Updated October 2026 · 5 min read
How much does an AI chatbot cost?
Short answer
Off-the-shelf chatbot tools cost $50–$500 a month. A custom AI chatbot trained on your own content typically costs $5,000–$25,000 to build, and an AI agent integrated with your CRM, bookings or order systems $20,000–$80,000+. Running costs for the AI model and hosting usually add $50–$1,000+ a month, depending on volume.
Key takeaways
- Integrations drive cost more than the AI model itself.
- Answer quality depends on clean, well-organised source content.
- Hand-off to a human is essential for complex or sensitive questions.
- Track resolved conversations and leads, not just chat volume.
What types of AI chatbot are there?
| Type | Typical build cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Off-the-shelf widget | $0 – $2,000 setup | Simple FAQs and lead capture |
| Custom chatbot on your content | $5,000 – $25,000 | Support and sales questions answered from your own documents |
| Integrated AI agent | $20,000 – $80,000+ | Booking, order tracking and actions inside your systems |
What does an AI chatbot cost to run?
- AI model usage: billed per conversation volume; small sites often pay well under $100 a month.
- Hosting and vector database: typically $20–$300 a month.
- Maintenance: updating content, reviewing conversations and improving answers.
What affects the price?
- The number of systems it connects to, such as a CRM, calendar or e-commerce platform.
- Languages and channels: website, WhatsApp, Messenger or voice.
- Security and compliance requirements for personal or health data.
- How much source content needs cleaning and structuring first.
Frequently asked questions
Can an AI chatbot replace my support team?
It can answer a large share of routine questions, but people should still handle complaints, exceptions and sensitive cases.
How long does it take to build?
A custom chatbot on your content usually takes two to six weeks; integrated agents take longer.
Will it make things up?
Well-built chatbots answer only from approved content and say when they do not know. Testing and guardrails are part of the build.
Does a chatbot help generate leads?
Yes, when it captures contact details and books calls at the moment a visitor is ready.