So, you’ve decided to find the best chatbot software to create and deploy a chatbot for your website and your other platforms.
But picking the best chatbot software feels like teaching a parrot Shakespeare – unfriendly features, unclear pricing details, and heavy jargon flying left and right.
This blog cures that pounding headache.
Here, the best chatbot software contenders go head-to-head. So, we’ll tackle everything – best features, pros and cons, pricing, customer sentiments and more.
But first, let’s discuss the criteria you can use to determine the best chatbot solution provider for your business.
| TelebuSocial is an easy-to-use chatbot solution with all you need to provide a satisfying customer experience and close deals. Get started or book a demo. |
How to choose the best chatbot software
When choosing the best chatbot software, consider these 6 factors.
#1. Budget-friendly options
Every software has a different pricing model. Some offer free trials. Others have limited features for lower plans. Knowing your budget upfront helps you pick a contender that won’t break the bank.
#2. Finding the right fit
Imagine the software as your new teammate. What tasks will it help you tackle? Make a list of your must-have features and functionalities. This will help you find a solution that solves your specific problems.
#3. Ease of use
Not everyone is a tech whiz. Prioritise user-friendly software with clear interfaces and helpful tutorials. The best chatbot development platform should be simple, intuitive, and easy to use.
#4. Ability to scale
Businesses are like living things – they evolve or devolve. Choose a chatbot software solution provider that can adapt and grow alongside you. The best chatbot software scales quickly as your needs change.
#5. Data security
Data breaches are real and can kill your business. So, security is your top priority. Ensure your software has features like data encryption and regular security updates.
#6. Reliable customer support
You will encounter issues and hitches at some point. And that’s when you need reliable customer support. The best chatbot software provides multiple support options (phone, email, or chat). And they’re easily accessible anytime, 24/7.
These are the six factors you must consider.
With these in mind, let’s get down to business.
So, I went fishing and compiled the best available chatbot software for you. Let’s find out how they compare against one another.
Check out the best customer journey mapping tools to understand your customers.
Head-to-head: which is the best chatbot software?
These are the best 10 chatbot software for various uses:
- TelebuSocial
- Drift
- Intercom
- Manychat
- Tidio
- Landbot
- Botsonic
- Superchat
- FreshChat
- LivePerson
Now, let’s get into each chatbot software in more detail.
1. TelebuSocial
TelebuSocial is our top pick for effortless chatbot building and deployment.
It’s a product of Telebu Communications LLP India.
With a delightful UI design, finding your way around the builder is a breeze. It’s simple and intuitive, tailored just for you.
Zero coding experience? No problem. TelebuSocial’s drag-and-drop, no-code chatbot builder is easy to use. Anyone can build and deploy chatbots in minutes.
You’ll even have access to chatbot templates, so you don’t have to build from scratch.
And the best part?
TelebuSocial’s omnichannel support team will guide you step-by-step if you need help. They’re accessible anytime, anywhere, on your preferred channels.
Features of TelebuSocial
TelebuSocial boasts the best chatbot software features you’ll ever need:
- Drag-and-drop chatbot builder for effortless creation.
- Omnichannel chatbots: create bots on WhatsApp, your website, etc.
- Bot training: multiple options to train your bot and provide the best experience.
- 24/7 customer support.
- Pre-built chatbot templates for quick and easy deployment.
- Easy integrations with Salesforce, Zapier, SMS, your CRM, and more.
- Migrating to TelebuSocial is easy
- Data analytics to track chatbot performance and user behaviour.
- A/B testing to optimise chatbot conversations for better results.
- Secure data storage to protect customer information.
TelebuSocial integrates perfectly with your favourite tools, like:
- Zapier
- Google Sheets
- SMS
- Excel
- Gorgias
- Google Calendar
- Calendar
- SaleForce, and
- Your CRM and more in a snap.
Cons of using TelebuSocial
TelebuSocial can be expensive for users with very low budgets.
TelebuSocial chatbot pricing details
TelebuSocial has three plans:
- Starter: At $99 monthly, it’s suitable for small businesses.
- Business: For $179 a month, it’s the best choice for growing companies.
- Custom: Got a wider audience? Talk to our sales team to customise pricing to suit your needs.
Plus, no additional charges. We’re crystal clear with our pricing. Get a demo ASAP.
What TelebuSocial’s users are saying
2. Drift
Drift emerged as an AI-powered buyer engagement platform. It was founded by David Cancel and Elias Torres in 2014.
They aimed to make customer conversations smarter.
Also learn: How to Add WhatsApp to Your Website (5 Easy Ways)
Drift sought to make the online buying experience easy. Their target is B2B companies with strong online presence.
But how have they fared so far? And how does Drift drive their aim? Here are the best features I found with Drift’s chatbot software.
Features of Drift
Drift offers the following features:
- AI-powered chatbots
- Conversational landing pages (CLPs)
- Drift engage
- Bionic chatbots
- Intel and audiences
- Relevant conversations from a single widget, and
- Real-time insights
Those are their good sides. However, I also found some downsides you must consider.
Pros and cons of integrating Drift with your favourite tools
Drift offers 60 native integrations, including Zapier and Integromat. Additionally, it includes inbuilt live chat APIs for webhook creation.
For the cons, it was impossible to get access to any of their pages. So, I checked the user reviews and discovered that Drift has many bugs.
Drift’s pricing
Drift offers three pricing options, as follows:
- Free: Basic live chat functionality.
- Pro: Conversational landing pages, chatbots, and real-time notifications for $29.92/month.
- Advanced and Enterprise: This has additional features like Fastlane, Audiences, A/B testing, and more.
Customer reviews: what Drift’s customers are saying
3. Intercom
Intercom is also known as Fin. It was founded in 2011 by Eoghan McCabe, Des Traynor, Ciaran Lee, and David Barrett.
Over the years, it expanded its suite of products beyond in-app messaging. They introduced features like chatbots, knowledge bases, and product tours.
Intercom’s chatbots handle queries, pre-qualify leads, and improve response times. It makes our list as one of the best chatbot software.
But, how does it stack up against TelebuSocial? Or Drift? Let’s find out.
Features of Intercom
I found 5 main features of the Intercom chatbot:
- Live Chat
- Automated Responses
- User Segmentation
- Integration with CRM
- Analytics and Reporting
Pros and cons of integrating Manychat with your favourite tools
Intercom integrates with tools like Google Analytics, Stripe, Salesforce, and Jira.
However, Intercom’s pricing model may require add-on purchases for certain features, potentially increasing business costs.
Learn more: Top 12 Customer Experience Trends For 2024
Additionally, while it offers API access, there might be limitations affecting deep integration with custom systems or specific third-party services.
Intercom chatbot pricing details
Intercom has three pricing plans:
- Essential ($39/mo): Basic inbox, unlimited live chat, email, and customisable templates.
- Advanced ($99/mo): Includes Essential features, AI agent resolutions, and additional channels.
- Expert Plan ($139/mo): Adds proactive support and 500 monthly messages.
Customer reviews: what Intercom’s users are saying
4. Manychat
Manychat is also one of the best chatbot software for businesses. It’s headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA.
It started as a chatbot builder just for Facebook Messenger. Then, it expanded to cater for small businesses.
It helps users with chatbots for Facebook Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp and SMS.
Here are the best features that I found in the chatbot software.
Features of Manychat
Manychat comes with 7 main features:
- Visual Flow Builder
- Automated Sequences
- Broadcasts
- User Segmentation
- Integration with Facebook Messenger
- Keyword triggers
- Analytics and Reporting
Pros and cons of integrating Manychat with your favourite tools
Manychat chatbot software integrates with Messenger and chat platforms. Such as WhatsApp, Slack, WeChat, and Telegram, enabling businesses to connect with customers across multiple channels.
However, it lacks advanced integrations with other online systems. If you seek more robust marketing tools, TelebuSocial is a better fit.
Manychat chatbot pricing details
ManyChat offers two pricing plans:
- Free: up to 1,000 contacts with basic features and channel integrations for Instagram Direct Messages, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp.
- Pro (Starting at $15/month): Includes all Free Plan features + additional channel access to SMS and email.
What Manychat’s users are saying
| TelebuSocial is an easy-to-use chatbot builder. With 3rd party integration, affordable pricing, detailed how-to tutorials, and ready-to-use templates. Get started or book a demo. |
5. Tidio
Tidio was established as a customer experience platform with a strong emphasis on live chat, chatbots, and multichannel communication.
Initially, its primary goal was to turn passive website visitors into active buyers.
Over time, Tidio evolved beyond live chat. They began incorporating AI-driven chatbots.
These chatbots are powered by the Lyro AI engine. And they’re accessible across various live channels.
Features of Tidio
I found these features with the Tidio chatbot:
- User-friendly interface
- Advanced natural language processing
- Seamless integration
- Automated customer service
- Learning capability
- Free plan availability
Pros and cons of integrating Tidio with your favourite tools
Tidio chatbot software integrates with platforms like Shopify, WordPress, and WooCommerce.
Additionally, it offers integrations with various apps like Mailchimp and Klaviyo through its Zapier integration.
However, Tidio isn’t well-suited for substantial organisations with more than 40 operators. Native integrations are limited, especially if you’re already using an email marketing automation tool that isn’t on the list.
Tidio chatbot pricing details
Tidio offers three pricing plans:
- Free: Up to 3 chat operators, 50 live chats per month, and multilingual widgets.
- Starter ($29/month): 100 live chats, live visitor list, and Tidio chat support.
- Growth ($59/month): Up to 250 conversations, advanced analytics, permissions, and more.
Customer reviews: what Tidio’s users are saying
6. Landbot
Landbot’s initial purpose was simple — live chat on websites. Today, Landbot creates chatbots that guide users through landing pages.
Efficient, or not?
Here’s what I found while using their tool.
Features of Landbot
Landbot has features like:
- No-code builder
- Advanced NLU
- Smooth integrations
- Automated customer service
- Machine learning, and
- Free plan available
Pros and cons of integrating Landbot with your favourite tools
Landbot’s native integrations include HubSpot, Slack, Google Sheets, Airtable, Stripe, Calendly, Zapier, Mailchimp, and Dialogflow.
Additionally, Landbot launches on websites built with platforms like WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, and Carrd. However, it has customisation limitations and a less-than-optimal mobile experience.
Landbot chatbot pricing details
If you’re considering Landbot, consider these three pricing plans.
- Free (Sandbox Plan): Ideal for testing chatbots.
- Starter ($39/mo): For individuals and small businesses.
- WhatsApp Pro ($200/mo): Enhance communications across platforms.
- Business (Custom): Tailored for large enterprises.
What Landbot’s users are saying
| TelebuSocial makes building chatbots simple whether this is your first chatbot or you’ve been doing it or years. Get started or book a demo. |
7. Botsonic
Writesonic was the mastermind behind Botsonic. Their expertise in AI writing and language models laid the foundation for Botsonic’s success.
Botsonic is one of the best GPT-4 powered no-code AI chatbot platform.
The chatbot software transcends traditional rule-based chatbots. This offered a different level of autonomy and personalisation.
Features of Botsonic
- Visual flow builder
- Automated sequences
- Broadcasts
- User segmentation
- Integration with Facebook Messenger
- Keyword triggers
- Analytics and reporting
Pros and cons of integrating Botsonic with your favourite tools
Botsonic integrates with WordPress (via a plugin) and Zapier for automation.
However, some limitations include its pricing structure, unclear guidelines, and the inability to train on private knowledge base data.
Botsonic chatbot pricing details
Botsonic offers three pricing plans:
- Free Trial: $0/month, limited to 1 bot and 1 file upload.
- Pro: $19/month, unlimited AI chatbots with unlimited file uploads.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for specific needs.
What Botsonic’s users are saying
8. Superchat
Superchat was created by Yilmaz Koekna.
This software allows your iOS customers to chat with your virtual characters.
Chatbot characters include historical figures (Shakespeare, Einstein) and fictional personas (Sherlock Holmes, Snow White).
Also read: Customer Satisfaction Survey Questions (50+ Customisable Templates)
Even Gorilla Technologies’ own characters, like Aria, assist with everyday tasks.
And the chatbot’s structure? It looks just like a messaging app. And it’s powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Features of Superchat
- Automated responses
- Sentiment analysis
- Multilingual support
- Integrations, and
- Leverages OpenAI’s ChatGPT
Pros and cons of integrating Superchat with your favourite tools
Superchat integrates with CRM software, helpdesk tools, and other communication channels.
Superchat chatbot pricing details
Superchat offers a freemium plan with a free-forever option. Once you hit usage limits, you can upgrade to paid plans.
The Basic plan starts at 79€/month.
What Superchat users are saying
9. FreshChat
FreshChat is part of the Freshworks suite. A software company founded in 2010 by Girish Mathrubootham and Shan Krishnasamy.
Freshworks has its headquarters in San Mateo, California. It serves various customers across its various products.
Since its inception, FreshChat has sought to meet customer needs.
Recently, they incorporated generative artificial intelligence (genAI) features, just like ChatGPT.
FreshChat allows engagement across various channels, like SMS, messaging, live chat, email, and voice.
Features of FreshChat
- Multi-channel and integrations
- AI-powered automation
- Customisation
- Analytics
- Self-service with FAQs and the FreshChat SDK, and
- Priority inbox and canned responses
Pros and cons of integrating FreshChat with your favourite tools
FreshChat integrates with CRM systems, collaboration tools like Slack, and e-commerce platforms like Shopify.
Its limitations include reliance on third-party chatbot solutions and a “per agent” pricing model that can be expensive for larger teams.
FreshChat chatbot pricing details
FreshChat offers three pricing tiers:
- Growth ($15/user/month): Messaging for small teams.
- Pro ($39/user/month): Enhanced messaging features.
- Enterprise ($69/user/month): Robust support for large businesses.
What FreshChat users are saying
| TelebuSocial makes building chatbots simple whether this is your first chatbot or you’ve been doing it or years. Get started or book a demo. |
10. LivePerson
LivePerson is best known as the developer of the Conversational Cloud. That’s a software platform that allows consumers to message with brands.
In 2018, the chatbot platform announced its best AI offering. Now, businesses could create AI-powered chatbots to answer consumer messages alongside human customer service staff.
But is this chatbot software the best for you? You can quickly tell by the features.
Features of LivePerson
LivePerson boasts the following features:
- Conversational AI Bots
- Channel Agnostic
- Intent Manager
- Integration Capabilities
- Conversation Builder
- Targeting
- Personalised invitations
- Analytics
Pros and cons of integrating LivePerson with your favourite tools
LivePerson integrates with business tools like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and NetSuite.
However, it has limitations, such as limited chat transcript export options.
LivePerson chatbot pricing details
LivePerson offers flexible pricing options:
- Pay-as-you-go: No license fees, pay for resolutions, not seats or minutes.
- Annual contract: Get customer success and enhanced support services.
Who is Intercom’s chatbot software best for?
Intercom serves businesses of all sizes.
Customer reviews: what LivePerson’s users are saying
So, you see, finding the right chatbot solution providers may be a hassle. But with this narrowed list generated from my experience with these tools, I’ve handpicked the best one for you.
But choosing the best software platform is one thing. Using it to maximise success is another.
Chatbot software best practices
Here are my tips to keep your chatbot on top of its game.
#1. Speak the customers’ language
Nobody likes a know-it-all. Use casual, friendly language your customers understand. Imagine you’re chatting with a buddy, not writing a textbook.
#2. Keep it short and sweet
Attention spans are short online. Use clear, concise sentences and avoid overwhelming your customers with long-winded explanations.
#3. Know when to hand it off
Chatbots are great for basic questions. But sometimes complex issues need a human touch. Set up clear handoff points to connect users with human agents when required.
#4. Use more buttons
Buttons are your chatbot’s best friend. Offer clear options for users. Guide them through the conversation and avoid confusion.
#5. Learn and adapt
Chatbots are like sponges – they can learn from interactions. Analyse user data to identify areas for improvement and keep your chatbot’s responses relevant and helpful.
#6. Personality pays off
Give your chatbot a personality. A little humour or a friendly tone can go a long way in making interactions more enjoyable for your customers.
#7. Feedback is your friend
Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from users about their chatbot experience. This valuable input helps you refine your chatbot’s responses and keep it top-notch.
#8. Test, test, rest
Just like any superhero, your chatbot needs practice. Test it thoroughly before unleashing it on your website. This helps catch any glitches and ensures a smooth user experience.
#9. Prioritise mobile-friendly chatbots
More and more people browse websites on their phones. Make sure your chatbot is mobile-friendly and optimised for smaller screens.
#10. Track your chatbot metrics
Track your chatbot’s performance using analytics. See what’s working and what’s not. Then, use this data to make data-driven decisions to improve your chatbot’s effectiveness.
#11. Keep your conversations fresh
Your chatbot must be up-to-date. Regularly update its responses with new information and keep it relevant to your business and customer needs.
Want the best customisation, chatbot software builder, and ready-made templates? Use TelebuSocial.
| TelebuSocial makes building chatbots simple whether this is your first chatbot or you’ve been doing it for years. Get started or book a demo. |
Comparison table of the best chatbot platform head-to-head
| Chatbot software | Target business | Core features | Pricing model | User-friendliness | Integrations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TelebuSocial | All Businesses (Small, Mid, Large) | Drag-and-drop builder, AI-powered responses, Multi-channel support | Freemium, Paid Tiers | Drag-and-drop, Easy Interface | Zapier, SMS, CRM, etc. |
| Drift | B2B Companies | AI-powered chatbots, Conversational landing pages | Freemium, Paid Tiers | User-friendly | 60+ Integrations |
| Intercom | All Businesses | Live chat, Chatbots, Knowledge base | Freemium, Paid Tiers | User-friendly | Many Integrations |
| Manychat | Small Businesses | Chatbots for FB Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, SMS | Freemium, Paid Tiers | Easy to Use | FB Messenger, Chat Platforms |
| Tidio | All Businesses | Live chat, Chatbots, Multi-channel communication | Freemium, Paid Tiers | User-friendly | Shopify, WordPress, etc. |
| Landbot | All Businesses | Conversational landing pages, Chatbots | Freemium, Paid Tiers | User-friendly | WordPress, Zapier |
| Botsonic | All Businesses | GPT-4 powered no-code AI chatbot builder | Freemium, Paid Tiers | Visual Flow Builder | WordPress, Zapier |
| Superchat | All Businesses | Chatbots with historical/fictional characters | Freemium, Paid Tiers | Messaging App Interface | CRM, Helpdesk Tools |
| Freshchat | All Businesses | Multi-channel engagement, AI-powered automation | Freemium, Paid Tiers | Multi-channel | CRM, Collaboration Tools, E-commerce Platforms |
| LivePerson | All Businesses | Conversational AI Bots, Channel Agnostic | Flexible Options | Requires Development Knowledge | Business Tools |
