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Kayako vs Microsoft Bot Framework

Kayako logo

Kayako

Live Chat

Effortless customer service

From
$30/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Bot Framework logo

Microsoft Bot Framework

Live Chat

Microsoft's framework for building intelligent bots

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Microsoft Bot Framework has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kayako the AI agent is billed at $1 per resolved ticket, so support cost scales with ticket volume rather than being a fixed subscription; Microsoft Bot Framework no pricing information published on official product pages
  • They diverge on capability: Kayako covers Unified inbox, Microsoft Bot Framework covers Bot Builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Kayako and Microsoft Bot Framework differ
AttributeKayakoMicrosoft Bot Framework
Starting price$30/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice
Founded20011975

Identical on both: 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 Kayako

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

Only in Microsoft Bot Framework

  • Bot Builder
  • Language Understanding (LUIS)
  • QnA Maker
  • Multi-channel support
  • Teams
  • Facebook
  • Telegram
  • Mobile support

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Kayako

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

Microsoft Bot Framework

  • Chatbot development and deploymentnot Kayako
  • Conversational AI applicationsnot Kayako
  • Microsoft Teams bot integrationnot Kayako
  • Multi-channel bot deploymentnot Kayako

Where each one falls short

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

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

Microsoft Bot Framework

  • No pricing information published on official product pages
  • Pricing likely depends on underlying Azure services used
  • Customers directed to Azure pricing calculator for cost estimation

Pricing, plan by plan

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

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 Kayako if

  • You need unified inbox.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want live chat.
Kayako 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 Kayako or Microsoft Bot Framework better?
Neither clearly leads. Kayako starts at $30/month and Microsoft Bot Framework at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kayako or Microsoft Bot Framework?
Microsoft Bot Framework has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $30/month for Kayako and Free for Microsoft Bot Framework.
Does Kayako or Microsoft Bot Framework run on more platforms?
Kayako runs on Web, Ios, Android. Microsoft Bot Framework runs on Web, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice.
Can I use Microsoft Bot Framework for free?
Yes. Microsoft Bot Framework has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kayako starts at $30/month.
What is Kayako best used for?
Kayako is most often used for help desk ticketing with a unified inbox and knowledge base, resolving support tickets automatically with an ai agent. Of those, help desk ticketing with a unified inbox and knowledge base and resolving support tickets automatically with an ai agent are not what Microsoft Bot Framework is typically brought in for.
What can Kayako do that Microsoft Bot Framework cannot?
Kayako covers Unified inbox, Live chat, Help center, Customer journey. Microsoft Bot Framework covers Bot Builder, Language Understanding (LUIS), QnA Maker, Multi-channel support. Both handle Slack, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Microsoft Bot Framework: How much does Microsoft Bot Framework cost?

Microsoft Bot Framework itself has no published pricing. Costs depend on the Azure services used to host and run bots, which are billed through Azure consumption-based pricing for compute, storage, and other resources required.

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
Microsoft Bot Framework: How do I estimate Microsoft Bot Framework costs?

Use the Azure Pricing Calculator to estimate costs based on your bot's compute, storage, and messaging requirements. Costs scale based on bot traffic, deployment region, and storage needs for conversation data.

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
Microsoft Bot Framework: Are there any free tiers for Microsoft Bot Framework?

Microsoft Bot Framework itself is free to develop and deploy, but hosting and operating bots incurs Azure service costs that vary based on usage patterns and selected Azure services.

Source
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