Comparison
Best AI chatbot for small business: Chatbase vs Tidio vs Botpress vs Intercom Fin
Chatbase, Tidio (Lyro), Botpress and Intercom Fin compared for small businesses: real prices, how AI answers are billed, free plans, refunds and where your customers' data is processed.
Updated 15 Oct 2026
Four tools dominate the shortlist when a small business wants an AI chatbot that answers customers from its own help pages: Chatbase, Tidio with its Lyro AI agent, Botpress and Intercom with Fin. They differ less in what the bot can say than in how you pay for each answer, whether you can try them for free, and where your customers’ messages end up. All figures below come from each vendor’s pricing page, terms of service and data-processing agreement as of 15 October 2026.
The short answer
- Quickest bot on your website from your own content: Chatbase — from $32 a month billed yearly, but helpdesk, API and voice start at $150.
- Cheapest way to start, with live chat included: Tidio — free plan, paid plans from $24.17 a month billed yearly; the Lyro AI agent is an add-on after the first 50 conversations.
- Most control for builders and agencies: Botpress — free plan, then Plus at $150 a month billed yearly.
- Already running support in a helpdesk: Intercom Fin — $0.99 per outcome on top of a per-seat plan, with an EU hosting option on approval.
Prices compared
| Checked | Chatbase | Tidio (Lyro) | Botpress | Intercom Fin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | Yes, 50 conversations | Yes, 100 conversations | No (14-day trial) |
| Cheapest paid plan | Hobby: $40/mo, $32/mo yearly | Starter: $29/mo, $24.17/mo yearly | Plus: $189/mo, $150/mo yearly | Essential: from $29 per seat/mo |
| How AI answers are billed | 700 message credits on Hobby | Lyro add-on from $39/mo for 50 conversations (first 50 free, once) | 250 conversations and $25 AI usage on Plus | $0.99 per outcome, minimum monthly commitment |
| Bots per plan | 1 agent (extra $25/mo) | — | Unlimited on Plus | — |
| Seats included | 2 on Hobby | 10 | 3 on Plus | Paid per seat |
Intercom does not label the billing period next to its plan prices; the page shows $29 for Essential, while the page data lists $39. Check the price shown at checkout.
How you pay for each answer
This line decides your bill more than the plan price does — the AI credits guide explains why.
- Chatbase sells message credits. The cost per answer depends on the AI model, and actions such as looking up an order can use several credits.
- Tidio counts Lyro conversations. After the first 50 free conversations, Lyro is an add-on: $39 a month for 50 conversations, $75 for 100, $110 for 150 and $140 for 200 on monthly billing.
- Botpress combines a conversation allowance with an AI spend budget: Plus includes 250 conversations and $25 of AI usage a month; more conversations cost $65 per 100. At 95 per cent of the spend limit, Botpress automatically buys a $10 credit grant.
- Intercom Fin charges $0.99 per outcome, with a minimum monthly commitment (the FAQ gives 50 outcomes as an example), plus at least one paid seat when you use it inside an Intercom plan.
Can you try it, and can you get your money back?
| Tool | Try first | Refunds under the terms |
|---|---|---|
| Chatbase | 7-day trial on paid plans | Fees are non-refundable (§4.1) |
| Tidio | Free plan; 7-day trial of paid plans, no card | No obligation to refund “for any reason” (§8) |
| Botpress | Free plan, no card | Refund of the subscription part within 7 days of a charge, once per 12 months; AI spend is non-refundable |
| Intercom Fin | 14-day trial, no card | All fees non-refundable (§7.2) |
Botpress is the only one of the four with a written refund window. Use the free plans and trials on your real help content before you pay.
Where your customers’ data is processed
A support bot reads every customer message, so this matters for any business in the EU. The GDPR guide explains what to check.
| Tool | Company | Processing | DPA | EU hosting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatbase | Chatbase Inc., USA | USA (AWS) | Yes, with EU SCCs | Not offered |
| Tidio | Tidio LLC, USA, with Tidio Poland | “Primarily” in the EEA | Yes, part of the terms for EU users, with SCCs | No guarantee stated |
| Botpress | Botpress, Inc., USA | USA | Yes, with EU SCCs | Not offered |
| Intercom Fin | Intercom R&D Unlimited Company, Dublin | USA by default | Yes, with DPF and SCCs | Yes, on approval (AWS Dublin) |
Tidio states that it processes data mainly within the EEA; Intercom offers EU hosting as an option that it has to approve. Chatbase and Botpress process in the USA under Standard Contractual Clauses. This is not legal advice.
Which one should you pick?
- You have help articles and want a bot on your site today: Chatbase. It is the fastest from content to working widget. Read the Chatbase review for what each plan includes.
- You want live chat plus AI on a small budget: Tidio. Start on the free plan and add Lyro once you know how many conversations you get.
- You build bots for clients or need custom flows: Botpress — and its 7-day refund window lowers the risk of the higher entry price.
- Your team already works in a helpdesk and you sell in the EU: Intercom Fin, if per-outcome pricing fits your volume.
Prices and terms change often; each vendor’s own page is binding.
Sources
- Chatbase: pricing, terms, DPA
- Tidio: pricing, terms, privacy policy, DPA
- Botpress: pricing, refund policy, DPA
- Intercom: pricing, terms, DPA, regional hosting addendum