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Key Features to Look For in an AI Chatbot for Small to Medium, Enterprises.
Note: Scroll down to the bottom to see some of our top suggestions for affordable and useful AI Chatbots for your business.
1. No-Code or Low-Code Setup
This is the absolute first thing you need to work out – are you happy doing some coding to set-up your AI chatbot? If you are a coder or you employ coders then there is not problem. But if not, make sure that the Chatbot you choose is code free.
These low or no-code options allow for fast deployment using drag-and-drop builders (which I love)
Look for integrations with WordPress, Shopify, Wix, etc.
2. Multi-Channel Support
– Lets you manage conversations across your website, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more.
– Consolidates messages in one dashboard – fantastic if you are collecting clients across different platforms. You don’t want to have to go running around checking messages in different places.
3. Customizable Workflows
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4. Live Chat Handoff
Allows a smooth transfer to a human agent when the bot can’t resolve the issue.
Now this is only useful if you have people ready to pick up when the AI chatbot stops being useful to the potential client. In larger companies it’s a great feature to be able to move straight from chatbot to human.
-Fantastic for customer satisfaction and handling complex inquiries.
5. CRM and Email Integration
– Connects with tools like HubSpot, Mailchimp, or Google Sheets.
– Helps capture leads and build automated follow-up sequences.
6. Analytics and Reporting
– Gives insight into bot performance, conversion rates, and customer behavior.
– Look for dashboards that show how often the bot is used and where it fails.
7. Affordable Pricing Plans
- If the AI Chatbot that you’re being offered is too expensive, don’t give up!
- There is a pricing model out there that is right for YOUR business.
- With so many Ai Chatbot companies out there, you can definitely find one that will fit your budget.
- We have several budget AI chatbots in the Chatbot blog part of this site. Check it out here.
8. AI + Rule-Based Hybrid
– Combines smart natural language processing (NLP) with rule-based logic.
– Allows your chatbot to handle both open-ended and structured interactions.
9. Multi-Language Support (if relevant)
– Essential if you serve a multilingual audience.
– Some bots auto-detect and respond in the user’s language.
10. Security & Compliance
– Look for GDPR-compliant options with data encryption and user privacy features.
– Especially important for businesses in healthcare, finance, or legal sectors.
| Chatbot Platform | No-Code Builder | Multi-Channel Support | Live Chat Handoff | CRM/Email Integration | AI + Rule-Based | Analytics/Reports | Pricing (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flow XO | Yes | Website, Slack, Messenger | Yes | Zapier, Google Sheets | Yes | Yes | $19–$49/mo |
| ElephantAI | Yes | Website | Yes | Zapier, Webhooks | AI-only | Advanced (higher tiers) | From $29/mo |
| Collect.Chat | Yes | Website | No | Mailchimp, Google Sheets, Zapier | Rule-Based | Yes | Free–$24/mo |
| ChatSimple | Yes | Website, FB, IG, WhatsApp | Yes | Salesforce, Zapier, Slack | Yes | Yes | Free–$479/mo |
| LiveChat | Yes | Website, FB Messenger, WhatsApp | Yes | Salesforce, HubSpot, Mailchimp | Yes | Yes | From $20/mo |
| Tidio | Yes | Website, Messenger, Instagram | Yes | Mailchimp, HubSpot, Zapier | Yes | Yes | Free–$49/mo |
| Landbot | Yes | Website, WhatsApp | Yes | Zapier, Mailchimp, Slack | Yes | Yes | $39–$99/mo |
| BotPenguin | Yes | Website, WhatsApp, Telegram | Yes | Zapier, HubSpot, Zoho | Yes | Yes | Free–$29/mo |
| FastBots | Yes | Website only | Yes | Zapier, Webhooks | AI-only | Basic | $9–$59/mo |