Choosing the best chatbot development company: top 10 services

Picture this: you're scrolling through your phone at 2 AM (we've all been there), and you have a burning question about a product you're considering buying. You fire off a message to the company, expecting to wait hours for a response. Instead, within seconds, you get an AI-powered, helpful, personalized answer that feels surprisingly human.

That's the magic of modern AI chatbot development – and it's exactly why67% of consumers worldwide have used a chatbot for customer support in the past year.

But here's where things get tricky. With hundreds of chatbot development companies promising the moon and stars, how do you separate the truly innovative from the mediocres? After analyzing dozens of platforms and talking to hundreds of business owners who've gone down this road, we've narrowed it down to the ten companies that are moving the needle for businesses like yours.

In this guide, you'll discover exactly which AI chatbot development company delivers the best results for your specific needs, what red flags to watch for during your search, and the insider tricks that separate successful implementations from expensive disappointments.

AI chatbot development services explained

Before we dive into the AI chatbot development company rankings, let's get clear on what AI chatbot development services involve – because not all AI chatbots work the same.

Modern AI chatbot development services include more than the basic rule-based bots you might remember from a few years ago. Today'sintelligent AI-powered chatbots use advanced natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to understand context, maintain conversation flow, and even learn from previous conversations to enhance customer interactions.

The development process typically includes conversation chatbot design, where developers map out user journeys and create dialogue flows that feel natural. Then comes the technical implementation, AI chatbot integration with your existing systems – your CRM, payment processors, inventory management, andcustomer service platforms.

What separates premium AI chatbot development services from basic offerings is the depth of customization. Top-tier customized chatbot solutions don't just deploy a generic chatbot; they create AI-powered chatbot solutions that understand your brand voice, industry terminology, and specific customer needs. Think of it as the difference between hiring a skilled translator versus using Google Translate for your most important business conversations.

The technology stack varies significantly between providers. Some rely on third-party AI engines, while others have developed proprietary natural language processing capabilities. The best custom AI chatbot development companies offer hybrid approaches that combine multiple AI models to deliver more accurate and contextual responses, ensuring seamless chatbot integration.

Top 10 picks for an AI chatbot development company

Here are the companies that we’ve found consistently deliver exceptional results for businesses seeking AI chatbot development services.

Chatfuel

Alt: Chatfuel dashboard: one of the best AI chatbot solutions

We may be biased to say so, but we put a lot of effort into making it that way and tested to make sure it’s true – Chatfuel stands out as the top chatbot development company with the most versatile platform for businesses serious about implementing conversational AI across multiple channels. Our platform lets you easily build chatbots without code. Plus, the Fuely AI assistant is like having a dedicated sales rep working 24/7. Fuely AI is the burnout-free sales assistant and an agent for instant responses in customer chats, lead qualification, product recommendations, appointment management, and other daily tasks.

Our customers use Chatfuel to handle everything fromcustomer support automation (also on mobile apps). The visual AI-powered chatbot builder enables non-technical team members to create sophisticated conversational chatbot flows, while our API capabilities cater to developers who require custom AI chatbot development.

The multi-channel approach effectively addresses customer inquiries. You can deploy the same bot across WhatsApp Business, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, TikTok and your website – maintaining consistent brand messaging while reaching customers wherever they prefer to engage.

Features

• Visual chatbot builder: The conversational AI platform has a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface to build a custom chatbot without coding.

• Built-in CRM: For social media and messengers.

• Calendar and booking tool: 

• Shared inbox: Collaborative messaging inbox where multiple team members can manage incoming messages. 

• Agent assignments: Assign specific team members or agents to handle particular messages, tasks, or customer inquiries within a shared inbox. It helps ensure the right person attends to each message and prevents duplication of efforts.

• Mobile inbox app: Access and manage messaging inboxes on the go, reading, replying to, and organizing messages from your mobile devices, providing flexibility and convenience.

• Flow triggers: Set up triggers to initiate chatbot actions or a conversation flow when specific events occur during a live chat session. For example, customer messages (user intents) in a live chat can trigger a follow-up sequence.

• AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP): AI and NLP process each conversational user intent and provide relevant responses in multiple languages. 

• Broadcasting: Targeted broadcasting messages for announcements or event promotions.

• AI Chatbot integrations: Chatfuel conversational AI integrates with social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp) and allows users to integrate thousands of apps via API. It can also be used as a page widget for your website.

• Analytics: Track chat history and user satisfaction and measure chatbot performance.

• Customization: Chatfuel offers extensive customization options and tailored solutions for creating personalized conversational experiences and improving customer interactions. For example, you can customize the Fuely AI agent and AI-powered chatbot solutions to perform specific tasks such as scheduling appointments, providing ongoing support, and handling sales.

• Live chat: Transfer chats from a chatbot to a human. It's useful when a chatbot can't answer a user question, doesn't understand user input, or when the user prefers to chat with a human.

• Audience segmentation: Segment the audience based on user data and interactions to improve customer satisfaction and sales. Use this to re-engage users, provide product recommendations, send promo codes, and more.

Pricing

Chatfuel offers a free 7-day trial. Paid business plan prices depend on the communication channels:

• Facebook & Instagram: $23.99 for 1,000 conversations per month. Each extra conversation costs $0.02.

• WhatsApp: $39 per month for business features. 

For those who need a custom AI chatbot development solution, Chatfuel offers two options:

• Enterprise plan: starts at $300 and includes everything from business plans and priority support, a personal account manager, and a dedicated bot builder specialist to help build chatbots.

• Expert chatbot-building service based on customer requests.

User ratings & customer feedback

With a rating of 4.4 stars on G2 and 4.3 on Capterra, Chatfuel stands out as one of the top-rated platforms for building custom chatbots. Users appreciate its AI chatbot development features, user-friendly interface, outstanding customer support, and built-in advanced natural language processing (NLP) feature that powers intelligent virtual assistants.

Here are the results we helped Nissan achieve: $380K generated revenue, 10x organic sales, and 3.5x qualified leads in the first month of using a Messenger chatbot.

“I've played around with many chatbot builders, and the key things I like about Chatfuel are its stability and speed. Each message gets delivered when it should be, without delays or lags.” — D. Kagan, Founder of Business Pineapple

Business Pineapple set up the Chatfuel chatbot for Nissan to analyze popular customer questions on Facebook, qualify leads, close deals efficiently, and re-engage leads for future purchases.

Source: G2

Manychat

Source: G2

Manychat is a platform for Instagram and Facebook marketing automation. Their visual flow builder makes it easy to create engaging conversation sequences that feel like interactive content.

Where Manychat excels is in multilingual chatbot development and growth tools – overlay widgets, embeddable forms, and Facebook ad integration that turns casual social media interactions into qualified leads. Their tag-based audience segmentation lets you create targeted messaging campaigns.

The platform works well for content creators, e-commerce brands, and service businesses that rely heavily on social media engagement for customer acquisition.

See also: Best Manychat alternatives in 2024 [free & paid].

Features

• Flows: Decision trees for your bot, allowing you to create conversational paths for different user interactions.

• Growth tools: They include Overlay Widgets, Embeddable Widgets, Other Widgets, and Facebook Triggers.

• Tags: These help you organize your subscribers based on their behavior or interests, making it easier to send targeted messages.

Pricing

Besides a free plan with basic features, Manychat has two paid plans:

• Pro: starts at $15 per month and scales with the number of contacts.

• Elite: advanced features and dedicated automation expert support at a custom price.

User ratings & customer feedback

Some Manychat users mention its ease of use and AI chatbot integrations, while others point out the platform's high price. However, this tool has pretty high ratings for its custom chatbot development services: 4.5 out of 5 stars in G2 and 4.6 stars on Capptera.

Source: G2

Botsify

Source:Medium

Botsify is a scalable chatbot solution that bridges the gap between simple chatbot builders and enterprise-grade development platforms. It lets you create custom chatbot development solutions that can handle complex business logic while maintaining an intuitive interface.

This tool has good human handoff capabilities – the bot can transfer conversations to live agents when needed, complete with conversation history and context. Their multilingual support makes them solid for global businesses.

The platform's API-first approach means you can integrate virtually any third-party service, from payment processors to CRM systems to inventory management tools.

Features

• Smart AI training: Machine learning algorithms that improve instant response accuracy over time.

• Human handoff: Seamless transfer to live agents with full conversation context.

• Multilingual support: Native language support for over 100 languages.

• Custom webhooks: Advanced integration capabilities for complex workflows.

Pricing

• Do it yourself: $49/month

• Done for you: $149/month

• Custom pricing: For enterprises

User ratings & customer feedback

Botsify has a 4.2 rating on G2 and a 4.5 rating on Capterra. Many users like the user-friendly interface and story functionality, while some mention a steep learning curve.

Source: G2

Landbot

Source:G2

Landbot turns traditional web forms into interactive experiences. Instead of asking visitors to fill out lengthy contact forms, Landbot creates conversational flows that feel more like chatting with a helpful assistant.

Their webhook integration lets you connect Landbot to any system to create dynamic, data-driven conversations. I've seen companies use it to qualify leads, conduct surveys, schedule appointments, and even process orders, all within a conversational interface.

The analytics dashboard provides insights into conversation drop-off points, helping you optimize flows for better conversion rates.

Features

• Conversational landing pages: Transform static forms into engaging chat experiences.

• Conditional logic: Dynamic conversation paths based on user responses.

• Multi-format inputs: Support for text, images, files, and multiple-choice responses.

• A/B testing: Built-in testing capabilities for optimizing conversation flows.

Pricing

Landbot offers a free forever plan as well as three paid plans.

• Starter: €40/month

• WhatsApp pro: €200/month

• Business: €400/month

User ratings & customer feedback

Users enjoy the ability to track key metrics and assign chats, though the system can feel limited while using advanced control logic without JavaScript. The G2 rating is 4.7, and the Capterra rating is 4.4.

Source: G2

Drift

Source: Drift website

Drift is a revenue acceleration platform rather than just an AI chatbot development company, focusing on transactional chatbots. Their AI chatbot development focuses specifically on B2B sales processes, with features like account-based marketing integration and revenue attribution tracking.

The platform's strength is in its ability to identify high-value prospects and route them to the right sales representatives. Their Conversational AI can qualify leads based on company size, budget, and specific needs before scheduling meetings with appropriate team members.

Features

• Account-based marketing: Integration with ABM platforms for targeted outreach.

• Revenue attribution: Track chatbot conversations directly to closed deals and revenue.

• Intelligent routing: Automatic assignment of leads to appropriate sales representatives.

• Meeting scheduling: Integrated calendar booking with CRM synchronization.

Pricing

The pricing plans are not listed on the website.

User ratings & customer feedback

Drift is noted to be easy to use, but lacks chat notifications. It has a 4.4 G2 rating and a 4.5 Capterra rating.

Source: G2

Ada

Source:SMB Guide

This AI chatbot development service focuses on enterprise-gradecustomer service chatbots that can handle complex support scenarios without human intervention. Their Resolution Bot can solve problems, not just provide basic information.

What sets Ada apart is their approach to multilingual support – they don't rely on translation services but build AI chatbots using language-specific models that understand cultural context and regional business practices. This makes them particularly valuable for global enterprises with diverse customer bases.

Their analytics provide insights into conversation resolution rates, customer satisfaction scores, and areas where human agents might still be needed.

Features

• Resolution Bot: This AI chatbot service is designed to solve customer problems rather than just provide information.

• Multilingual AI: Native language models for cultural context and regional understanding.

• Escalation management: Intelligent handoff to human agents when needed.

• Brand voice customization: AI chatbots are capable of training to match specific brand personality and tone.

Pricing

Custom enterprise pricing based on conversation volume and required features.

User ratings & customer feedback

Ada has a 4.6 G2 rating and a 4.7 Capterra rating. User feedback indicates that it's easy to get in touch with the Ada team if any complications arise. They also mention, however, that users must be familiar with some technical terms to use the AI chatbot development services effectively.

Source: G2

Cliengo

Source: Cliengo website

Cliengo focuses on website conversion optimization through conversational interfaces. Their visitor tracking capabilities let you see how prospects interact with your site, then engage them with targeted chatbot messages at optimal moments.

The lead scoring feature automatically prioritizes prospects based on their behavior and customer engagement level, helping sales teams focus on the most promising opportunities. Their email marketing integration creates seamless follow-up sequences that nurture leads who aren't ready to buy immediately.

Features

• Visitor tracking: This lets you track and analyze your website visitor behavior to gain insights into their interactions and interests.

• Lead scoring: This helps you prioritize and focus on the 'warmest' leads based on their interactions and customer engagement.

• Email marketing: This feature helps you create and launch targeted email campaigns, nurture leads, and effectively engage with customers.

Pricing

Cliengo offers a free trial and several paid plans:

• Starter: $45 per month, for individuals and small businesses

• Premium: $119 per month, for medium-sized and growing companies

• Business: $259 per month, for companies with high traffic volumes

• Corporate: a custom plan for large companies looking for a customized plan and priority support.

User ratings & customer feedback

Chatbot users like Cliengo's intelligent chatbots and its customization options, which they find easy to use. However, some users mention that CRM lacks some features, particularly in managing sales status and filtering prospect lists. Still, users rate Cliengo with 4.5 on G2.

Source: G2

ChatBot

Source: G2

ChatBot is a comprehensive platform for businesses wanting to deploy chatbot app development services across multiple channels without getting locked into specific messaging platforms. You can style their custom chat widget to match any website design, while their API access provides flexibility for complex integrations.

The platform's team collaboration features enable multiple departments to manage different aspects of customer interactions, from initial lead capture to technical support.

Features

• Customizable chat widget: This lets you add a chatbot to your website and customize and match its look with your brand style and website design.

• Natural Language Processing (NLP): This feature gives chatbot replies a more natural and conversational context.

• Collecting user information: Let's you collect and validate customer information while chatting.

Pricing

ChatBot offers several paid plans (there are also annual discounts and a free trial):

• Starter: $65 per month, for small companies

• Team: $169 per month and is recommended for growing companies

• Business: $499 per month, for big companies

• Enterprise: a custom plan for scaling businesses

User ratings & customer feedback

ChatBot clients find it quite user-friendly and customizable, with the added benefit of API integration. However, dedicated developers highlight its hefty price tag, the downside of delayed responses, and a steep learning curve. The ChatBot user ratings are 4.5 stars on G2 and 4.6 on Capterra.

Source: G2

DoubleTick

Source: DoubleTick website

DoubleTick specializes exclusively in WhatsApp Business API integration, making it the go-to choice for businesses that want to maximize their WhatsApp marketing and customer service capabilities.

Their bulk messaging features support targeted campaigns while maintaining compliance with WhatsApp's business policies. The team management tools let multiple agents handle customer conversations, with conversation assignment and monitoring capabilities.

Features

• Quick responses: Set up shortcuts for frequently sent messages, streamlining customer communication through customizable text shortcuts that can be accessed with the "/" command.

• Read receipts: Real-time delivery confirmation that shows exactly when your WhatsApp Business messages have been delivered and read, giving you visibility into customer engagement and response timing.

• Message forwarding: Distribute important communications, promotional content, or customer inquiries across your team or contact network without retyping.

Pricing

DoubleTick doesn't offer a free trial. Its subscription plans with yearly billing are:

• Starter: $141.58 per month, for building simple chatbots

• Pro: $217.80 per month, for building complex chatbots

• Enterprise: for creating AI and ChatGPT chatbots and available at custom prices

User ratings & customer feedback

Users appreciate DoubleTick's support and find the platform easy to use, but wish for a full-fledged CRM to accompany the WhatsApp API solution. DoubleTick has a 4.8 G2 rating and a 4.5 Capterra rating.

Source: G2

WotNot

Source: G2

WotNot combines chatbot development with professional AI chatbot development services, offering both self-service tools and done-for-you implementation. Their GPT integration provides advanced conversational capabilities, while their appointment booking features benefit service-based businesses.

The platform's multichannel deployment ensures a consistent customer experience across websites, social media platforms, and messaging apps. Their professional automation services help businesses implement sophisticated workflows without technical expertise.

Features

• Flow chatbot design: This allows you to develop custom AI chatbots without coding knowledge.

• Multichannel deployment: This feature enables you to deploy your chatbots across platforms (websites, social media platforms, messaging apps), ensuring a seamless omnichannel experience.

• Analytics and insights: Helps you understand user interactions, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to improve your chatbot performance.

Pricing

WotNot offers a 14-day free trial and several paid plans:

• Lite: $29 per month

• Starter: $99 per month

• Premium: $299 per month

• Enterprise: custom solution with personalized pricing

User ratings & customer feedback

WotNot users find the platform easy to use for AI chatbot development and appreciate the continuous improvements and customer support. The platform is valuable for long-term chatbot solutions and AI integration. However, some users emphasize that the pricing structure should be improved so that developers can access more features in the free or lower-cost version. The rating is 4.6 on G2 and Capterra.

Source: G2

What to look for in a chatbot development company?

Choosing the right chatbot development platforms can make the difference when integrating chatbots, transforming your customer experience, and avoiding an expensive experiment that frustrates everyone involved. Here's what matters when making your decision.

1. Natural language processing (NLP) capabilities matter more than marketing promises. The best AI chatbot development services use sophisticated NLP that can understand context, handle variations in how people phrase questions, and maintain conversation flow even when customers change topics mid-conversation. Test this during demos by asking follow-up questions and seeing how well the bot maintains context.

2. Integration depth determines real-world utility. A chatbot that can't connect with your CRM, payment processor, or inventory system is essentially an expensive FAQ page. Look for companies that offer seamless integration with the tools you already use, not just API access that requires additional development work.

3. Customization options separate good from great. Your industry has specific terminology, compliance requirements, and customer expectations. The best AI chatbot development services allow you to customize conversation flows, response styles, and escalation procedures to match your brand voice and business processes.

4. Transparent pricing prevents budget surprises. Be wary of companies that can't provide clear pricing information upfront. The best providers offer straightforward pricing based on conversation volume, features, or monthly subscriptions. Hidden fees for basic integrations or support are red flags.

5. Ongoing support makes the difference. Building the chatbot is just the beginning. Look for companies that provide comprehensive onboarding, regular optimization recommendations, and responsive technical support. The most successful implementations involve ongoing refinement based on real customer interactions.

6. Performance analytics guide optimization. You need detailed insights into conversation completion rates, customer satisfaction scores, and points where conversations typically break down. Companies that provide deep analytics help continuously improve your chatbot's effectiveness.

7. The conversation chatbot design process reveals company expertise. Professional chatbot developers start with understanding your customer journey, identifying common support scenarios, and mapping out conversation flows before any technical implementation. Companies that jump straight to features and pricing typically deliver generic solutions.

8. Multi-channel consistency ensures brand coherence. If you plan to deploy your chatbot across multiple platforms, ensure the company can maintain consistent functionality and branding acrossWhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and your website. Customers expect seamless experiences regardless of how they choose to engage.

9. Security and compliance capabilities protect your business. Depending on your industry, you may need HIPAA compliance, GDPR compliance, or other regulatory requirements. Make sure your chosen provider can meet these requirements without compromising functionality.

Want to see how these factors play out in practice? We offer free consultationswhere we analyze your current customer communication challenges and recommend specific AI chatbot solutions that align with your business goals.

Best chatbot development company: comparison table

To help you make an informed decision and start with chatbot development, we collected all the above data in the comparison table:

Ready to boost your customer service with chatbots?

Users demand instant responses, personalized experiences, and seamless support across all touchpoints – 24/7. Traditional customer service models simply can't keep pace with these demands while maintaining cost efficiency and consistent quality.

If you want to ensure round-the-clock availability and deliver prompt, personalized assistance to your users, chatbots might be the perfect solution. Whether addressing common queries or guiding customers through purchasing decisions, AI-based chatbots can transform how you interact with your audience; they're your digital workforce that never sleeps, never has a bad day, and learns from every interaction.

Chatfuel is a leading chatbot development company that can help you enhance customer interactions, increase customer satisfaction, and boost sales. Our intuitive platform requires zero coding knowledge, integrates seamlessly with your existing systems, and provides advanced AI capabilities that adapt to your unique business needs.

Don't let another day pass while your competitors gain the advantage. Your customers are ready for better service, your team deserves more efficient workflows, and your business needs the competitive edge that only intelligent automation can provide. Claim your free trial today.

FAQs

Can I build a chatbot?

Yes, with the right tools and platform, you can build a chatbot even without coding experience. Anyone can develop chatbots for better customer engagement, regardless of their technical background. There are user-friendly platforms like Chatfuel that allow you to build an AI chatbot using a visual chatbot builder, completely code-free. It's as simple as drag-and-drop.

Which chatbot builder is best?

The top chatbot development company depends entirely on your specific needs and goals. Chatfuel excels for multi-channel automation and businesses wanting comprehensive AI capabilities without technical complexity. Manychat works well for social media-focused marketing. Enterprise companies with complex support needs often prefer Ada or Drift. The key is matching the platform's strengths with your primary use cases rather than choosing based on features you might never use.

How much does it cost to develop a chatbot?

AI chatbot development service costs vary dramatically based on complexity and chosen approach. Basic chatbots using platforms like Chatfuel or Manychat typically cost $15-100 per month for small to medium businesses. Custom development by agencies can range from $5,000-50,000, depending on features and integrations required. Enterprise solutions often start at $2,500+ monthly but include comprehensive support and advanced capabilities. The most cost-effective approach for most businesses is starting with a proven platform, then investing in customization as you identify specific needs.

What is the best chatbot development company for a small business?

For small businesses, Chatfuel chatbot development service consistently delivers the best combination of tailored chatbot solutions, affordability, ease of use, and comprehensive features. Our no-code platform lets small teams create sophisticated AI chatbot solutions without having to hire AI chatbot developers; pricing scales with usage rather than requiring large upfront investments. The multi-channel capabilities mean small businesses can automate customer interactions across WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and their website using a single solution. Plus, our free trial lets you test your chatbot design before committing to paid plans.