Two ways to get a chatbot.
Subscribe to a platform
You sign up, upload your content and add a widget to your site. You pay a monthly fee, usually tied to how many AI replies or conversations you use. Boei's 2026 review puts the typical small-business cost at $50 to $150 a month all-in. It is fast and cheap to start, but you are limited to what the platform supports.
Build a custom chatbot
A developer builds a bot around your business: your data, your systems, your channels and your rules. You pay a one-time build cost, then maintenance and AI model and hosting costs every month. RaftLabs' 2026 breakdown puts simple rule-based builds at $4,500–$12,000 and enterprise AI agents at $72,000–$210,000; Debut Infotech puts AI bots built on a language model from about $40,000.
How the calculator works.
- Subscription total = plan price × months.
- Custom build total = build cost + (yearly maintenance ÷ 12 + model and hosting) × months.
- Break-even = build cost ÷ the monthly amount you save by not paying the subscription.
The build presets set a typical starting build cost and a rough monthly running cost for each type. The running cost is an estimate that depends heavily on your conversation volume, so replace it with a developer's figure.
When a custom build makes sense.
- High conversation volume, where per-reply or per-resolution charges add up.
- The bot needs to take actions in your systems: book, refund, update orders or records.
- You need it on channels a platform does not cover well, such as WhatsApp or voice.
- Strict data, privacy or branding requirements.
If you are unsure, start with a subscription to learn what customers ask, then build. To see the saving against your support team, use the AI chatbot vs support agent calculator.