Botpress AI is an intelligent conversational agent (AI chatbot) platform that appeals to developers and enterprises alike. Mainly in English, it is available in SaaS cloud or open source self-hosted (Docker). Botpress also combines an intelligent chatbot editor with no-code, REST API and LLM integration with ChatGPT, for example.
This article is a comprehensive guide to Botpress, so you can make your own opinion and choice, to choose the best AI chatbot platform, the one that best suits your needs. We’ll analyze Botpress in its entirety: features, uses of Botpress chatbots, pricing and pricing. We’ve also reviewed Botpress user reviews! Finally, at the end of this guide you’ll find a comparison of Botpress alternatives: Botpress vs Voiceflow, vs Manychat, vs Botnation and Botpress vs Botkit.
Enjoy your reading!
What is Botpress?
Botpress AI is an online platform for creating chatbots and artificial intelligence, widely recognized in the industry.
From this platform, you can customize and deploy sophisticated AI autonomous agents, mainly in no-code or low-code, so they’re accessible to all levels of technical skill.
Botpress boasts a complete and varied range ofadvanced tools and features:
- Managing conversational flows ;
- Integration with external APIs ;
- Data analysis.
Botpress lets you create autonomous, scalable AI chatbots, adapted to a wide range of needs: customer service, technical support, online sales, information, and more.
What uses are there for a Botpress chatbot? Applications for a Botpress intelligent agent
A conversational agent, or chatbot, is an intelligent automation solution designed to converse with users in real time. It can be integrated on websites, but also on social networks such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and/or SMS messaging.
An intelligent conversational agent is one that takesAI and NLP/NLU (natural language processing) a step further. It’s also known as an autonomous AI agent.
Chatbots are exploited for a host of applications: intelligent Botpress conversational agents are used in a multitude of fields:
- Customer service and technical support: instant answers, reduction of simple tickets ;
- Online sales & e-commerce: shopping support, product recommendations, order tracking;
- Dynamic information & FAQ: disseminate reliable information, news and advice from a knowledge base;
- Onboarding & HR: welcoming new employees, answering internal questions ;
- Business automation: reservations management, customer data updating, CRM/ERP integration.
They can be used via messaging interfaces (like a classic online conversation, a chat) or vocally (in which case they’re called voicebots or voice conversational agents).
The Botpress story: who are the founders? Who is the CEO of Botpress?
Botpress was founded in 2016/2017 with a clear goal: to revolutionize how humans interact with technology, and how computers can understand humans. It gradually set out to simplify the creation and deployment of chatbots, notably powered by AI. The company is headquartered in Quebec City, Canada, where it was conceived. The founders are Sylvain Perron and Justin Watson. Sylvain Perron is CEO of Botpress.
Today, Botpress has around 3,000 paying customers and almost a million free users, according to the company. 750,000 of their bots are activeand process more than a billion messages (still according to Botpress)! Their growth rate is sustained, with revenues doubling every quarter since the company was founded. Projected annual sales for 2025 are in excess of US$10 million.
Botpress is valued at US$120 million.
How does Botpress use AI to create intelligent chatbots?
Botpress uses advanced artificial intelligence to create intelligent chatbots! The platform combines several technologies and architectures. Here we explain how AI works in Botpress, step by step.
NLP/NLU and natural language understanding
Botpress analyzes user messages using NLP (for Natural Language Processing), enabling it to detect user intent and extract key identities. The user is understood: the intelligent conversational agent understands what the user really wants, even if he or she uses a different formulation. NLP is used to manage the conversational context: the bot follows the thread of exchanges, making responses coherent and adapted to the climate of the conversation.
Multi-LLM integration (GPT-4/5, Claude, Mistral, Gemini…)
Botpress is an “AI Agent Platform” that exploits various broad language models, known as LLMS. To create autonomous AI agents, Botpress uses technologies such as ChatGPT (OpenAI) or alternatives such as Claude (Anthropic), Mistral, Gemini (Google) or the Chinese AI Deepseek.
RAG and personalized chatbot knowledge base thanks to AI
Botpress will feed the chatbot with company-specific knowledge bases(documents, websites, FAQs, databases, etc.). This RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) approach combines the capabilities of LLMs to tap into precise information, enhancing the relevance and reliability of the chatbot’s responses.
Visual workflows and conversational scenarios
Botpress’ visual studio lets you design complex conversational flows with triggers, conditions, variables and multi-step actions, without heavy coding. The chatbots created are thus personalized and adaptable to different business use cases (sales, support, FAQ, automation).
H3 Botpress API and external integrations (CRM, ERP, internal databases)
Conversational AI can be integrated with external systems: Botpress can call third-party APIs, interacting with CRM, ERP, internal databases, or messaging systems to offer advanced functionalities such as order updates, reservations, customer management, and so on.
Do I need a ChatGPT account to use Botpress?
It’s possible to create and test a chatbot with ChatGPT in Botpress without any additional ChatGPT subscription, thanks to the credit offered.
But for more intensive or professional use, an OpenAI subscription (or API cost) may be required. ChatGPT subscriptions can be managed directly via Botpress or separately, depending on your configuration.
There are several plans to use AI at Botpress in pricing:
- The free plan where Botpress offers a monthly credit of about $5 to experiment with autonomous conversational agents with AI ;
- The “pay-as-you-go” plan pay-as-you-go “You only pay for the messages or API calls you use, with a definable ceiling to keep your budget under control;
- For companies, the Botpress team and corporate plans include larger AI credits and integrated billing for LLMs used.
For a more detailed explanation of Botpress costs, see the section of this article below Botpress pricing: a complete analysis of pricing, costs and ROI.
How do I use Botpress?
Botpress offers several ways to create and deploy an AI chatbot: no-code, open-source, SaaS (cloud), and REST API for developers.
Botpress in no-code (visual editor and prototyping)
The online platform called Botpress Cloud lets you create AI agents by drag-and-drop, without writing any code. This is a big advantage for non-developers or those wishing to prototype a chatbot in no-code. The free plan offers enough to launch a first AI bot, even if it remains a little limited compared to the paid plan.
To use it, you must :
- Use the flow editor to assemble flows, stages, variables…
- Add triggers (events), conditional logic, API integrations, manage complex dialogs via the interface.
- Test and deploy on web, WhatsApp, Slack, Telegram, Teams, etc. in just a few clicks.
- Benefits: Perfect for non-developers or teams wishing to prototype quickly; the free plan offers enough to launch a first AI bot.
Open-source Botpress (self-hosted, Docker): total control and customization
Botpress is also available as an open-source version, installable in self-hosted mode (server, Docker, on-premise).
Developed in TypeScript/Node.js, this core allows technical teams to retain complete control over their data and architecture. Developers can create custom actions in JavaScript, use the embedded NLU engine, manage conversational flows (.flow.json) and connect the bot to internal APIs or databases.
A simple example: a hello.js action logs a message and returns a customized response. There are many possible uses: business chatbots, internal FAQs, support automation, multilingual bots (fr, en, ar, pt, ja…), or integration with a local CRM. The Botpress open-source community is particularly active on GitHub.
Botpress in the Cloud: turnkey SaaS solution with integrated AI
With Botpress Cloud, the platform is offered in SaaS mode: hosted, maintained and self-scaling by the Botpress team. AI models (OpenAI, Claude, etc.) are natively integrated, and startup is instantaneous, with no installation or server configuration required. Ideal for companies looking for a fast, maintenance-free solution.
At the same time, Botpress remains available in self-hosted (on-premise) mode, for total control of infrastructure and data. Installation is on a dedicated server or private cloud, with manual management of backups, updates, security and scaling.
How do I use Botpress as an API?
Botpress offers a range of REST APIs (Chat, Runtime, Admin, Files and Tables) enabling developers to orchestrate an intelligent conversational agent in a fine-tuned way.
Thanks to the Chat API, you can create conversations, send messages or listen in real time via SSE.
The Runtime API provides access to multi-channel history, while theAdmin API manages workspaces, bots and analytics. With the Files API, you can index documents to feed the chatbot in RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) mode. Finally, the Tables API facilitates the management of structured data such as customers or orders.
These API tools will integrate Botpress with business applications, trigger remote actions, send notifications or automate reporting.
The Botpress academy and the Discord community
Numerous resources created by Botpressitself help you understand how to use Botpress. Tutorials, how-to videos and thematic guides explain how to create, deploy and optimize your chatbot from the Botpress Academy. The Botpress Academy also offers guided courses from beginner to advanced to help you make the most of the Botpress platform. Note that some modules are free, but others are not!
The Botpress community is also very active on Discord.
Botpress review: features, price, pros and cons
According to several review platforms(Logiciels.pro, GetAPP, etc.), Botpress scores an average of 4.5/5. Most of these reviews highlight the platform’s flexibility and AI power, but also point to a number of areas for improvement, notably in terms of handling and documentation. Botpress is secure and reliable in data management.
The benefits of Botpress according to users
Most reviews of Botpress emphasize a high level of satisfaction: it’s easy to use, thanks in particular to the visual editor and the no-code approach, which makes it possible for non-technicians to create chatbots or advanced conversational agents.
In their reviews, users particularly like Botpress’ ability to create customized workflows and integrate with multiple APIs, all without heavy coding. Botpress can handle large volumes, which is a real plus. The free plan is considered generous, although some users find the advanced features a little expensive for professional needs.
Also, one of the advantages of Botpress is its very active community on forums, on Discord, but also with the Botpress Academy!
Botpress is reliable and secure: users are very satisfied with the security of this AI conversational agent platform, for encryption and anonymization.
The disadvantages of Botpress in the reviews
In the reviewsof Botpress, Botpress is powerful, but remains technical, particularly when it comes to creating highly complex chatbots (multi-stream management, API integration, AI, NLP). For an intelligent conversational assistant, getting to grips with Botpressbecomes more difficult! Deploying a Botpress chatbot on Facebook or Instagram can be especially complicated. Although Botpress does provide documentation, some user feedback suggests that it is not very in-depth, which can make it very difficult to get to grips with the platform.
There are occasional bugs, especially in workflows. Some dashboard tools could be greatly improved (again according to reviews). Live chat and full analysis are reserved for the most expensive professional plans… Botpress support struggles to resolve complex issues.
In summary: Botpress reviews, feedback and areas for improvement
| Botpress: positive reviews and benefits | Botpress: negative opinions and drawbacks |
| Easy-to-use visual editor and no-code approach | Advanced functions (multi-stream, API, NLP, AI) are difficult to master |
| Highly flexible: creation of customized workflows, integration with multiple APIs without cumbersome coding | Documentation is not very thorough, which slows down the learning process |
| Supports high conversation volumes, suitable for ambitious projects | Complex deployment on certain channels (Facebook, Instagram) |
| Free use of Botpress | Some bugs in workflows and dashboard tools |
| Active community (forums, Discord, Botpress Academy) | Advanced functions deemed expensive for professional use (live chat, analytics) |
| Security and reliability: data encryption and anonymization | Botpress support sometimes limited on complex technical issues |
Using Botpress for free: Is Botpress really free? Pay-as-you-go plan
Botpress is free for discovery, prototyping and limited use! The Pay-as-you-go plan has zero fixed costs, with no credit card required for registration.
Free Botpress caps are 1,000 messages/month and/or $5 of AI credits (LLM) offered for each workspace.
This makes Botpress free of charge ideal for tests, small sites, demos, internal bots or POCs. Pay-as-you-go overages: messages, bots, storage, AI Spend.
Botpress pricing: complete analysis of pricing and ROI
Botpress offers tiered pricing to suit both freelance developers and large enterprises.
The model distinguishes between subscription fees, variable AI-related costs (LLM), as well as any add-ons and usage limits. This transparent approach allows you to keep your expenses under control, while adjusting power and functionality according to your needs. Botpress also provides calculation tools for accurately estimating the ROI of a chatbot, taking into account conversation volume, automatic resolution rate and productivity gains.
How much does Botpress cost? Here’s a price chart to get you started.
| Plan | Monthly price | Annual fee | Main features |
| Botpress Pay-as-you-go | 0 $ | 0 $ | Visual studio, $5 AI credits available, community. A la carte add-ons. |
| Botpress Plus | 89 (+ AI Spend) | 79 (+ AI Spend) | Live agent, advanced integration, discount add-ons, priority support |
| Botpress Team | 495 (+ AI) | 445 (+ DI) | RBAC control, real-time collaboration, increased quotas, live support |
| Botpress Enterprise | On request | On request | Complete customization, dedicated support, enhanced security |
H3 Paid features: Botpress prices
Botpress offers paid add-ons to adapt the use of intelligent conversational agents to specific needs. The main Botpress add-onsinclude :
- Additional agent: $10 per chatbot per month ;
- Additional messages: 5,000 messages for $20 per month ;
- Vector storage: 1 GB for $20 per month (useful for RAG and document management) ;
- AI Spend: direct billing for use of AI models (LLM), according to volume and tokens consumed (see explanations below).
H4 ROI calculator and AI spending on Botpress: how to estimate?
Botpress provides an AI calculator that estimates the monthly cost of using LLMs (GPT-4, GPT-5…), according to the volume of conversations and the number of tokens consumed. Rates are transparent, with no added margin.
At the same time, an ROI calculator lets you measure the profitability of a chatbot: savings in human time, auto-resolution rate, volume of tickets avoided, improved customer conversion rate.
Calculating the ROI of a Botpress AI agent is therefore most often based on the number of tickets avoided (i.e. the man-hours and payroll costs saved by setting up the AI chatbot).
Example of pricing on Botpress for an AI chatbot: a bot handling 2,000 messages/month with 50% auto-resolution can already cover its subscription cost thanks to a few dozen avoided tickets.
Alternatives to Botpress: a comparison of the best chatbot platforms (Voiceflow, Botnation, Manychat, Botkit)
There are plenty of alternatives to Botpress for creating autonomous AI conversational agents. Is it fair to say that there are as many chatbots as there are chatbot creation solutions? Almost!
Here we present our comparison of several alternatives to Botpress: Voiceflow, Botnation, Manychat and Botkit.
The choice of platform between Botpress, Voiceflow, Botnation, Botkit or Manychat (and many others) will depend on several factors:
- The main channel (e.g. in social/e-commerce: Manychat; in multi-channel support: Botnation)
- Message volume (for example, small/medium: Botnation/Manychat; large: Voiceflow/Botpress)
- AI/LLM needs: Voiceflow or Botpress for scalable bots or business specializations.
- Technical approach: Botkit for an ultra-technical intelligent conversational agent (entirely in code) rather than Botnation.
For an intelligent conversational agent in French, we recommend the 100% French platform Botnation.ai: proximity, local support, ease of use and multi-channel support!
Botpress or Voiceflow, which to choose?
The choice between Botpress and Voiceflow depends above all on your needs.
- Botpress is more oriented towards complex, multi-channel conversational chatbots (website, WhatsApp, Messenger, Slack…). As we’ve seen, Botpress offers over 50 native integrations, advanced analytics, a high level of customization and LLM support (GPT, Claude, etc.). Ideal for business integration, technical support or large-scale automation.
- Compared with Voiceflow, Voiceflow has an intuitive, visual interface, perfect for beginners and non-technical (no-code) teams. Its native telephony features (absent from Botpress) make it an excellent choice for voicebots and voice UX projects, even if native channels remain more limited.
Best of all: Botpress for technical flexibility and complex projects, Voiceflow for ease of use and rapid voice prototyping (especially over the phone).
Botpress or Botnation, what’s the difference?
Between Botpress and Botnation, the differences will lie in technical priorities and, in particular, language( intelligentconversational agents in French)! Botpress is more complex for beginners to learn, whereas Botnation is excellent for quick and easy learning.
- Botpress is an open-source platform with an active international community and rich documentation, but mainly in English. Botpress is quite technical, more oriented towards global or multinational projects integrating advanced AI (LLM);
- As for Botnation, it’s a 100% French solution for intelligent chatbots, offering a French-language dashboard, local customer support, training offerings and strict RGPD compliance. Its intuitive interface is designed with French-speaking businesses in mind. On the technical side, Botnation offers a powerful no-code cloud platform, designed to automate and personalize customer interactions without requiring programming skills.
Top picks : Botnation for a comprehensive French-language intelligent chatbotplatform, legal compliance and fast onboarding.
Botpress for international scalability, global community and technical customization for international and advanced AI projects.
Botpress or Manychat: advantages and disadvantages
The comparison between Manychat and Botpress focuses on the use of your chatbot:
- Botpress: a versatile platform designed for complex conversational agents. It manages a variety of workflows (customer support, after-sales service, onboarding, marketing automation) and offers advanced business integrations (CRM, internal database). Thanks to user context management and advanced personalization, Botpress can be adapted to demanding, multi-channel projects.
- Manychat is an English-language tool specialized in conversational marketing on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp). It enables you toautomate FAQs, launch engaging campaigns, collect leads and take advantage of numerous pre-configured templates. On the other hand, it remains limited for complex business scenarios or customized integrations.
Preferred: Manychat for chatbotmarketing automation, e-commerce and lead generation via social networks; Botpress for advanced, multi-channel business projects requiring customized API integrations.
Botpress vs Botkit
Botkit is a 100% code platform: there’s no visual editor!
Designed as an open source Node.js framework, Botkit is aimed above all at experienced JavaScript developers. All logic must be hand-coded: integration with Slack, Messenger, Twilio or Webex, dialog management, NLP configuration via third-party services (IBM Watson, Microsoft LUIS, Wit.ai, Dialogflow…). This allows a high degree of technical freedom, but requires solid skills and lengthens the implementation time of the conversational agent.
Conversely, Botpress combines no-code and code, as we’ve seen throughout this article.
To choose between Botkit and Botpress, we recommend :
- Botkit for very specific or in-house projects, for JS technical teams wishing to control everything via the ;
- Botpress for scalable, multi-channel, business-oriented projects, where ease of use (no-code) and technical power (AI, APIs, cloud or on-premise deployment) are required.
