Blog · WhatsApp
The best WhatsApp chatbot answers from your real data, then hands over to a person
We make Uptonica, one of the tools on this list. Most “best WhatsApp chatbot” 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
- Broadcasts and message templates first: WATI.
- Many conversations and a team to route them: Respond.io or SleekFlow.
- Selling in chat, with a sales pipeline: Kommo.
- Building your own conversation flows: Landbot or Botpress.
- Customers who write on WhatsApp and also call: Uptonica.
How we chose
We read the pricing pages of every tool on 15 November 2026. Prices are the cheapest plan with an AI chatbot on WhatsApp, in the currency each site shows. On top of every plan, Meta charges for some WhatsApp messages; the table shows how each tool passes that cost on.
The eight tools side by side
| Tool | Best for | Cheapest plan with AI on WhatsApp | AI included | Meta’s message fees | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WATI | Broadcasts and templates | €59 a month, billed yearly (Growth) | 1 AI agent and 2,000 AI credits a month | Billed through WATI per message | No, 7-day trial |
| Respond.io | High chat volume | $199 a month ($159 billed yearly), Growth | Included; extra credits $15 per 1,000 | Not included, paid on top | No, 7-day trial |
| SleekFlow | Many channels in one inbox | $109 a month, billed yearly (Pro) | Unlimited basic AI replies, 3,000 credits for advanced ones | SleekFlow’s rates, plus $15 a month to host the number | No, 7-day trial |
| Kommo | Selling in chat | $35 per user a month, billed every 6 months (Advanced) | Up to 3 AI agents, 1,250 AI credits per user | Passed on at cost | No, 14-day trial |
| Landbot | Building flows without code | $88 a month billed yearly (Professional), plus $100 a month for WhatsApp | 500 AI chats a month | Meta’s rates plus a Landbot fee per message | Yes, without WhatsApp |
| Botpress | Building your own bot | $150 a month, billed yearly (Plus) | 250 conversations a month | Not stated | Yes, 100 conversations a month |
| Callbell | Small teams on a budget | €14 per agent a month, plus €20 for WhatsApp and €59 for the chatbot | AI agent price not published | Meta’s rates | No, 7-day trial |
| Uptonica | WhatsApp, phone and chat together | €59 a month (€49 billed yearly), Core | 5,000 chat replies, plus 260 phone minutes | Meta bills you directly, at cost | No, 7-day trial (free plan on Shopify) |
Prices and features from each vendor’s own site, checked on 15 November 2026. AI credits are counted differently by each tool, so compare them with your monthly number of conversations.
Each tool
WATI
A WhatsApp platform for broadcasts, templates and a shared inbox, with Astra, its AI agent. Good for: businesses that send a lot of campaigns on WhatsApp. Watch for: the €59 price is billed yearly, and WhatsApp messages are billed through WATI.
Respond.io
An inbox for WhatsApp and other channels, with AI agents that answer and route conversations. Good for: teams handling many conversations a month. Watch for: the plan with AI agents starts at $159 a month billed yearly, and the price grows with your active contacts.
SleekFlow
An inbox for WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and more, with AI replies on the Pro plan. Good for: teams answering on several channels. Watch for: the cheaper Essential plan has no AI agents, and hosting the WhatsApp number costs $15 a month.
Kommo
A sales CRM built around chat, with AI agents that answer on WhatsApp and move deals forward. Good for: sales teams that close in chat. Watch for: it is paid per user and at least every 6 months, and AI agents start with the Advanced plan.
Landbot
A no-code builder for conversation flows, with AI chats, on WhatsApp and your website. Good for: businesses that want to design every step of the conversation. Watch for: WhatsApp is a $100 monthly add-on, and Landbot adds its own fee to Meta’s.
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.
Callbell
A shared WhatsApp inbox for small teams, with a chatbot builder as an add-on. Good for: small teams on a budget. Watch for: agents, the WhatsApp number and the chatbot are paid separately, and the AI agent’s price is not on the pricing page.
Uptonica
AI on WhatsApp, your website chat, 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
Use the official WhatsApp Business API. Tools that automate the WhatsApp app on a phone risk getting your number banned.
Check who pays Meta, and how. Some tools pass Meta’s fees on at cost, others add their own fee per message.
Check what the AI reads and who takes over. It should answer from your real information and pass the chat to a person when it doesn’t know.
Frequently asked questions
What is a WhatsApp chatbot?
An assistant that answers your customers on WhatsApp, from your own information, and passes the conversation to your team when needed.
Is there a free WhatsApp chatbot?
Botpress has a free plan with 100 conversations a month. Meta still charges for some messages, whatever tool you use.
How much does a WhatsApp chatbot cost?
About $35 to $200 a month for the cheapest plans with AI here, plus Meta’s fees for marketing and other paid messages.