Live Chat & Chatbots · head to head
Microsoft Bot Framework vs Botpress
Microsoft Bot Framework
Live Chat & Chatbots
Microsoft's framework for building intelligent bots
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Botpress
Live Chat & Chatbots
Open-source chatbot platform and framework
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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; Botpress managed cloud version (Botpress Cloud) availability and pricing not accessible; open-source deployment requires managing infrastructure
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Bot Framework covers Bot Builder, Botpress covers Visual bot builder.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Bot Framework and Botpress actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Bot Framework | Botpress |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | open-source |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice | Open-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud) |
| Founded | 1975 | 2016 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Live Chat & Chatbots).
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 Microsoft Bot Framework
- Bot Builder
- Language Understanding (LUIS)
- QnA Maker
- Telegram
- Web support
- Mobile support
- Messaging apps support
Only in Botpress
- Visual bot builder
- NLU integration
- Analytics
- Messenger
- On-premise support
- Cloud support
- Docker support
Both cover
- Multi-channel support
- Teams
- Slack
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Bot Framework
- Customer engagementnot Botpress
- Lead generationnot Botpress
- Customer supportnot Botpress
- Sales automationnot Botpress
Botpress
- Development teams building chatbots and conversational AI using MIT-licensed open-source frameworknot Microsoft Bot Framework
- Organisations needing custom conversational interfaces with programmatic control via SDK/CLInot Microsoft Bot Framework
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Botpress
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Botpress review.
Which should you pick?
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).
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Bot Framework or Botpress better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Bot Framework starts at Free and Botpress at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Bot Framework or Botpress?
- Microsoft Bot Framework starts at Free and Botpress at Free.
- Does Microsoft Bot Framework or Botpress run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Bot Framework runs on Web, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice. Botpress runs on Open-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud).
- Can I use Microsoft Bot Framework for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Microsoft Bot Framework best used for?
- Microsoft Bot Framework is most often used for customer engagement, lead generation, customer support, sales automation. Of those, customer engagement and lead generation are not what Botpress is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Bot Framework do that Botpress cannot?
- Microsoft Bot Framework covers Bot Builder, Language Understanding (LUIS), QnA Maker, Facebook. Botpress covers Visual bot builder, NLU integration, Analytics, Messenger. Both handle Multi-channel support, Teams, Slack.