Chatbase vs Botpress: What You Need to Know
The no-code chatbot leader vs the open-source power tool: setup speed vs how deeply you can customize it — both are chat-first and neither answers a phone.
Reviewed by Maxime Houle, Founder, SeldonFrame. I build one of these tools — every ranking here says when the others win. Facts checked July 2026.- Chatbase pricing: $40–$400/mo credit-metered + $40/1,000 overage; branding removal $1,188/yr below Enterprise
- Botpress pricing: Free tier, then $89–$495/mo + AI spend; channel fees historically billed separately
- The real trade-off: The no-code chatbot leader vs the open-source power tool: setup speed vs how deeply you can customize it — both are chat-first and neither answers a phone.
- The third option: SeldonFrame ships the whole front office at $29/mo flat — see below
Chatbase
Chatbase is a no-code platform for building AI chatbots trained on your own data and putting them on a website.
- +You need a pure documentation or support chatbot on a content site
- +Message volume is modest and predictable
- +Deflecting chats — not booking revenue — is the goal
Botpress
Botpress is an open-source-rooted, developer-focused platform for building and running AI chatbots and agents.
- +You have engineers and need code-level control
- +You want to self-host the conversational layer
- +You're building a custom conversational product, not client front offices
Chatbase vs Botpress vs SeldonFrame
| Features | Chatbase | Botpress | SeldonFrame |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Support/FAQ chatbots trained on docs and websites | Developer teams building custom bots with code-level control | Agencies & builders running AI front offices for clients |
| Pricing model | $40–$400/mo credit-metered + $40/1,000 overage; branding removal $1,188/yr below Enterprise | Free tier, then $89–$495/mo + AI spend; channel fees historically billed separately | From $29/mo flat — unlimited workspaces (agency whitelabel from $99/mo) |
| AI receptionist (calls, SMS, chat) | Chat only — no phone answering, no SMS receptionist | Chat-first; voice needs to be built separately — no ready-made phone receptionist | Native — AI receptionist answers, qualifies & books across voice, SMS & web chat |
| Website, CRM & booking behind the agent | None — no CRM, website builder or booking calendar | None — bot infrastructure only | Included — multi-page website, CRM, booking calendar, intake forms, review requests in every workspace |
| Whitelabel & client workspaces | Enterprise-gated (or paid branding removal) | Branding removal on paid plans; no full agency resale program | Included — whitelabel client portal, per-client workspaces, custom domains, one-click multi-client deploy |
| AI usage costs | Credit-metered; better models burn more credits | AI spend bundled per plan (post-May-2026); previously billed on top at raw provider rates | BYOK — bring your own AI (and Twilio) keys and pay providers at raw cost, zero markup |
| Sell / resell what you build | No agency resale program | No native agency reseller motion | Built in — publish agents to the marketplace or rent them via MCP (5% marketplace fee) |
Prices checked July 2026 on Chatbase's pricing page.
Prices checked July 2026 on Botpress's pricing page.
Zoom out and see both against 23 other platforms on the interactive CRM Pricing Index →
The honest take
Chatbase: Choose Chatbase if you need a pure documentation or support chatbot on a content-heavy site and message volume is modest.
Botpress: Choose Botpress if you have engineers and need code-level control, or want to self-host a custom conversational product.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Chatbase or Botpress?
It depends what you need. Chatbase: Choose Chatbase if you need a pure documentation or support chatbot on a content-heavy site and message volume is modest. Botpress: Choose Botpress if you have engineers and need code-level control, or want to self-host a custom conversational product.
What does Chatbase cost vs Botpress?
Chatbase: $40–$400/mo credit-metered + $40/1,000 overage; branding removal $1,188/yr below Enterprise. Botpress: Free tier, then $89–$495/mo + AI spend; channel fees historically billed separately.
Is there an alternative to both?
Yes — SeldonFrame ships the AI receptionist plus the website, CRM and booking calendar it books into, for $29/mo flat with unlimited workspaces. See how it compares: /alternatives.
Can I switch from Chatbase or Botpress?
Yes — see the full switching guides for each: /alternative-to-chatbase and /alternative-to-botpress.
Need what both Chatbase and Botpress do?
Most people running this comparison actually need the outcome underneath both tools: calls and chats answered, leads qualified, jobs booked into a real calendar and CRM, on a site the client owns. SeldonFrame ships that whole front office from one conversation — $29/mo flat, unlimited workspaces, your own AI keys at raw cost, whitelabel included.