How to compare WhatsApp chatbot platforms
Before looking at names, check the same five things on every pricing page. Two tools with the same monthly price can end up costing very different amounts.
- Entry price of the plan that actually includes the WhatsApp Business API (some cheap plans don't).
- Seats: how many people can answer chats.
- Volume: whether the plan is limited by contacts, conversations or messages, and what extra volume costs.
- Meta fees: whether Meta's per-message fees are passed through at cost or with a markup. See how much a WhatsApp chatbot costs.
- AI: whether the AI assistant is included or a paid add-on.
The platforms
Simplifybot
An AI assistant for WhatsApp and Telegram built for small and medium businesses, with Spanish and English support. Basic is $39/month (1 user, up to 500 conversations) and Business is $79/month (up to 5 agents, up to 1,000 conversations); Enterprise is custom. The AI assistant and all integrations — including Calendly and Shopify — are on every plan, with human handoff to your team. Best for: businesses that want a working AI assistant without technical setup.
Respond.io
An omnichannel inbox for teams. Starter is $99/month ($79 billed annually) with 5 users; Growth is $199/month ($159 annually) and Advanced $349/month ($279 annually), both with 10 users. Plans are priced by monthly active contacts, starting at 1,000. AI agents start on Growth. Meta fees are paid separately through a prepaid balance. Best for: larger support teams working across several channels.
Wati
A popular WhatsApp-focused platform with Growth, Pro and Business plans. Growth includes 3 users and 500 monthly active contacts, Pro 5 users and 1,000, Business 10 users and 2,500. It offers AI agents with AI credits. Prices depend on region and billing period, so check its pricing page for your country. Best for: teams that want a dedicated WhatsApp tool with broadcasts.
Zoko
Aimed at online stores, especially on Shopify. Starter is $49.99/month with unlimited agents but a $0.015 markup per conversation; Plus is $79.99, Elite $139.99 and Max $499.99, which state no markup on Meta fees. The AI agent is an add-on at $24.99/month plus a fee per resolution. Best for: e-commerce brands selling through WhatsApp.
Twilio
A developer API, not a ready-made chatbot. There's no subscription: Twilio charges $0.005 per message sent or received, plus Meta's fees. You build the bot, the inbox and the integrations yourself. Best for: companies with developers who want full control.
Leadsales
A WhatsApp CRM popular in Mexico and Latin America. The Básico plan ($97/month) doesn't include the WhatsApp API; Profesional is $133/month with 4 users and Avanzado $247/month with 5. Meta messages are paid from a balance, and its AI "Lead Agent" is an add-on after a free first month. It doesn't support Telegram. Best for: sales teams that want a pipeline around WhatsApp.
Botmaker
A Latin American platform for larger operations. Standard is $149/month with 10 agents and 3,000 conversations, Scale $249 and Pro $499, plus a $99 one-time WhatsApp setup fee. Best for: companies with bigger contact centers.
B2Chat
A Colombian customer service platform. Básico with WhatsApp is $105/month ($84 annually) with 2 users and 1,000 contacts; Premium is $187/month ($149 annually) with 5 users. Its marketing message prices are higher than Meta's base rate, and the AI assistant is an add-on. It supports Telegram. Best for: Colombian teams that want local support.
Quick comparison
- Lowest entry price with the AI assistant included, among these: Simplifybot ($39).
- No subscription: Twilio, if you have developers.
- Most agents on an entry plan: Zoko Starter (unlimited agents, with a markup on Meta fees).
- Large multichannel teams: Respond.io or Botmaker.
- Sales pipeline focus: Leadsales.
Which one should you choose?
If you're a small business and want customers answered by AI on WhatsApp this week, start with a tool that includes the assistant and the integrations in the base price. If you have a large team across many channels, an omnichannel inbox makes sense. If you have developers and very specific needs, an API like Twilio gives you the most freedom — and the most work.
Whatever you choose, add Meta's fees to the platform price: they depend on your customers' country and the kind of messages you send. Our API vs app guide explains when you need the API at all.
Sources
- Respond.io pricing
- Wati pricing
- Zoko pricing
- Twilio WhatsApp pricing
- Leadsales pricing
- Botmaker pricing
- B2Chat pricing
Prices checked on October 8, 2026. Vendors change their plans often; confirm on their sites before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Which WhatsApp chatbot platform is cheapest?
Twilio has no subscription but requires developers. Among the ready-to-use tools compared here, Simplifybot starts at $39/month with the AI assistant included.
Are Meta's fees included in platform prices?
Usually not. Most platforms pass Meta's per-message fees through separately, sometimes with a markup — check each pricing page.
Do I need the WhatsApp Business API to use these platforms?
Yes. All of them connect through the API; some help you set it up during onboarding.