Chatbase vs Chatwoot
Pricing
Chatbase: Free tier (50 message credits/mo), paid from $40/mo
Chatwoot: Free (self-hosted), cloud from $19/agent/mo
Description
Chatbase: Builds an AI agent from your own docs and data that answers customers on your website, in messaging apps and in help desks
Chatwoot: Open-source customer support platform you can self-host for free or use their cloud starting at $19/agent
Pros
- Choose between OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini and DeepSeek models on paid plans
- Connects to Slack, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Shopify and help desks such as Zendesk and Freshdesk
- Paid plans start with a 7-day trial, and yearly billing is 20% off
- Fully open-source under MIT license: self-host on your own server at zero cost
- Omnichannel inbox covers live chat, email, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram
- Cloud plans include AI credits (Captain AI) for automated responses out of the box
Cons
- The free plan has 50 message credits a month, and free agents are deleted after 14 days without activity
- Removing the 'Powered by Chatbase' branding costs $99 a month extra
- Helpdesk, voice and API access start on the $150/mo Standard plan
- Self-hosting means you handle updates, backups, and server maintenance yourself
- Smaller plugin and integration ecosystem compared to Intercom or Freshdesk
- WhatsApp and SMS channels add external costs that are not included in the plan price
Details
Chatbase turns your help docs, website and other data sources into an AI agent that answers customer questions around the clock. You connect the sources, describe the agent’s role, set guardrails and embed it, with no code. The same agent can also handle sales questions and product guidance.
It suits founders who get the same questions again and again and want them answered on the site before they become tickets. Paid plans add model choice, integrations and analytics.
Usage is counted in message credits: Hobby ($40/month) includes 700 a month and Standard ($150/month) 4,000. When you run low, auto-recharge adds credits at $40 per 1,000, and those added credits don’t expire.
Chatwoot is the open-source alternative to Intercom that bootstrapped founders actually use. You can self-host the community edition for free on a $5-10/month VPS, or use their managed cloud starting at $19 per agent per month (Startups plan). Cloud tiers go up to $99/agent for Enterprise, and every paid plan includes Captain AI credits for automated replies: 300, 500, or 800 depending on your tier.
The self-hosted route is where Chatwoot shines for one-person operations. You get live chat, email, social channels, and a knowledge base without a monthly per-seat fee. The trade-off is real though: you are your own DevOps team, handling updates and uptime. If you are comfortable with Docker and basic server admin, this is the cheapest way to get a professional multi-channel support setup. If the idea of maintaining infrastructure makes you nervous, their cloud plans or Crisp’s free tier are simpler paths.
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