Software · head to head
Botpress vs Crisp
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Botpress managed cloud version (Botpress Cloud) availability and pricing not accessible; open-source deployment requires managing infrastructure; Crisp free tier includes only 2 agents and no AI credits; AI capability requires paid tier
- They diverge on capability: Botpress covers Visual bot builder, Crisp covers Live chat.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Botpress and Crisp actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Botpress
- Visual bot builder
- NLU integration
- Multi-channel support
- Analytics
- Teams
- Messenger
- On-premise support
Only in Crisp
- Live chat
- Shared inbox
- Chatbots
- Knowledge base
- Video calls
- CRM
- WordPress
- Shopify
Both cover
- Slack
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Botpress
- Development teams building chatbots and conversational AI using MIT-licensed open-source frameworknot Crisp
- Organisations needing custom conversational interfaces with programmatic control via SDK/CLInot Crisp
Crisp
- Growing startups needing affordable all-in-one customer support with AI automationnot Botpress
- Teams seeking omnichannel support consolidating email, chat, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagramnot Botpress
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Botpress
- Managed cloud version (Botpress Cloud) availability and pricing not accessible; open-source deployment requires managing infrastructure
- Dependent on OpenAI integration; users must provide and manage OpenAI API keys and costs
Crisp
- Free tier includes only 2 agents and no AI credits; AI capability requires paid tier
- Free tier customer profile limit of 100; higher limits require upgrade
- Omnichannel support and workflow automation excluded from Free and Mini tiers
- White labelling only available in Plus tier ($295+/month)
Pricing, plan by plan
Botpress
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Botpress review.
Crisp
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Crisp review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Botpress if
- You need visual bot builder.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Open-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud).
- You also want nlu integration.
Choose Crisp if
- You need live chat.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cloud-based SaaS.
- You also want shared inbox.
Questions people ask
- Is Botpress or Crisp better?
- Neither clearly leads. Botpress starts at Free and Crisp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Botpress or Crisp?
- Botpress starts at Free and Crisp at Free.
- Does Botpress or Crisp run on more platforms?
- Botpress runs on Open-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud). Crisp runs on Cloud-based SaaS.
- Can I use Botpress for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Botpress best used for?
- Botpress is most often used for development teams building chatbots and conversational ai using mit-licensed open-source framework, organisations needing custom conversational interfaces with programmatic control via sdk/cli. Of those, development teams building chatbots and conversational ai using mit-licensed open-source framework and organisations needing custom conversational interfaces with programmatic control via sdk/cli are not what Crisp is typically brought in for.
- What can Botpress do that Crisp cannot?
- Botpress covers Visual bot builder, NLU integration, Multi-channel support, Analytics. Crisp covers Live chat, Shared inbox, Chatbots, Knowledge base. Both handle Slack.