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Google Dialogflow vs Microsoft Bot Framework

Google Dialogflow logo

Google Dialogflow

Software

Google's conversational AI platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Bot Framework logo

Microsoft Bot Framework

Software

Microsoft's framework for building intelligent bots

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Dialogflow google's own Dialogflow pricing page (cloud.google.com/dialogflow/pricing) prices Conversational Agents (CX) text requests at $0.007 per request, audio input at $0.0065 per 15 seconds and audio output from $4 per 1 million characters, all in USD, with a one-time $600 free credit for the first 12 months; Dialogflow ES (Essentials) is billed per request separately from CX and the two are not interchangeable, so a chatbot built on ES cannot simply switch to CX pricing without migration.; Microsoft Bot Framework the SDK is MIT licensed and free, but running a bot in production still requires a paid Azure Bot Service or Azure compute resource
  • They diverge on capability: Google Dialogflow covers NLU and NLG, Microsoft Bot Framework covers Bot Builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Dialogflow and Microsoft Bot Framework actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Dialogflow and Microsoft Bot Framework differ
AttributeGoogle DialogflowMicrosoft Bot Framework
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice assistantsWeb, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice
Founded19981975

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 Google Dialogflow

  • NLU and NLG
  • Multi-language support
  • Integration with Google services
  • Webhooks
  • Google Cloud
  • Voice assistants support

Only in Microsoft Bot Framework

  • Bot Builder
  • Language Understanding (LUIS)
  • QnA Maker
  • Multi-channel support
  • Teams
  • Voice support

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Facebook
  • Telegram
  • Web support
  • Mobile support
  • Messaging apps support

What people use each for

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

Google Dialogflow

  • Customer engagement
  • Lead generation
  • Customer support
  • Sales automation

Microsoft Bot Framework

  • Customer engagement
  • Lead generation
  • Customer support
  • Sales automation

Both are used for customer engagement, lead generation, customer support, sales automation, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

Google Dialogflow

  • Google's own Dialogflow pricing page (cloud.google.com/dialogflow/pricing) prices Conversational Agents (CX) text requests at $0.007 per request, audio input at $0.0065 per 15 seconds and audio output from $4 per 1 million characters, all in USD, with a one-time $600 free credit for the first 12 months; Dialogflow ES (Essentials) is billed per request separately from CX and the two are not interchangeable, so a chatbot built on ES cannot simply switch to CX pricing without migration.

Microsoft Bot Framework

  • The SDK is MIT licensed and free, but running a bot in production still requires a paid Azure Bot Service or Azure compute resource

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Dialogflow

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 100 requests/day
    • Basic NLU
  • Standard$0.005/month
    • Pay per request
    • Advanced features
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom SLAs
    • Dedicated support

Microsoft Bot Framework

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Bot Framework SDK
    • Azure Bot Service basic
  • Standard$0.5/month
    • Advanced connectors
    • Premium support
  • Premium$undefined/month
    • Enterprise features
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Dialogflow if

  • You need nlu and nlg.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice assistants.
  • You also want multi-language support.
Google Dialogflow review

Choose Microsoft Bot Framework if

  • You need bot builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice.
  • You also want language understanding (luis).
Microsoft Bot Framework review

Questions people ask

Is Google Dialogflow or Microsoft Bot Framework better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Dialogflow starts at Free and Microsoft Bot Framework at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Dialogflow or Microsoft Bot Framework?
Google Dialogflow starts at Free and Microsoft Bot Framework at Free.
Does Google Dialogflow or Microsoft Bot Framework run on more platforms?
Google Dialogflow runs on Web, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice assistants. Microsoft Bot Framework runs on Web, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice.
Can I use Google Dialogflow for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Dialogflow best used for?
Google Dialogflow is most often used for customer engagement, lead generation, customer support, sales automation.
What can Google Dialogflow do that Microsoft Bot Framework cannot?
Google Dialogflow covers NLU and NLG, Multi-language support, Integration with Google services, Webhooks. Microsoft Bot Framework covers Bot Builder, Language Understanding (LUIS), QnA Maker, Multi-channel support. Both handle Slack, Facebook, Telegram, Web support.
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Related pages

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