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The best AI chatbot for a small business answers where your customers already write
We make Uptonica, one of the tools on this list. Most “best AI chatbot for small business” lists are written by a vendor, and several rank themselves first. This one has no ranking: it says which tool fits which business, and where each one falls short, ours included.
Quick answer
- Free to start: Tidio or Botpress, both with a free plan that includes some AI conversations.
- An AI that answers from your documents and website: Chatbase.
- One inbox for many channels on a small budget: Crisp.
- Paying only when the AI solves the question: Intercom’s Fin, at $0.99 per resolved conversation.
- Customers who write, call and book appointments: Uptonica.
How we chose
We read the pricing and product pages of every tool on 15 November 2026. Prices are the cheapest paid plan that includes the AI chatbot, in the currency each site shows. Most tools include a number of AI conversations and charge for more; the table shows how many.
The seven tools side by side
| Tool | Best for | Cheapest plan with AI | Free plan | AI included | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidio | Small teams starting with chat | Lyro AI from $32.50 a month, added to a chat plan | Yes, 50 AI conversations | 50 Lyro conversations | Chat, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, email |
| Crisp | Many channels on a small budget | $45 a month (Mini), 4 seats | Yes, without AI | About 90 AI conversations ($5 of AI credits) | Chat, email, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, SMS and more |
| Intercom (Fin) | Paying per resolved question | $0.99 per resolved conversation, plus $29 per seat a month ($19 billed yearly) | No, 14-day trial | Paid per resolved conversation | Chat, email, phone; WhatsApp charged per message |
| Chatbase | An AI trained on your documents | $150 a month ($120 billed yearly) | No, 7-day trial | 4,000 message credits | Chat, email, voice; WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger through integrations |
| Botpress | Building your own bot | $150 a month, billed yearly (Plus) | Yes, 100 conversations a month | 250 conversations a month | Web chat, WhatsApp |
| HubSpot | Teams already on HubSpot | Service Hub: See HubSpot’s pricing | Service Hub Free, 2 users | Paid in HubSpot credits (500 a month on Starter) | Chat, email, forms, calls |
| Uptonica | Local businesses whose customers write and call | €59 a month (€49 billed yearly), Core | No, 7-day trial (free plan on Shopify) | 5,000 chat replies, plus 260 phone minutes | Chat, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, email, phone |
Prices and features from each vendor’s own site, checked on 15 November 2026. Most tools charge for AI conversations above the included number, so estimate your monthly volume before comparing.
Each tool
Tidio
Live chat with Lyro, its AI agent, and WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and email in one inbox. Good for: small teams starting with chat. Watch for: Lyro is priced apart from the chat plan, from $32.50 a month for 50 conversations, so the cost grows with your traffic.
Crisp
A shared inbox for chat, email, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, SMS and more, with AI credits included in paid plans. Good for: small teams answering on many channels. Watch for: the free plan has no AI, and the $45 plan’s credits cover about 90 automated conversations a month.
Intercom (Fin)
An AI agent you pay per resolved conversation, on Intercom’s helpdesk or on the one you already use. Good for: teams that want to pay only when the AI solves the question. Watch for: seats are billed separately, and WhatsApp is charged per message.
Chatbase
An AI agent you train on your documents and website, for chat, email and voice, with WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger through integrations. Good for: businesses with a lot of written know-how. Watch for: the cheapest plan is $120 a month billed yearly, extra credits cost $40 per 1,000, and removing the Chatbase branding costs $99 a month.
Botpress
A platform to build your own AI bot, for web chat and WhatsApp. Good for: businesses with someone who can set it up. Watch for: the paid plan starts at $150 a month billed yearly, with 250 conversations, then $65 per 100.
HubSpot
An AI customer agent inside HubSpot’s Service Hub, on chat, email and forms, that hands over to your team when needed. Good for: businesses already running their CRM on HubSpot. Watch for: the agent runs on HubSpot credits, and Professional seats come with a $1,500 onboarding fee.
Uptonica
AI on your website chat, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, email and the phone, from the same information. It books appointments in the conversation and hands over to your team in the same inbox. Good for: shops, restaurants, salons and local businesses whose customers write and call. Watch for: the €59 Core plan includes one user, prices are in euros, and the free plan is only on Shopify.
How to choose
Start from where your customers write. If they use WhatsApp or call, a chatbot on your website alone answers only part of them.
Count your monthly conversations. Most tools include a limit and charge for AI conversations above it.
Check what the AI reads and who takes over. It should answer from your real information and pass the conversation to a person when it doesn’t know.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AI chatbot for small business?
An assistant that answers your customers in your website chat and messaging apps, from your own information, and passes the conversation to your team when needed.
Is there a free AI chatbot for small business?
Tidio and Botpress have free plans that include a limited number of AI conversations.
How much does an AI chatbot cost for a small business?
About $30 to $150 a month for the cheapest paid plans here, or $0.99 per resolved conversation with Intercom, plus fees above the included limit on most tools.