# Chatbase vs Botpress: What You Need to Know (July 2026)

> The no-code chatbot leader vs the open-source power tool: setup speed vs how deeply you can customize it — both are chat-first and neither answers a phone.

HTML version: https://www.seldonframe.com/compare/chatbase-vs-botpress

Reviewed by Maxime Houle, Founder, SeldonFrame — facts checked July 2026.

## The short version

- **Chatbase pricing:** **$40–$400/mo** credit-metered + **$40**/1,000 overage; branding removal **$1,188/yr** below Enterprise
- **Botpress pricing:** Free tier, then **$89–$495/mo** + AI spend; channel fees historically billed separately
- **The real trade-off:** The no-code chatbot leader vs the open-source power tool: setup speed vs how deeply you can customize it — both are chat-first and neither answers a phone.
- **The third option:** SeldonFrame ships the whole front office at **$29/mo** **flat** — see below

## Chatbase

Chatbase is a no-code platform for building AI chatbots trained on your own data and putting them on a website.

- Best for: Support/FAQ chatbots trained on docs and websites
- Pricing: $40–$400/mo credit-metered + $40/1,000 overage; branding removal $1,188/yr below Enterprise
- AI receptionist: Chat only — no phone answering, no SMS receptionist
- Website/CRM/booking behind the agent: None — no CRM, website builder or booking calendar
- Whitelabel: Enterprise-gated (or paid branding removal)

## Botpress

Botpress is an open-source-rooted, developer-focused platform for building and running AI chatbots and agents.

- Best for: Developer teams building custom bots with code-level control
- Pricing: Free tier, then $89–$495/mo + AI spend; channel fees historically billed separately
- AI receptionist: Chat-first; voice needs to be built separately — no ready-made phone receptionist
- Website/CRM/booking behind the agent: None — bot infrastructure only
- Whitelabel: Branding removal on paid plans; no full agency resale program

## Side-by-side

| Feature | Chatbase | Botpress | SeldonFrame |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Support/FAQ chatbots trained on docs and websites | Developer teams building custom bots with code-level control | Agencies & builders running AI front offices for clients |
| Pricing model | **$40–$400/mo** credit-metered + **$40**/1,000 overage; branding removal **$1,188/yr** below Enterprise | Free tier, then **$89–$495/mo** + AI spend; channel fees historically billed separately | From **$29/mo** **flat** — **unlimited workspaces** (agency whitelabel from **$99/mo**) |
| AI receptionist (calls, SMS, chat) | Chat only — no phone answering, no SMS receptionist | Chat-first; voice needs to be built separately — no ready-made phone receptionist | Native — AI receptionist answers, qualifies & books across voice, SMS & web chat |
| Website, CRM & booking behind the agent | None — no CRM, website builder or booking calendar | None — bot infrastructure only | Included — multi-page website, CRM, booking calendar, intake forms, review requests in every workspace |
| Whitelabel & client workspaces | Enterprise-gated (or paid branding removal) | Branding removal on paid plans; no full agency resale program | Included — whitelabel client portal, per-client workspaces, custom domains, one-click multi-client deploy |
| AI usage costs | Credit-metered; better models burn more credits | AI spend bundled per plan (post-May-2026); previously billed on top at raw provider rates | BYOK — bring your own AI (and Twilio) keys and pay providers at raw cost, zero markup |
| Sell / resell what you build | No agency resale program | No native agency reseller motion | Built in — publish agents to the marketplace or rent them via MCP (**5%** marketplace fee) |

Prices checked July 2026 on [Chatbase's pricing page](https://www.chatbase.co/pricing) and [Botpress's pricing page](https://botpress.com/pricing).

## If you need what BOTH do

Most people comparing Chatbase and Botpress actually need the outcome underneath both: calls and chats answered, leads qualified, jobs booked into a real calendar and CRM, on a site the client owns. SeldonFrame ships that whole front office from one conversation at $29/mo flat (unlimited workspaces, bring-your-own AI keys), with whitelabel included for agencies.

- Honest deep-dives: https://www.seldonframe.com/alternative-to-chatbase and https://www.seldonframe.com/alternative-to-botpress
- Start free: https://www.seldonframe.com/signup · Book a demo: https://app.seldonframe.com/book/seldonframes-workspace-7798/default