Softwr

Live Chat · head to head

Botpress vs Kore.ai

Botpress logo

Botpress

Live Chat

Open-source chatbot platform and framework

From
Free
Rated
-
Kore.ai logo

Kore.ai

Live Chat

Enterprise conversational AI platform

From
On request
Rated
-

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; Kore.ai no pricing published; pricing is custom and quote-based
  • They diverge on capability: Botpress covers Visual bot builder, Kore.ai covers Conversational AI.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Botpress and Kore.ai actually diverge.

Attributes where Botpress and Kore.ai differ
AttributeBotpressKore.ai
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsOpen-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud)Web, Mobile, Messaging, Voice, IVR
Founded20162014

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
  • Slack
  • Teams
  • Messenger
  • WhatsApp

Only in Kore.ai

  • Conversational AI
  • Advanced NLU
  • Workflow automation
  • Multi-language
  • Salesforce
  • SAP
  • Oracle
  • API

What people use each for

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

Botpress

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

Kore.ai

  • Customer engagementnot Botpress
  • Lead generationnot Botpress
  • Customer supportnot Botpress
  • Sales automationnot 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

Kore.ai

  • No pricing published; pricing is custom and quote-based
  • Requires direct sales engagement through 'Request a Demo' or 'Get in touch' forms

Pricing, plan by plan

Botpress

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

Kore.ai

On request
  • Professional$200/month
    • AI chatbot
    • Basic NLU
  • Enterprise$500/month
    • Advanced NLU
    • Custom integrations
  • Custom$undefined/month
    • Unlimited features
    • Dedicated support

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 Kore.ai if

  • You need conversational ai.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Messaging, Voice, IVR.
  • You also want advanced nlu.

Questions people ask

Is Botpress or Kore.ai better?
Neither clearly leads. Botpress starts at Free and Kore.ai at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Botpress or Kore.ai?
Botpress has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Botpress and On request for Kore.ai.
Does Botpress or Kore.ai run on more platforms?
Botpress runs on Open-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud). Kore.ai runs on Web, Mobile, Messaging, Voice, IVR.
Can I use Botpress for free?
Yes. Botpress has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kore.ai starts at On request.
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 Kore.ai is typically brought in for.
What can Botpress do that Kore.ai cannot?
Botpress covers Visual bot builder, NLU integration, Multi-channel support, Analytics. Kore.ai covers Conversational AI, Advanced NLU, Workflow automation, Multi-language.

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
Kore.ai: How much does Kore.ai cost?

Kore.ai does not publish standard pricing. The company positions itself as an enterprise platform serving large organizations in banking, healthcare, and retail, with costs customized based on deployment scope, usage, and enterprise requirements.

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
Kore.ai: How do I get pricing for Kore.ai?

Contact Kore.ai through their 'Request a Demo', 'Talk to an Expert', or 'Submit RFP' options on the website to receive a custom quote.

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
Share

Related pages

Other head to heads