Software · head to head
Botpress vs Zendesk Sunshine Conversations
Zendesk Sunshine Conversations
Software
Omnichannel messaging and customer engagement 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 managed cloud version (Botpress Cloud) availability and pricing not accessible; open-source deployment requires managing infrastructure; Zendesk Sunshine Conversations cannot be purchased standalone; requires expensive Zendesk Suite Professional or higher plans
- They diverge on capability: Botpress covers Visual bot builder, Zendesk Sunshine Conversations covers Live chat.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Botpress and Zendesk Sunshine Conversations actually diverge.
| Attribute | Botpress | Zendesk Sunshine Conversations |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | open-source | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Open-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud) | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2016 | 2015 |
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
- Analytics
- Teams
- Messenger
- On-premise support
Only in Zendesk Sunshine Conversations
- Live chat
- SMS messaging
- Facebook Messenger
- WhatsApp integration
- Salesforce
- Zendesk Support
- API
- Web support
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 Zendesk Sunshine Conversations
- Organisations needing custom conversational interfaces with programmatic control via SDK/CLInot Zendesk Sunshine Conversations
Zendesk Sunshine Conversations
- 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
- 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 Sunshine Conversations
- Cannot be purchased standalone; requires expensive Zendesk Suite Professional or higher plans
- Low included monthly active users (1,000 MAU) and notifications (1,000) necessitate paid add-ons for most businesses
- Custom implementations require developer resources for webhooks and API configuration
Pricing, plan by plan
Botpress
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Botpress review.
Zendesk Sunshine Conversations
On request- Team$19/month
- Chat + messaging
- Basic features
- Limited agents
- Growth$49/month
- Omnichannel
- Advanced automation
- Routing
- Professional$99/month
- All features
- Custom workflows
- Premium 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 Zendesk Sunshine Conversations if
- You need live chat.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want sms messaging.
Questions people ask
- Is Botpress or Zendesk Sunshine Conversations better?
- Neither clearly leads. Botpress starts at Free and Zendesk Sunshine Conversations at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Botpress or Zendesk Sunshine Conversations?
- Botpress has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Botpress and On request for Zendesk Sunshine Conversations.
- Does Botpress or Zendesk Sunshine Conversations run on more platforms?
- Botpress runs on Open-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud). Zendesk Sunshine Conversations 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 Sunshine Conversations starts at On request.
- 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 Sunshine Conversations is typically brought in for.
- What can Botpress do that Zendesk Sunshine Conversations cannot?
- Botpress covers Visual bot builder, NLU integration, Multi-channel support, Analytics. Zendesk Sunshine Conversations covers Live chat, SMS messaging, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp integration. Both handle Slack.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Zendesk Sunshine Conversations: Can I buy Zendesk Sunshine Conversations standalone?
No. Sunshine Conversations is only available with Zendesk Suite Professional, Enterprise, or Enterprise Plus plans. It cannot be purchased as a standalone product.
SourceZendesk Sunshine Conversations: What messaging channels does Sunshine Conversations support?
Sunshine Conversations connects 15+ messaging channels including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, SMS, and provides a Web Widget for on-site chat.
SourceZendesk Sunshine Conversations: What are the usage limits on Zendesk Sunshine Conversations?
The base includes 1,000 Monthly Active Users and 1,000 notifications per month. Additional usage requires $50 add-ons for each 2,500 MAU pack or $50 for each 25,000 notification pack.
Source