GUIDE · LAST UPDATED APRIL 2026

BEST FREE AI CHATBOT BUILDERS IN 2026

Every chatbot builder advertises a free plan. But "free" can mean 100 real conversations or 20 message credits that run out before lunch. I compared 8 free plans and ranked them by what you actually get for zero dollars.

NOT ALL FREE PLANS ARE EQUAL

The biggest difference between free chatbot plans is what counts as a "unit." Some builders count individual messages (every back-and-forth is a credit). Others count conversations (the entire chat session is one unit). A builder offering 100 conversations gives you dramatically more than one offering 100 message credits.

A typical website visitor sends 3-5 messages per conversation. That means 20 message credits covers roughly 4-7 real conversations. Keep this in mind when comparing numbers.

FREE TIER COMPARISON TABLE

#	Builder	Free includes	Real value
1	AskMeevo	100 conversations/mo, 1 AI agent, source citations, contact capture, human handoff, embed widget	High
2	Chatbase	20 message credits/mo, 1 chatbot, 400K character training	Low
3	Tidio	50 live chat conversations/mo, basic chatbot flows, 1 operator seat	Medium (no AI)
4	Botpress	5 bots, 2000 incoming messages/mo, built-in NLU, visual flow builder	High (for developers)
5	Chatling	35 AI message credits/mo, 1 chatbot, 500K character training	Low
6	SiteGPT	10 message credits/day, 1 chatbot, website URL training	Low
7	Boei	1 widget, basic contact channels (WhatsApp, email, phone), basic AI	Medium (contact-focused)
8	Crisp	2 operator seats, live chat widget, basic chatbot triggers	Medium (no AI)

DETAILED BREAKDOWN

1. AskMeevo

What you get free: 100 conversations/mo, 1 AI agent, source citations, contact capture, human handoff, embed widget

Limitations: 100 conversations per month. Single agent.

What costs extra: More conversations, multiple agents, priority support

2. Chatbase

What you get free: 20 message credits/mo, 1 chatbot, 400K character training

Limitations: 20 credits deplete fast (1 conversation can use 5-10 credits). Chatbase branding on widget.

What costs extra: More credits, remove branding, API access, multiple bots

3. Tidio

What you get free: 50 live chat conversations/mo, basic chatbot flows, 1 operator seat

Limitations: Lyro AI is not included in the free plan. Only rule-based chatbots for free. Single operator seat.

What costs extra: Lyro AI conversations, additional seats, advanced chatbot flows, analytics

4. Botpress

What you get free: 5 bots, 2000 incoming messages/mo, built-in NLU, visual flow builder

Limitations: Usage-based AI spend charges can kick in. Requires developer skills for advanced flows.

What costs extra: AI-spend beyond free credits, custom integrations, premium support

5. Chatling

What you get free: 35 AI message credits/mo, 1 chatbot, 500K character training

Limitations: 35 credits run out in a few days of normal traffic. Chatling branding.

What costs extra: More credits, remove branding, GPT-4 access, custom domains

6. SiteGPT

What you get free: 10 message credits/day, 1 chatbot, website URL training

Limitations: 10 credits per day cap. SiteGPT branding. Limited customization.

What costs extra: Higher message limits, remove branding, team access, API

7. Boei

What you get free: 1 widget, basic contact channels (WhatsApp, email, phone), basic AI

Limitations: Single widget. AI capabilities are limited compared to dedicated chatbot builders.

What costs extra: Multiple widgets, advanced AI, custom branding, analytics

8. Crisp

What you get free: 2 operator seats, live chat widget, basic chatbot triggers

Limitations: No AI chatbot on free plan. Only basic automated triggers. No knowledge base.

What costs extra: AI chatbot (MagicReply), knowledge base, CRM, advanced routing

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT FREE PLAN

Ask yourself three questions:

How many conversations do you expect per month? If your site gets over 500 visitors/month, free plans with 20-35 credits will not last a week.
Do you need the AI to actually answer questions? Some free plans (Tidio, Crisp) only include rule-based bots, not AI. You need to pay for AI responses.
Do you need lead capture? Most free plans skip contact forms, email collection, and handoff. AskMeevo includes these on the free tier.

For most small businesses, AskMeevo offers the best free starting point: 100 real AI conversations with source citations and lead capture included. No credit card. No credit system.

100 FREE CONVERSATIONS. SOURCE CITATIONS. LEAD CAPTURE.

Start with the free plan. No credit card.

Start for free →

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Which free chatbot builder is best?

AskMeevo offers the most usable free plan for AI chatbots. You get 100 real conversations per month with source citations, contact capture, and a website embed — no credit card required. Most competitors give you 10–35 message credits that run out in days.

Are free chatbot plans really free?

Most free plans are genuinely free with no hidden charges. However, the limits vary dramatically. Chatbase gives you 20 credits (which may cover only 2–4 full conversations), while AskMeevo gives you 100 complete conversations. Always check what a “credit” actually means.

What is the catch with free chatbot builders?

The main catches are low usage limits, forced branding on the widget, and missing features like lead capture or analytics. Some free tiers also restrict you to older AI models. The goal is to get you started and upgrade once you see value.

Which free plan has the most features?

AskMeevo includes the most features on its free plan: source citations, contact capture, human handoff, and knowledge freshness monitoring. Most competitors reserve these features for paid plans. Botpress also has a generous free tier but requires developer skills to use effectively.

About this article: This comparison was researched and written by the AskMeevo team. We rank AskMeevo first because its free plan offers the most real AI conversations without a credit system. Every competitor on this list is described fairly based on publicly available information. Last updated April 2026. We update this article quarterly.