI-powered platform for building and deploying intelligent conversational agents.Free plan](https://toolradar.com/tools/loop-ai)[NVIDIA PersonaPlexCreate natural, full-duplex conversational AI with customizable voices and roles.100% free](https://toolradar.com/tools/nvidia-personaplex) Showing the top 24 of 95. Filter to narrow down. ## In-depth: why these tools made the cut ### Why Intercom Fin AI leads support deflection Intercom review Intercom's Fin AI is currently the most-used bot for SaaS support deflection. The integration with the Intercom messenger and the underlying help center makes deployment relatively turnkey, and the deflection rates reported (40-70% for mature deployments) are credible. Fin's pricing, per-resolution rather than per-seat, climbs at scale; some teams find total cost surprising. For mid-market and growth-stage SaaS already on Intercom, Fin is the path of least resistance. Standalone deployments make less sense. ## How to choose chatbots 1. Identify the bot's jobResolve support tickets: Intercom Fin, Ada, HubSpot Service. Qualify website visitors and route to sales: Qualified, Drift, ChatBot.com. Internal employee help (IT/HR): Moveworks, Espressive. Custom in-product assistant: open-source bots + LLM API. 2. Audit knowledge source qualityBots only deflect well if your help center / KB is accurate and comprehensive. Cleaning content before deploying a bot is more impactful than picking a 'better' bot vendor. Most chatbot project failures are content failures, not technology failures. 3. Plan for human handoffBot-only deflection rate ceilings are typically 30-60% even for mature deployments. The handoff to humans matters as much as the bot. Verify the agent experience, does the human see the bot conversation context? Is routing smart? ## Best Chatbots for - [Chatbots for Startups](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots/for/startups) - [Chatbots for Small Businesses](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots/for/small-businesses) - [Chatbots for Freelancers](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots/for/freelancers) - [Chatbots for Enterprises](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots/for/enterprises) - [Chatbots for Solopreneurs](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots/for/solopreneurs) - [Chatbots for Nonprofits](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots/for/nonprofits) ## How we ranked these chatbots We rank by real-world signal: G2/Capterra review volume and rating, and media mentions (volume and recency). Pricing is re-checked and the ranking refreshed monthly. Tools evaluated95 With free plan54% Last updatedNovember 2026 Toolradar Research ## The data behind chatbots First-party analyses built from our full catalog, methodology published. - [Which software categories are actually free](https://toolradar.com/reports/free-software-report-2026) - [What B2B software really costs per month](https://toolradar.com/reports/saas-price-points-2026) - [The most crowded software markets](https://toolradar.com/reports/most-crowded-software-markets-2026) All Toolradar research Ask your AI assistant Toolradar works inside Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and VS Code. Every price comes with the date it was read on the vendor's page. No API key needed. “What is the best chatbots tool for a 5-person team under $50 a month? Give me a short list with prices.” [Add to Cursor](cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=toolradar&config=eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Rvb2xyYWRhci5jb20vYXBpL21jcCJ9)[Add to VS Code](vscode:mcp/install?%7B%22name%22%3A%22toolradar%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Ftoolradar.com%2Fapi%2Fmcp%22%7D)[Claude, ChatGPT and others](https://toolradar.com/for-agents?src=category) claude mcp add --transport http toolradar https://toolradar.com/api/mcp ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the best chatbots tool in 2026? Based on our analysis of 95 chatbots tools, Zoho Desk is our overall chatbots pick. The next tools on the list are Zendesk for E-commerce, Character.AI, Zendesk Messaging. Rankings use G2/Capterra review volume and rating, and media mentions. ### What are the top 3 chatbots tools? The top 3 chatbots tools in 2026, ranked by Toolradar, are: 1) Zoho Desk, Customer service software for businesses. 2) Zendesk for E-commerce, Omnichannel e-commerce support with AI and automation. 3) Character.AI, AI characters you can chat with. ### Are there free chatbots tools? Yes. Zoho Desk is our free chatbots pick (free plan alongside paid plans). 6 of the 10 tools on this page have a free plan. Among the 95 chatbots tools we rank, 51 have a free plan. ### How do I choose the right chatbots tool? Start by defining your team size, budget, and must-have features. Zoho Desk is our overall chatbots pick. Compare all 95 options side by side on Toolradar. Cite this page: Toolradar, "Best Chatbot Software in 2026", updated November 2026, https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots [Chatbots statistics catalog size, ratings and pricing data, updated monthly](https://toolradar.com/statistics/chatbots) ## What is Chatbot Software? Chatbot software lets businesses deploy automated conversational agents on their website, messaging apps, and customer support channels. The best chatbot software in 2026 uses AI to understand customer intent, answer questions, qualify leads, and route complex issues to human agents, without the clunky decision-tree experience of older bots. The category has split into two camps. Rule-based chatbots follow scripted flows and work well for simple FAQs and lead qualification. AI-powered chatbots use large language models to handle open-ended conversations, understand context, and pull answers from your knowledge base. Most modern platforms offer both. What's changed recently is that AI chatbots can now be trained on your specific documentation, product data, and past support tickets. Instead of generic responses, they give answers grounded in your actual content. This has made chatbots viable for complex support scenarios that would have required human agents before. ## Editor's Take > “After evaluating 95 chatbots, Zoho Desk stands out as our top pick, ahead of Zendesk for E-commerce. For budget-conscious teams, Zoho Desk (free plan alongside paid plans) delivers strong value. The competition is fierce, the gap between top tools is narrower than ever, so the best choice comes down to your team's specific workflow and priorities.” Louis Corneloup · November 2026 ## Key Data Points 95Tools evaluated6 of 10Listed tools with a free plan Toolradar data: 6 of the 10 tools listed on this page (60%) have a free plan, out of 95 tools tracked in this category. Zoho Desk leads the list. ## Essential Features in Chatbot Software ### AI-Powered Responses Natural language understanding that handles typos, variations, and multi-turn conversations. Rule-based bots frustrate users who don't follow the expected script. ### Knowledge Base Integration Train the bot on your help docs, product pages, and internal knowledge base. Answers should cite specific sources so users can verify and dig deeper. ### Human Handoff Smooth escalation to live agents when the bot can't resolve an issue. The agent should see the full conversation history so customers don't repeat themselves. ### Multi-Channel Deployment Website widget, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Slack, SMS. Deploy once and manage conversations across channels from one dashboard. ### Lead Qualification Capture visitor information, qualify leads with targeted questions, and route hot prospects to sales. Some bots can book meetings directly on your team's calendar. ### Analytics & Training Track resolution rates, common questions, drop-off points, and customer satisfaction. Use insights to improve bot responses and identify knowledge gaps. ## Who Uses Chatbot Software? Chatbots serve both customer-facing and internal use cases across company sizes: **Customer support teams:** Deflecting common questions, providing 24/7 coverage, and reducing ticket volume so agents handle only complex issues.**Sales and marketing teams:** Engaging website visitors, qualifying leads, booking demos, and nurturing prospects through automated conversations.**E-commerce businesses:** Handling order status inquiries, product recommendations, returns, and shipping questions at scale.**SaaS companies:** Providing self-service support, guiding users through features, and reducing churn through proactive engagement. ## Related Guides [Best AI Chatbots for Business in 2026](https://toolradar.com/guides/best-ai-chatbots) [Best AI Chatbot Builders in 2026](https://toolradar.com/guides/best-ai-chatbot-builders) [Best Customer Support Software in 2026](https://toolradar.com/guides/best-customer-support-software) [Best Live Chat Software in 2026](https://toolradar.com/guides/best-live-chat-software) ## Have experience with these tools? Your review helps thousands of others make better decisions. Write a Review [Browse all 95 tools in this category](https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots#browse) For chatbots vendors ## Selling a chatbots product? Reach 930K+ buyers through Toolradar & Dupple. Newsletter ads and directory listings: the same surfaces buyers use to shortlist. Maximum 3 sponsors per issue, native layout, no ad design needed. Self-serve advertising Book a Spotlight, Primary Ad, or Native Advertorial yourself. Live in 1-2 weeks. See ad pricing → Full-service: let us run it Our agency owns the media + executes the campaigns. Demand, SEO, content, end-to-end. How the agency works → Some offers on this page may be paid placements or contain affiliate links. --- Source: https://toolradar.com/best/chatbots