How much does an AI chatbot cost? A guide for small and mid-sized stores
By The AI Chatbot team3 min read
The cost of an AI chatbot for a small or mid-sized store has three parts: the monthly plan fee, the time to prepare data at the start, and staff time for conversations the chatbot hands off. With AI Chatbot, plans start at $0, and the lowest paid plan is $4.99 a month as of this article's last update.
This article explains each cost, how to estimate your monthly messages, and a formula to compare with staffing your inbox with people.
AI Chatbot plans
| Plan | Free | Pro | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $0 | $4.99 | $9.99 |
| Yearly | $0 | $49.99 | $99.99 |
| AI credits a month | 5,000 | 25,000 | 100,000 |
| Conversations a month | 100 | 5,000 | 50,000 |
| Knowledge sources | 10 | 200 | 2,000 |
| Website re-check | Weekly | Daily | Daily |
Every plan can connect every channel and includes insights on unanswered questions. Paying yearly costs about two months less than paying monthly. Prices can change; see the pricing page for current figures.
How to estimate your monthly usage
Cost depends mostly on how many conversations the chatbot handles and how many replies it sends, so estimate them before choosing a plan:
- Count daily conversations across all channels, for example 30.
- Multiply for a month: 30 conversations x 30 days = 900 conversations.
- Estimate the replies the chatbot sends per conversation, usually a few, for example 4, so about 3,600 replies a month. Each reply uses AI credits according to its length, and the dashboard shows how many you have used.
- Add headroom for peak seasons such as 11.11 sales or Tet.
In that example, 900 conversations are over the free plan's 100 a month, and Pro allows 5,000. Watch your AI credit usage over the first few weeks to see which plan fits. A new shop with a handful of conversations a day can start on the free plan.
Costs that are not on the price list
The plan fee is only part of the picture. Two other costs belong in the calculation:
- Data preparation time: gathering price lists, policies and size charts usually takes a few hours the first time. If your website is complete, most of it is read automatically.
- Handoff time: the chatbot passes to staff whatever it is unsure about. The more complete your knowledge, the fewer handoffs.
There are no development or server costs, because everything runs on the platform.
Compared with staffing your inbox
There is no single figure for every shop, so use this formula:
| Cost | Staffed inbox | AI chatbot |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed cost | Salary x people x shifts | Monthly plan fee |
| Hours covered | Shift hours | Any time |
| Cost as messages grow | Hire or add shifts | Upgrade if over the allowance |
| Hidden costs | Hiring, training, leave | Time to update knowledge |
In practice the sensible setup is usually a mix: the chatbot answers repeat questions, and staff handle handed-off chats and close orders. You no longer need extra people just to watch messages after hours.
When should you upgrade?
- You keep hitting the 80% alert before the end of the month.
- You need more than 10 knowledge sources, for example several policy files and websites.
- Prices and stock change daily, so you need daily website re-checks instead of weekly.
When the allowance runs out, conversations go to staff, so customers are not left hanging, but you lose the benefit of instant answers.
Conclusion
An AI chatbot costs a small store far less than most expect: you can start free and only pay as your conversations grow. Estimate your conversations, start on the plan that fits, and watch the usage alerts. If you are new to chatbots, read what is a sales chatbot, or follow how to create an AI chatbot in 30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free AI chatbot plan?
Yes. AI Chatbot's free plan includes 5,000 AI credits, 100 conversations and 10 knowledge sources a month, and your website is re-checked weekly.
Do extra channels cost more?
No. No plan limits the number of channels. You can connect your website, Messenger, Zalo OA and Telegram on any plan.
What happens if I run out of AI credits mid-month?
You get alerts at 80% and 95% of your AI credits and when they run out. When they run out, conversations are handed to your staff instead of leaving customers hanging, and you can contact us to upgrade.
How do I change plans?
Upgrades are currently handled by contacting support; there is no self-serve checkout in the dashboard yet.
Can the prices in this article change?
Yes. Prices here are as of the article's last update. The pricing page always shows current prices.
