PRICING GUIDE · LAST UPDATED APRIL 2026
AI CHATBOT PRICING COMPARED: CREDITS VS FLAT VS PER-RESOLUTION
The sticker price of a chatbot is misleading. A $19/month plan can cost $200 when credits run out. A “free” per-resolution model can cost $5,000 at scale. This guide breaks down every pricing model, compares 15+ platforms, and projects real costs at 500, 1,000, 2,500, and 5,000 monthly conversations.
THE 6 CHATBOT PRICING MODELS
1. Credit / Token
You buy a pack of credits. Each AI response consumes one or more credits depending on complexity. When credits run out, the bot stops or you pay overage fees.
Pros: Low entry price; pay only for what you use.
Cons: Impossible to predict monthly cost. Overage charges can double your bill. Credits expire on some platforms.
Vendors: Chatbase, Botsonic, CustomGPT
2. Per-Message
You pay a fixed amount for every message sent or received. Some platforms count only bot messages; others count both sides.
Pros: Simple per-unit math if volume is stable.
Cons: Costs scale linearly with traffic. A viral blog post or ad campaign can blow your budget overnight.
Vendors: Intercom (legacy), some white-label platforms
3. Per-Resolution
You pay only when the AI successfully resolves a conversation without human intervention. Unresolved conversations that escalate to agents are free.
Pros: Aligns cost with value — you pay for outcomes, not attempts.
Cons: Vendor defines "resolved." No industry standard. Hard to audit. Unit costs are high ($0.50–$2.00 each).
Vendors: Intercom Fin ($0.99), Ada
4. Per-Session
A session is a time-boxed conversation window (e.g., 24 hours). You pay per session regardless of message count within it.
Pros: More predictable than per-message. Long conversations cost the same as short ones.
Cons: Session definitions vary. Some platforms start a new session after 5 minutes of inactivity.
Vendors: Drift, Qualified
5. Per-Seat
You pay per human agent or admin who has access to the platform. AI features may be included or cost extra.
Pros: Predictable if team size is stable.
Cons: AI is often an add-on with its own usage charges. Total cost = seat fee + AI usage. Three billing dimensions.
Vendors: Zendesk, Freshdesk, HubSpot
6. Flat Monthly
You pay one fixed price per month for a tier of usage. No per-message, per-credit, or per-resolution charges.
Pros: Maximum predictability. Your bill is the same every month within your tier.
Cons: You may pay for capacity you do not use on slow months. Tier upgrades are step-function increases.
Vendors: AskMeevo, ChatBot, Crisp, Boei
15+ PLATFORMS: PRICING AT A GLANCE
Prices as of April 2026. “Starter” through “Enterprise” represent each vendor's plan tiers from lowest to highest.
| Platform | Model | Starter | Mid | High | Enterprise | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AskMeevo * | Flat | €0 | €69 | €249 | €499 | /mo |
| Chatbase | Credits | $19 | $99 | $399 | Custom | /mo |
| Botsonic | Credits | $16 | $49 | $249 | $499 | /mo |
| Intercom Fin | Per-resolution | $0.99 | $0.99 | $0.99 | $0.99 | /resolution |
| Tidio | Seat + conv. | $29 | $59 | $169 | $394 | /mo |
| ChatBot | Flat | $52 | $142 | $424 | Custom | /mo |
| Crisp | Flat | €0 | €25 | €95 | Custom | /mo |
| Botpress | AI spend | $0 | ~$50 | ~$200 | Custom | /mo est. |
| Drift | Per-seat | - | - | ~$2,500 | Custom | /mo |
| Ada | Per-resolution | - | - | - | Custom | - |
| CustomGPT | Credits | $49 | $99 | $499 | Custom | /mo |
| Boei | Flat | €0 | €25 | €69 | - | /mo |
| Freshdesk | Per-seat | $0 | $15 | $49 | $79 | /agent/mo |
| Zendesk | Per-seat | $19 | $55 | $115 | $169 | /agent/mo |
| HubSpot | Per-seat | $0 | $45 | $450 | $1,200 | /mo |
COST PROJECTIONS: WHAT YOU ACTUALLY PAY
Sticker prices are meaningless without volume context. Here is what each platform actually costs at different conversation volumes. Asterisks (*) indicate the plan tier would need an upgrade at that volume.
| Platform | 500 conv/mo | 1,000 conv/mo | 2,500 conv/mo | 5,000 conv/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AskMeevo (Growth) | €69 | €69 | €249 | €499 |
| Chatbase (Hobby) | $19 | $99* | $399* | $399+overage |
| Intercom Fin | $495 | $990 | $2,475 | $4,950 |
| Botsonic (Pro) | $49 | $249* | $499* | $499+overage |
| Tidio (Growth) | $59 | $59+extra | $169 | $394 |
| ChatBot (Team) | $142 | $142 | $424 | $424 |
* Plan upgrade required at this volume. Overage fees may apply on credit-based platforms.
WHY FLAT PRICING IS MOST PREDICTABLE
The cost projection table above tells the story. At every volume level, flat-pricing platforms like AskMeevo produce the same number month after month. Credit-based platforms require constant monitoring to avoid overage fees. Per-resolution pricing scales linearly — the more successful your bot is, the more you pay.
For a business that wants to set it and forget it — add the chatbot, let it handle questions, and check analytics monthly — flat pricing is the only model that works without surprises. You know the cost on January 1st and it is the same on December 31st, even if your traffic doubles during the holidays.
AskMeevo uses flat session-based tiers: Free (100 conversations), Growth (1,000), Pro (3,000), and Enterprise (10,000+). When you approach your tier limit, you get notified. There are no overage charges — you either upgrade or conversations pause until the next billing cycle.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the cheapest AI chatbot platform?
Several platforms offer free tiers: AskMeevo (100 conversations/mo), Crisp (basic plan), Botpress (limited AI spend), and Boei (1 widget). For paid plans, AskMeevo starts at €29/mo and Chatbase at $19/mo. However, the cheapest sticker price is not always the cheapest at scale — credit-based plans grow with usage.
How do chatbot credits work?
Credits are a virtual currency. You buy a pack (e.g., 2,000 credits/mo with your plan). Each time the AI generates a response, it consumes one or more credits. When credits run out, the bot either stops responding or you pay per-credit overage fees. Credits typically reset monthly.
Why is per-resolution pricing expensive?
Per-resolution sounds efficient, but at $0.99 per resolution (Intercom Fin), 1,000 conversations cost $990/mo. A flat-pricing platform like AskMeevo handles the same volume for €69/mo. Per-resolution works well only at enterprise scale where the alternative is a $50K/year support team.
What is the difference between per-message and per-session pricing?
Per-message pricing charges for every individual message (bot or user). Per-session pricing charges once per conversation window, regardless of how many messages are exchanged. A 20-message conversation costs 20x under per-message but 1x under per-session.
Can I switch pricing models mid-contract?
Most platforms lock you into their pricing model — you cannot switch from credits to flat within the same vendor. To change models, you typically need to migrate to a different platform. AskMeevo, ChatBot, and Crisp all use flat pricing from day one.
How many conversations does a typical small business website get?
A small business website with 5,000–20,000 monthly visitors typically sees 200–800 chatbot conversations per month, assuming a 3–5% engagement rate. E-commerce sites with product questions tend to be on the higher end.
Do free chatbot plans include AI features?
It depends on the platform. AskMeevo includes full AI responses on its free plan (100 conversations/mo). Crisp free includes basic chatbot flows but not AI. Zendesk and Freshdesk free plans offer no AI chatbot at all — AI is a paid add-on.
Is flat pricing really flat, or are there hidden costs?
With AskMeevo, flat means flat — no per-message fees, no overage charges, no AI usage surcharges. Some other "flat" platforms charge extra for AI features, additional chatbots, or integrations. Always check what is included in the base price versus what costs extra.
Related reading: Flat Pricing Chatbot Builders · AI Chatbot for Website Guide · No-Code Chatbot Builders