Software · head to head
Botpress vs Zendesk Chat
The short version
- Only Botpress has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Botpress managed cloud version (Botpress Cloud) availability and pricing not accessible; open-source deployment requires managing infrastructure; Zendesk Chat messaging and live chat require at least the Suite Team plan at $55/agent/month paid yearly; the base Support Team plan at $19/agent/month does not include chat at all
- They diverge on capability: Botpress covers Visual bot builder, Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Botpress and Zendesk Chat actually diverge.
| Attribute | Botpress | Zendesk Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $49/month |
| Pricing model | open-source | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Open-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud) | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2016 | 2007 |
Identical on both: 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
- Slack
- Teams
- Messenger
- On-premise support
Only in Zendesk Chat
- Web messaging
- Mobile messaging
- Chatbots
- Proactive chat
- Triggers
- Zendesk Support
- Salesforce
- Shopify
Both cover
- Analytics
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 Zendesk Chat
- Organisations needing custom conversational interfaces with programmatic control via SDK/CLInot Zendesk Chat
Zendesk Chat
- Support teams wanting live chat bundled with ticketing rather than a standalone chat widgetnot 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
Zendesk Chat
- Messaging and live chat require at least the Suite Team plan at $55/agent/month paid yearly; the base Support Team plan at $19/agent/month does not include chat at all
- Enterprise-grade chat features (Admin Copilot, skills-based routing) require Suite Professional at $115/agent/month or higher
Pricing, plan by plan
Botpress
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Botpress review.
Zendesk Chat
$49/month- Suite Team$49/month
- Messaging
- Help center
- Basic bots
- Suite Growth$79/month
- Team + Multiple brands
- Custom fields
- Suite Professional$99/month
- Growth + AI
- Custom analytics
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 Zendesk Chat if
- You need web messaging.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want mobile messaging.
Questions people ask
- Is Botpress or Zendesk Chat better?
- Neither clearly leads. Botpress starts at Free and Zendesk Chat at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Botpress or Zendesk Chat?
- Botpress has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Botpress and $49/month for Zendesk Chat.
- Does Botpress or Zendesk Chat run on more platforms?
- Botpress runs on Open-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud). Zendesk Chat runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Botpress for free?
- Yes. Botpress has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zendesk Chat starts at $49/month.
- 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 Zendesk Chat is typically brought in for.
- What can Botpress do that Zendesk Chat cannot?
- Botpress covers Visual bot builder, NLU integration, Multi-channel support, Slack. Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Mobile messaging, Chatbots, Proactive chat. Both handle Analytics.
Related pages
More on Zendesk Chat
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