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Botpress vs Rasa

Botpress logo

Botpress

Live Chat

Open-source chatbot platform and framework

From
Free
Rated
-
Rasa logo

Rasa

Live Chat

Open-source framework for building conversational AI

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Botpress dependent on OpenAI integration; users must provide and manage OpenAI API keys and costs; Rasa free Developer Edition caps conversations at 1,000 external or 100 internal per company per month
  • They diverge on capability: Botpress covers Visual bot builder, Rasa covers NLU engine.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Botpress and Rasa actually diverge.

Attributes where Botpress and Rasa differ
AttributeBotpressRasa
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsOpen-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud)On-premise, Cloud deployment, Docker, Kubernetes

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Live Chat), founded (2016).

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
  • Messenger
  • WhatsApp
  • Cloud support
  • Self-hosted support

Only in Rasa

  • NLU engine
  • Dialogue management
  • Multi-language support
  • Testing tools
  • Custom channels
  • API
  • Cloud deployment support
  • Kubernetes support

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Teams
  • On-premise support
  • Docker support

What people use each for

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

Botpress

  • AI customer support ticketing and refund processingnot Rasa
  • Multi-channel helpdesk automation with escalationnot Rasa
  • Self-service account updates and order correctionsnot Rasa
  • Proactive customer outreach and retentionnot Rasa

Rasa

  • Developers self-hosting an open source conversational AI framework before needing enterprise scalenot Botpress

Where each one falls short

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

Botpress

  • Dependent on OpenAI integration; users must provide and manage OpenAI API keys and costs

Rasa

  • Free Developer Edition caps conversations at 1,000 external or 100 internal per company per month
  • Rasa Pro and the Business Plan (Pro plus Studio) are not priced on the site and require contacting sales

Pricing, plan by plan

Botpress

Free
  • Standard$9000/year
    • Up to 4 seats
    • 1,200 conversations per month
    • No per-seat cost

Rasa

Free
  • Free Developer EditionFree
    • One bot per company
    • Up to 1,000 external conversations per month or 100 internal conversations per month
    • Free Rasa license for local or production use
  • Rasa Pro$undefined/mo
    • Pro-code framework with CALM dialogue understanding
    • Language-agnostic NLU, enterprise search, multi-LLM management
    • Kubernetes support
  • Enterprise$undefined/mo
    • Full access to Rasa Platform and Premium Support
    • 24/7/365 support with Customer Success Manager
    • Business reviews and guidance

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 Rasa if

  • You need nlu engine.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on On-premise, Cloud deployment, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want dialogue management.

Questions people ask

Is Botpress or Rasa better?
Neither clearly leads. Botpress starts at Free and Rasa at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Botpress or Rasa?
Botpress starts at Free and Rasa at Free.
Does Botpress or Rasa run on more platforms?
Botpress runs on Open-source (self-hosted), Cloud-managed (Botpress Cloud). Rasa runs on On-premise, Cloud deployment, Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use Botpress for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Botpress best used for?
Botpress is most often used for ai customer support ticketing and refund processing, multi-channel helpdesk automation with escalation, self-service account updates and order corrections, proactive customer outreach and retention. Of those, ai customer support ticketing and refund processing and multi-channel helpdesk automation with escalation are not what Rasa is typically brought in for.
What can Botpress do that Rasa cannot?
Botpress covers Visual bot builder, NLU integration, Multi-channel support, Analytics. Rasa covers NLU engine, Dialogue management, Multi-language support, Testing tools. Both handle Slack, Teams, On-premise support, Docker support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Botpress: How much does Botpress cost?

Botpress charges $9,000 per year for the standard plan supporting 4 seats with 1,200 conversations monthly. No per-seat cost is applied when adding team members or expanding usage, and AI capabilities are included in the subscription.

Source
Rasa: Does Rasa offer a free version?

Yes. Rasa offers a free Developer Edition with one bot per company, up to 1,000 external conversations per month, and free community support.

Source
Botpress: Is there a free Botpress plan?

Yes, Botpress offers a free tier with no credit card required. You can try the platform for free and test it on your own support tickets before upgrading.

Source
Rasa: What support is included with Rasa's free tier?

The free tier includes community forum support with responses from Rasa community members. Paid tiers add premium support with enhanced response times.

Source
Botpress: What does Botpress include compared to Zendesk or Intercom?

Botpress saves $25,500 per year compared to Zendesk and Intercom for a 4-seat team handling 1,200 monthly conversations, delivering the same AI-powered support without separate AI billing.

Source
Rasa: What is the difference between Rasa Pro and Enterprise?

Rasa Pro includes the pro-code framework with advanced NLU and multi-LLM management. Enterprise adds full platform access, 24/7 support, dedicated Customer Success Manager, and business reviews.

Source
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