How much does a website chatbot cost a small business? (2026)
Last updated October 17, 2026 · Prices and features change, so check the linked sources before you buy.
The three ways to pay
1. DIY builder, flat monthly fee
| Tool | Published price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chatbase | Hobby $40/mo ($32/mo billed yearly). Standard $150/mo ($120 yearly). Pro $500/mo ($400 yearly) [1] | Extra message credits cost $40 per 1,000 [1]. You build and train it yourself. |
| Tidio | Starter shown from $24.17/mo. The Lyro AI Agent add-on starts at $32.50/mo (prices shown with Tidio’s annual “2 months free” offer) [2] | Every account starts with 50 Lyro conversations. A paid Lyro plan is needed for the limit to refresh monthly [2]. |
2. Per-resolution pricing
Intercom Fin costs $0.99 per “outcome,” counted when the customer confirms the issue is resolved, doesn’t ask for more help, or Fin completes a workflow including handoffs. That’s on top of Intercom seats from $29/seat/mo (Essential, billed annually). Fin on another helpdesk has a minimum monthly commitment (Intercom’s example is 50 outcomes) [3].
Illustration from those published prices: 300 Fin outcomes a month plus one Essential seat is 300 × $0.99 + $29 ≈ $326/mo. Per-resolution pricing is fair when it works, but your bill grows with your busy season.
3. Done-for-you setup
Someone else gathers your content, writes the fallback rules, tests the answers and installs the widget. Agencies and freelancers price this very differently, so ask for a fixed quote. For reference, Botday charges $299 setup + $49/mo, or $99/mo all-in with setup included in the first month, hosting included.
The hidden costs
- Content work. A bot is only as good as the pages and FAQ it’s trained on. Budget a few hours to write down the 15–20 questions you answer every week.
- QA. Someone has to ask it awkward questions before customers do. Skipping this is how bots end up inventing policies. See why chatbots fail.
- Usage spikes. Credits, conversations or outcomes all scale with traffic. Know your overage rate.
- Upkeep. When your prices or hours change, the bot must change the same day.
Which should you pick?
- You enjoy tinkering and have time: a DIY builder.
- You already run a support inbox with agents: per-resolution tools like Fin fit an existing team.
- You want it working this week without learning a tool: done-for-you.
If you run a dental practice, a phone AI receptionist may matter more than a website bot. See dental AI receptionists compared. For other industries, Adoptly’s guides list the AI tools worth trying first.
FAQ
How much does an AI chatbot for a small business website cost?
In 2026, DIY AI chatbot builders cost roughly $25 to $150 a month for a small site. Chatbase Hobby is $40 a month, or $32 billed yearly. Tidio Starter is shown from $24.17 a month, plus the Lyro AI add-on from $32.50. Per-resolution tools such as Intercom Fin charge $0.99 per resolved conversation plus seats. Done-for-you setup adds a one-time fee.
What is per-resolution chatbot pricing?
You pay each time the bot resolves a conversation. Intercom charges $0.99 per Fin outcome, counted when a customer confirms the issue is resolved, does not ask for more help, or Fin completes a workflow. It is billed once per conversation.
Is a free chatbot good enough?
For a handful of questions, sometimes. Free tiers are capped (Tidio accounts start with 50 Lyro conversations, for example), and the real cost is the time to write, test and maintain accurate answers.
How much does Botday cost?
Botday is $299 setup plus $49 a month, or $99 a month all-in with setup included in the first month. Hosting is included.