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Botpress vs Kayako

Botpress logo

Botpress

Live Chat

Open-source chatbot platform and framework

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kayako logo

Kayako

Live Chat

Effortless customer service

From
$30/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Botpress has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Botpress dependent on OpenAI integration; users must provide and manage OpenAI API keys and costs; Kayako the AI agent is billed at $1 per resolved ticket, so support cost scales with ticket volume rather than being a fixed subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Botpress covers Visual bot builder, Kayako covers Unified inbox.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Botpress and Kayako actually diverge.

Attributes where Botpress and Kayako differ
AttributeBotpressKayako
Starting priceFree$30/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsOpen-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud)Web, Ios, Android
Founded20162001

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Live Chat).

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
  • WhatsApp
  • On-premise support

Only in Kayako

  • Unified inbox
  • Live chat
  • Help center
  • Customer journey
  • Automation
  • Reporting
  • Salesforce
  • Zapier

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Botpress

  • AI customer support ticketing and refund processingnot Kayako
  • Multi-channel helpdesk automation with escalationnot Kayako
  • Self-service account updates and order correctionsnot Kayako
  • Proactive customer outreach and retentionnot Kayako

Kayako

  • Help desk ticketing with a unified inbox and knowledge basenot Botpress
  • Resolving support tickets automatically with an AI agentnot Botpress

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Botpress

  • Dependent on OpenAI integration; users must provide and manage OpenAI API keys and costs

Kayako

  • The AI agent is billed at $1 per resolved ticket, so support cost scales with ticket volume rather than being a fixed subscription
  • A resolution counts when the AI solves the issue without human involvement, so the definition of a billable event is set by the vendor's own system
  • No per agent monthly price is published for the full Kayako One platform
  • Full platform pricing requires talking to an expert

Pricing, plan by plan

Botpress

Free
  • Standard$9000/year
    • Up to 4 seats
    • 1,200 conversations per month
    • No per-seat cost

Kayako

$30/month
  • Inbox$30/month
    • Email & live chat
    • Help center
    • Basic automation
  • Growth$60/month
    • Everything in Inbox
    • Customer journey
    • SLA management
  • Scale$100/month
    • Everything in Growth
    • Advanced reporting
    • Custom roles

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.
Botpress review

Choose Kayako if

  • You need unified inbox.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want live chat.
Kayako review

Questions people ask

Is Botpress or Kayako better?
Neither clearly leads. Botpress starts at Free and Kayako at $30/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Botpress or Kayako?
Botpress has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Botpress and $30/month for Kayako.
Does Botpress or Kayako run on more platforms?
Botpress runs on Open-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud). Kayako runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Botpress for free?
Yes. Botpress has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kayako starts at $30/month.
What is Botpress best used for?
Botpress is most often used for ai customer support ticketing and refund processing, multi-channel helpdesk automation with escalation, self-service account updates and order corrections, proactive customer outreach and retention. Of those, ai customer support ticketing and refund processing and multi-channel helpdesk automation with escalation are not what Kayako is typically brought in for.
What can Botpress do that Kayako cannot?
Botpress covers Visual bot builder, NLU integration, Multi-channel support, Analytics. Kayako covers Unified inbox, Live chat, Help center, Customer journey. Both handle Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Botpress: How much does Botpress cost?

Botpress charges $9,000 per year for the standard plan supporting 4 seats with 1,200 conversations monthly. No per-seat cost is applied when adding team members or expanding usage, and AI capabilities are included in the subscription.

Source
Kayako: How much does Kayako charge?

Kayako uses results-based pricing where customers pay $1 per resolved ticket when Kay AI Agent solves the issue without human intervention. There are no seat fees or setup fees. Kayako One helpdesk platform pricing requires contacting sales.

Source
Botpress: Is there a free Botpress plan?

Yes, Botpress offers a free tier with no credit card required. You can try the platform for free and test it on your own support tickets before upgrading.

Source
Kayako: What counts as a resolved ticket for Kayako pricing?

A resolution occurs when Kay solves the customer's issue without human agent involvement, whether by taking action or providing an answer the customer confirms solves their problem. Escalations to humans and simple deflections do not count.

Source
Botpress: What does Botpress include compared to Zendesk or Intercom?

Botpress saves $25,500 per year compared to Zendesk and Intercom for a 4-seat team handling 1,200 monthly conversations, delivering the same AI-powered support without separate AI billing.

Source
Kayako: What is Kayako's AI resolution rate?

Kayako reports a 68 percent AI resolution rate for Kay AI Agent. The platform claims a cost advantage of $1 per resolution versus $4.60 for competitors, with reported CSAT improvement of 14 points.

Source
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