20 Best AI Chatbots for Customer Service Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 20 best software from the 40 tools reviewed.
The best AI chatbots for customer service automate support at scale—answering FAQs, reducing ticket volume, and freeing agents for complex issues. You want a chatbot to help you provide quick and consistent responses to simple customer queries, but you need to figure out which option delivers better outcomes for your customers and agents.
In this article, I leverage my CX experience to review and shortlist the best AI chatbots to help customer service teams work more effectively and offer customer support around the clock.
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The Best AI Chatbots For Customer Service: Pricing Comparison Chart
This comparison chart summarizes my top AI chatbots for customer service selections, including why they stand out, pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for quick AI deployment | Free plan available | $199/month (paid annually) | Website | |
| 2 | Best for 24/7 AI customer support | Free trial available | From $9/member/month | Website | |
| 3 | Best for automating routine inquiries | Free plan available | From $16/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 4 | Best for multilingual customer support | Not available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 5 | Best for AI-driven knowledge access | 30-day free trial | From $18/user/month | Website | |
| 6 | Best for AI-driven customer interactions | 15-day free trial | From $7/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 7 | Best for automating customer inquiries | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 8 | Best for automating customer inquiries | 7-day free trial + free plan available | From $25/user/month | Website | |
| 9 | Best for visitor tracking insights | 15-day free trial available | From $7/operator/month | Website | |
| 10 | Best for personalized knowledge sharing | 14-day free trial | From $99/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 11 | Best for real-time customer issue resolution | Free Demo | Customized price upon request | Website | |
| 12 | Best for brand-safe interactions | Free Demo | Website | ||
| 13 | Best for advanced AI customer queries | 14-day free trial | From $29/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 14 | Best for real-time customer engagement | Free demo available | From $2,500/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 15 | Best for AI-powered response generation | Free demo available | $29/month | Website | |
| 16 | Best for multilingual support | 30-day Free Trial | Starts at $40/month | Website | |
| 17 | Best for handling customer inquiries | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 18 | Best for understanding conversation context | 30 Days Free Trial | From $140/month | Website | |
| 19 | Best for real-time customer interactions | Free Demo | Pricing Upon Request | Website | |
| 20 | Best for real-time AI chat assistance | Free plan available | From $120/month | Website |
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Hiver
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7 -
CRM Creatio
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7 -
monday service
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6
Best AI Chatbots for Customer Service Reviews
Here are my in-depth reviews of the 20 best AI chatbots for customer service that made it into my shortlist.
Alhena AI is a platform that offers AI-powered customer service solutions aimed at enhancing customer experience. With tools like the AI Support Concierge and AI Shopping Assistant, Alhena AI caters to various industries, offering businesses the opportunity to transform customer interactions into sales opportunities.
Why I Picked Alhena AI: I chose Alhena AI because of its focus on understanding customer intent using natural language processing. This feature goes beyond simple keyword recognition, allowing your business to provide accurate responses that are grounded in verified content. The result is a high deflection rate, which means your team can handle more inquiries without compromising on the quality of service. Additionally, Alhena AI's solutions offer performance analytics, helping you keep track of customer satisfaction and identify areas for improvement.
Another reason for picking Alhena AI is its rapid implementation capability. You can have their AI workflows up and running in under 48 hours, which means you won't have to worry about long setup times or complex installations. This quick deployment ensures that you can start benefiting from enhanced customer service interactions almost immediately. Plus, with Alhena AI's emphasis on performance evaluation through field studies, you get insights into how well these AI systems perform in real-world conditions.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include AI Agent Assist, which provides real-time support and response suggestions to human agents, helping them tackle complex issues more effectively. The platform also offers review management tools to handle customer feedback efficiently, ensuring that your brand maintains a positive image. Another feature is voice AI, which gives your customers the flexibility to interact using voice commands, providing a more personalized and accessible customer service experience.
Integrations include Intercom, Zendesk, Freshdesk, Gladly, Gorgias, Hubspot, Salesforce Service Cloud, Zoho SalesIQ, Shopify, WooCommerce, Slack, and Email.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- The AI effectively memorizes store details to provide accurate responses
- Provides 24/7 support through an AI chatbot
- Integrates well with Shopify, making it convenient for e-commerce businesses
Cons:
- Occasional responsiveness and accuracy issues reported
- Some users report limitations in the AI's capabilities
SAAS First is a platform designed to boost customer engagement and operational efficiency through a range of innovative features. With an emphasis on AI-driven solutions, it offers tools that help businesses manage customer interactions effectively.
Why I Picked SAAS First: I picked SAAS First because of its AI chatbot, Milly, which provides 24/7 support and automates responses to customer inquiries. This feature ensures your customers get quick and accurate assistance whenever they need it. Moreover, the platform's real-time analytics offer actionable insights into customer behavior, helping you make informed decisions to enhance service quality.
Another reason is the automated email response feature that streamlines communication, allowing your team to focus on more complex customer issues. Coupled with intelligent queries, this feature transforms data into valuable insights, giving your team the ability to address customer needs proactively. These functionalities make SAAS First a reliable choice for businesses looking to improve their customer service operations.
Standout Features & Integrations
Features include marketing campaigns that allow you to display ads across multiple channels, providing a broad reach to potential customers. The boards feature lets you organize and manage tasks using a Kanban table, which can simplify workflows and boost productivity. The AI workforce, with its intelligent queries for data analysis, enables you to transform raw data into actionable insights, ensuring your business stays ahead of customer expectations.
Integrations include WhatsApp for business messaging, Telegram, Facebook Pages, Twilio, a JavaScript chat widget for websites and in-app support, and a REST API for custom connections.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Sentiment analysis adjusts responses based on customer mood
- Omnichannel inbox supports communication across various platforms
- Chatbot learns from your knowledge base, providing accurate and contextually relevant responses
Cons:
- May require regular updates to maintain efficiency
- May not fully replace the nuance of human interaction in complex scenarios
Quidget is a versatile AI chatbot designed to automate customer service processes, enhancing the way your team interacts with customers. It integrates smoothly into various platforms, allowing your team to focus more on complex customer issues.
Why I Picked Quidget: I chose Quidget because it automates up to 80% of routine customer inquiries. This feature allows your team to dedicate more time to addressing complex customer needs, improving overall service quality. Additionally, Quidget’s ability to reduce response times means your customers will receive quicker answers, enhancing their satisfaction and trust in your service.
Another reason for picking Quidget is its commitment to security and compliance. It adheres to GDPR, ISO, and PCI standards, ensuring you can trust it with your customer data. This level of security is crucial in maintaining customer trust and ensuring that your business meets necessary legal standards.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include the human handoff capability, which ensures inquiries are escalated to human agents when needed, maintaining a personal touch in customer interactions. Quidget also supports communication in over 45 languages, automatically detecting and responding in the user’s language, making it ideal for global businesses. Lastly, its no-code setup allows for quick installation on platforms like WordPress and Shopify, making it accessible for businesses without technical expertise.
Integrations include Zendesk, Freshdesk, Slack, WhatsApp, Calendly, WordPress, Shopify, Telegram, Viber, Wix, ISO, and PCI.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- No-code setup gets your AI agent running quickly
- Learns from your knowledge base and website content
- Seamless hand-off to human agents for complex inquiries
Cons:
- High-volume use may require regular tuning or oversight
- Focused more on FAQ automation than full conversational flows
Horatio is an AI-powered customer service platform designed to support businesses across various industries.. It combines AI-driven automation, multilingual capabilities, and real-time insights to enhance customer interactions while improving operational efficiency. With features like back office support, compliance management, and technical assistance, Horatio helps businesses deliver consistent, secure, and effective customer service.
I picked Horatio because it offers 24/7 customer service, ensuring customers can always get the help they need. Its built-in compliance management tools make it especially valuable for businesses handling sensitive customer data, helping maintain trust and reduce fraud risks. Additionally, Horatio provides dedicated back office and technical support, allowing your team to offload repetitive tasks and focus on more strategic initiatives.
Horatio’s standout features include its AI-powered automation, which handles routine tasks and responses, trust and safety management to maintain secure customer interactions, and quality assurance controls that ensure consistent service standards. These tools work together to improve response times, minimize errors, and deliver a better overall customer experience.
Integrations include Zendesk AI, Siena, Forethought, and Kodif.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Provides multilingual support for global customer bases
- Offers strong compliance and fraud prevention tools
- Automates repetitive tasks through AI-driven workflows
Cons:
- No free trial option for new users
- Some features, like advanced analytics, require custom setup
Guru is an AI-powered knowledge management platform that helps customer service teams deliver quick, consistent, and verified answers. It fits seamlessly into existing workflows so your agents can access accurate information in real time, right where they work.
Why I Picked Guru: I picked Guru as one of the best AI chatbots for customer service because it uses AI to turn your internal knowledge base into instant, contextual answers. Its Knowledge Agent Chat feature lets your team ask natural-language questions and receive verified responses, which improves accuracy and reduces response times.
I also liked that Guru prioritizes security with SOC 2 and GDPR compliance, giving you confidence that customer data is handled safely.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include AI-powered search and content verification that ensures all shared information is accurate, automated knowledge maintenance that keeps data fresh, and personalized response generation through the Guru GPT integration. These capabilities make it easier to maintain reliable, up-to-date answers across support channels.
Integrations include Slack, Salesforce, Microsoft Edge, Asana, Trello, Dropbox, Google Drive, Zendesk, Jira, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong security via role controls
- Integrates seamlessly with major tools
- AI-driven search ensures quick retrieval
Cons:
- Navigation bar lacks clear usability
- Initial setup requires significant time
Zoho Desk is a customer service help desk software that focuses on enhancing user experience through its diverse features. It offers AI chatbot capabilities, making it a valuable tool for businesses looking to improve their customer service interactions.
Why I Picked Zoho Desk: I picked Zoho Desk as a good AI chatbot for customer service because of its Zia AI feature. Zia AI interacts with customers to provide quick resolutions and support, which is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction. This AI-driven approach helps your team handle queries more effectively, ensuring that your customers always receive timely assistance.
Another reason for selecting Zoho Desk is its omnichannel support. This feature allows your team to manage customer interactions across multiple platforms from a single interface. With this, you can ensure consistent communication with your customers, no matter where they reach out from. This capability is essential for businesses aiming to provide a cohesive customer service experience.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include self-service options that empower customers to find answers on their own, reducing the load on your support team. Automation tools help manage repetitive tasks, allowing your team to focus on more complex issues. Reporting tools provide insights into customer interactions and team performance, enabling you to make informed decisions to enhance your service quality.
Integrations include Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Sheets, Mailchimp, Zapier, Jira, Trello, HubSpot, G Suite, Zoho CRM, Gmail, and Intercom.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable reporting and analytics tools
- Strong automation features for repetitive tasks
- Comprehensive ticket management system
Cons:
- Limited customization options for certain features
- Mobile app functionality may not be as robust as the desktop version
CoSupport AI is a versatile AI-driven platform designed to enhance customer service through its customizable chatbots. With a focus on delivering accurate and responsive support, it aims to improve the efficiency of handling customer inquiries.
Why I Picked CoSupport AI: I picked CoSupport AI because of its ability to automate repetitive inquiries, freeing up your team to focus on more complex issues. The tool's AI agent boasts an impressive response accuracy, which means you can trust it to handle most customer queries without human intervention. This feature alone can significantly boost your team's productivity and ensure that customers receive timely responses.
Moreover, CoSupport AI offers an AI assistant that provides reply suggestions to support teams. This means your team can receive guidance on how to best respond to customer queries, leading to more consistent and helpful interactions. The business intelligence tools offered by CoSupport AI also allow you to derive valuable insights from customer interactions, helping you make informed decisions to improve your service.
Standout Features & Integrations
Features include customizable AI models that let you tailor the chatbot's tone and behavior to match your brand's voice. The platform also offers enterprise-grade security, ensuring that your customer data is protected with ISO 27001 certification and GDPR compliance. Additionally, CoSupport AI provides unlimited AI responses and user access, so you won't have to worry about hitting any limits as your customer base grows.
Integrations include Zendesk, Freshdesk, Freshchat, Intercom, Salesforce, Zoho Desk, Zoho SalesIQ, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Shopify, and Stripe.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Provides contextual insights via built-in business intelligence
- Automates large volumes of routine customer queries
- Rapid implementation respected by teams deploying it
Cons:
- Advanced analytics and customization options still maturing
- Fine-tuning responses may demand ongoing oversight
Tidio is an AI-powered customer service chatbot that aims to elevate the way businesses interact with their customers. It provides automated and personalized support, ensuring that customer inquiries are handled efficiently.
Why I Picked Tidio: I picked Tidio because of its ability to automate responses for frequently asked questions, which frees up your team to focus on more complex tasks. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses that receive a high volume of repetitive inquiries. Additionally, Tidio's AI chatbot can manage multiple inquiries at once, enhancing the overall efficiency of your customer service operations.
Another reason Tidio stands out is its focus on personalized interactions. The chatbot can tailor responses based on customer data, making each interaction feel unique. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also builds trust and loyalty with your brand. By employing AI-driven personalization, Tidio helps your team deliver a more engaging customer experience.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include sentiment analysis, which allows the chatbot to gauge customer emotions and respond appropriately, enhancing the quality of interactions. Tidio also offers a live chat handover feature, enabling smooth transitions from automated responses to human agents when necessary. Moreover, the platform provides detailed analytics and performance tracking, giving you insights into customer interactions and helping you continuously improve your service.
Integrations include Shopify, WordPress, WIX, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, PrestaShop, Zendesk, Salesforce, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Pipedrive, and Google Analytics.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Helpful resources for setup and optimization
- Effective AI chatbot tailored to user needs
- User-friendly and customizable live chat interface
Cons:
- Reports of auto-renewal leading to unwanted charges
- Issues with account blocking and unclear reasons for suspensions
Zoho SalesIQ is a customer engagement platform designed to enhance interactions between businesses and their customers. It offers a range of tools, including live chat and a chatbot builder, to help businesses provide efficient customer service.
Why I Picked Zoho SalesIQ: I picked Zoho SalesIQ because it excels in visitor tracking and lead scoring, which are crucial for understanding customer behavior and prioritizing engagement. This feature allows your team to identify potential leads and focus on those most likely to convert, enhancing your customer service strategy. Additionally, Zoho SalesIQ supports various messaging channels like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, ensuring you can connect with customers on their preferred platforms.
The customizable chatbot builder is another reason Zoho SalesIQ stands out. It allows you to tailor interactions to meet specific customer needs, providing personalized service without overwhelming your team. This flexibility means you can adjust the chatbot to handle different scenarios, ensuring consistent and reliable customer support.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include a robust live chat system that allows for real-time communication with customers, ensuring immediate assistance and support. The platform also offers detailed visitor insights, giving you a deeper understanding of your audience's needs and preferences. Additionally, Zoho SalesIQ's lead scoring feature helps prioritize potential customers, enabling your team to focus efforts where they'll have the most impact.
Integrations include WordPress, GoDaddy, Zoho CRM, Zoho Desk, Zoho Analytics, OpenAI, Zendesk, Mailchimp, Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Analytics, and Shopify.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Secure and accessible client data integration with Zoho CRM
- Offers visitor tracking, codeless chatbot creation, and real-time communication
- User-friendly interface with features like proactive chat triggers
Cons:
- Lacks complexity and advanced tools
- Occasional issues with the mobile app, particularly on Android
Stonly is a knowledge management platform designed to enhance customer service by leveraging AI chatbots and process automation. It empowers businesses to create interactive guides and articles that enable customers to self-serve and assist agents in navigating complex processes accurately.
Why I Picked Stonly: One of the reasons I picked Stonly as a top AI chatbot for customer service is its ability to provide personalized knowledge. This means that the information shared with customers and agents is tailored to their specific needs, ensuring that everyone gets the most relevant and helpful guidance. This feature can significantly improve the customer experience by making interactions more meaningful and effective.
Additionally, Stonly's AI integration stands out by offering reliable assistance based on the right knowledge. With a high accuracy rate in responses, customers can trust that their inquiries will be addressed correctly, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings or repeated questions. This not only boosts customer satisfaction but also enhances the overall efficiency of the support process.
Standout Features & Integrations
Features include tools for managing knowledge at scale, such as versioning and access rights, which ensure that the most up-to-date and relevant information is available to both customers and agents. User analytics provide insights into how the knowledge base is being utilized, helping you optimize content for better results. Multimedia editing capabilities allow for the creation of engaging, interactive guides that make complex information easy to understand.
Integrations include Zendesk, Freshdesk, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Slack, Intercom, HubSpot, Help Scout, Jira, Asana, Google Analytics, and Microsoft Teams.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Intuitive interface for easy navigation
- Great for creating interactive guides and tutorials
- Effective personalization of content, improving user experience
Cons:
- Limited customization options reported by some users
- Challenges with dynamic code handling
Conversica offers AI chatbot solutions designed to enhance customer service by facilitating meaningful conversations. Their AI Agents engage customers through various channels, turning marketing campaigns into personalized interactions that drive demand and foster relationships.
Why I Picked Conversica: I picked Conversica because it enables instant, meaningful conversations, which are crucial for maintaining customer trust and loyalty. Their AI Agents address inbound inquiries, resolving issues like billing changes and plan updates in real-time. This helps businesses keep their customers engaged and satisfied by providing quick resolutions to common problems.
Another reason for choosing Conversica is its ability to initiate personalized conversations to trigger renewals, offer upgrades, and reengage inactive accounts. These functionalities drive customer retention and growth by ensuring that your customers feel valued and understood. The platform's design allows for scalability and integration with existing tech stacks, making it a versatile tool for any business.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include real-time issue resolution, which ensures your customers' concerns are addressed promptly, thereby enhancing satisfaction. Subscription management is another key feature, allowing customers to handle changes seamlessly without losing valuable time. Additionally, personalized conversations are initiated by AI Agents to drive renewals and reengage inactive accounts, keeping your business thriving and your customers loyal.
Integrations include Salesforce, Slack, Marketo, NetSuite, ServiceNow, Workday, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Mailchimp, HigherGear, VinSolutions, and Eloqua.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- The service automates outreach, allowing sales teams to focus on higher-priority tasks
- AI helps organize conversations and adds productivity hours for teams
- Engagement of unresponsive leads
Cons:
- Instances of sending multiple messages to the same customer have been reported
- Achieving a natural conversational flow requires significant testing
Netomi is a conversational AI platform designed for enterprise-level customer service. It focuses on delivering brand-safe, automated interactions to enhance customer satisfaction and support efficiency.
Why I Picked Netomi: I picked Netomi because it uses generative AI to facilitate safe and effective customer interactions. This technology ensures that your customers receive accurate and context-aware responses, which can improve their overall experience. Additionally, Netomi supports both fully automated and human-assisted interactions, giving you the flexibility to tailor your customer service approach to various scenarios.
Another reason Netomi stands out is its no-code interface, which simplifies the management and optimization of your AI-driven customer service. This feature means that even if your team lacks technical expertise, you can still leverage advanced AI capabilities to boost your support team's capacity and resolution rates. The platform's focus on secure and brand-safe customer interactions is another critical factor that makes it a great choice for enterprises.
Standout Features & Integrations
Features include a comprehensive architecture with built-in guardrails and governance, which ensures that all customer interactions are safe and compliant. Netomi also provides a no-code interface, allowing you to manage and optimize the AI platform without needing technical skills. Additionally, the platform supports both automated and human-assisted interactions, enabling you to provide personalized customer service experiences.
Integrations include Zendesk, Salesforce, Freshdesk, Zoho, Khoros, ServiceNow, Kustomer, Oracle Service, Shopify, HubSpot, Slack, and Teams.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Supports both automated and human-assisted interactions
- No-code management interface
- Versatile AI capabilities for customer interaction
Cons:
- Some integrations might require extra effort
- Potential latency issues with large workflows
Intercom is a dynamic AI customer service platform designed to transform how you engage with your customers. It offers a suite of tools that automate responses and enhance customer interactions across various channels.
Why I Picked Intercom: I picked Intercom because of its advanced AI capabilities that can resolve complex customer queries without human intervention. The Fin AI Agent stands out by providing quick and accurate responses, which helps your team manage high volumes of inquiries with ease. This functionality ensures that your customers receive timely assistance, enhancing their overall experience.
Another reason I chose Intercom is its ability to provide a consolidated view of customer interactions. This feature allows your team to access all necessary information in one place, improving decision-making and response accuracy. By offering a smooth customer journey, Intercom enables your business to maintain strong relationships with your audience.
Standout Features & Integrations
Features include an AI-powered helpdesk that can summarize conversations and recommend relevant articles, enabling your team to work more efficiently. Intercom also offers multilingual support, allowing you to cater to a diverse customer base. Additionally, it provides detailed analytics, giving you insights into customer behavior and helping you improve your service strategies.
Integrations include Slack, Salesforce, HubSpot, Shopify, Zendesk, Mailchimp, Stripe, Google Analytics, Facebook Messenger, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Aircall.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Versatile messaging options, including email and in-app messages
- Comprehensive analytics for tracking customer interactions
- Customizable chatbots that enhance user experience
Cons:
- Integration challenges with specific third-party tools
- Occasional performance issues during peak times
Drift is a conversational AI platform designed to transform how businesses interact with their customers through real-time chat. It's built to enhance customer engagement by providing instant responses and personalized experiences.
Why I Picked Drift: I picked Drift as a top choice for an AI chatbot for customer service because of its ability to provide real-time responses to customer inquiries. This immediate interaction helps keep your customers engaged and satisfied. Additionally, Drift's AI is designed to identify high-intent visitors, which means you can focus on the prospects that matter most to your business.
Another reason Drift stands out is its lead qualification capabilities. With features like Fastlane, it ensures that your team can quickly identify and prioritize leads, speeding up the sales cycle. This is particularly beneficial for businesses looking to maximize their conversion rates and improve customer service efficiency.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include live chat, which allows you to engage with customers directly on your website. ROI reporting helps you understand the impact of your customer interactions on the bottom line. Lead qualification through Drift's Fastlane feature ensures you spend time on contacts most likely to convert, enhancing your team's productivity.
Integrations include Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zendesk, Jira, OpenAI's ChatGPT, ActiveCampaign, Pipedrive, Mailchimp, Marketo, and Stripe.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- The chatbot builder is user-friendly
- The platform offers over 60 native integrations
- AI-driven chat agent that engages customers with personalized conversations
Cons:
- Some users report limitations in the chatbot builder's elements
- Issues with chat routing, leading to misdirected chats
Jitbit Helpdesk is a versatile help desk software and ticketing system designed to cater to customer support teams. It offers both SaaS and on-premises versions, making it adaptable to various business needs.
Why I Picked Jitbit Helpdesk: I picked Jitbit Helpdesk because of its AI-powered response generation feature. This tool allows your team to generate quick responses, thus enhancing the speed and quality of customer interactions. Additionally, its automation capabilities for repetitive tasks can save your team time, allowing them to focus on more critical customer issues.
Another reason is the mobile apps available on iOS and Android, which ensure your support team can manage tickets on the go. This flexibility means you can maintain a high level of customer service no matter where you are. The shared team mailbox feature further enhances collaboration, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include a comprehensive knowledge base that helps your team provide consistent and accurate information to customers. The software also offers advanced reporting tools, giving you insights into your team's performance and areas for improvement. Additionally, the "Ideas" forum allows customers to provide feedback on new features, fostering a collaborative environment for innovation.
Integrations include Slack, Jira, GitHub, Dropbox, Google Drive, Asana, Harvest, Zapier, and many more to suit your customer service needs.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Automation rules reduce repetitive support ticket handling
- Email-based workflow keeps setup and training simple
- AI auto-suggests replies, speeding up agent response times
Cons:
- Chatbot customization options are limited and basic
- Lacks advanced conversational or NLP-driven responses
Kommunicate is a versatile AI chatbot platform designed specifically for customer service. It offers a suite of tools that help businesses automate and enhance their customer interactions across various channels.
Why I Picked Communicate: I picked Kommunicate because it offers AI chatbots that can handle 80% of customer queries instantly, allowing your team to focus on more complex issues. The platform features multilingual support, which is a huge plus if your business caters to a diverse customer base. Additionally, the shared inbox feature helps manage chats, emails, and messages from different channels, making it easier for your team to collaborate and improve resolution times.
Another reason Kommunicate stands out is its AI insights for performance analysis. This feature allows you to monitor your team's performance and make data-driven improvements to your customer service. Plus, the chatbot builder, Kompose, lets you create customized bots without needing to write code, making it accessible for teams without technical expertise. These features collectively make Kommunicate a strong contender for businesses looking to enhance their customer service capabilities.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include dynamic language translation, which helps you communicate with customers in their preferred language. Real-time AI suggestions assist your team during live interactions, offering solutions and responses based on the conversation's context. Additionally, email and chat summarization streamline communication by providing concise summaries of interactions, helping your team keep track of customer issues and resolutions.
Integrations include WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, Line, Slack, OpenAI, Google Gemini, Anthropic, Dialogflow, Amazon Lex, and IBM Watson.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time AI suggestions to improve interactions
- Offers multilingual support for over 40 languages
- User-friendly, no-code platform
Cons:
- Complexity in customization
- Occasional integration issues
Forethought is an AI-powered platform designed to enhance customer service through intelligent automation. It operates by leveraging a multi-agent system to address customer inquiries, classify tickets, and support human agents across various communication channels.
Why I Picked Forethought: Forethought stands out for its AI agents, which work together to manage customer inquiries and assist human agents. This setup not only improves the speed and accuracy of responses but also helps your team prioritize and resolve issues more effectively. The platform's ability to resolve up to 90% of inquiries ensures that your customers receive timely and accurate support, enhancing their overall experience.
The platform also offers omnichannel support, integrating with email, chat, voice, and Slack. This flexibility allows your team to engage with customers on their preferred channels, maintaining a consistent and high-quality service experience. Moreover, its focus on security and compliance means you can trust that your customers' data is handled with care, which is crucial for maintaining customer trust.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include industry versatility, allowing the platform to be applied across sectors like SaaS, eCommerce, and healthcare. This adaptability ensures that your business, regardless of its field, can benefit from Forethought's AI capabilities. Additionally, the platform's role-specific solutions cater to support agents, operations, and specific industries, providing tailored tools to enhance customer experiences. Furthermore, its emphasis on data safety ensures that your integration with existing systems is seamless and secure, protecting both your company and your customers.
Integrations include Drift, Freshworks, Front, Gladly, Gorgias, HaloCRM, HubSpot, Intercom, Jira, Kustomer, NICE, Salesforce, and ServiceNow.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- AI copilot feature empowers human agents by providing real-time insights
- Facilitates smarter ticket classification, improving routing and resolution times
- Provides AI-surfaced insights that help address knowledge gaps
Cons:
- Lack of human assistance when needed
- Complaints about users being trapped in loops with the AI,
IBM Watson Assistant is an AI-powered virtual agent designed to enhance customer service through intelligent and interactive chatbots. It leverages advanced language models to understand and respond to customer inquiries, providing a more personalized and engaging experience.
Why I Picked IBM Watson Assistant: I picked IBM Watson Assistant because it offers a unique ability to understand context in conversations, which is crucial for maintaining meaningful interactions with your customers. This feature allows the assistant to handle complex queries and provide accurate responses, ensuring your customers feel heard and valued. Additionally, the assistant's 24/7 availability means your customers can get support whenever they need it, enhancing customer satisfaction and trust.
Another compelling reason to choose IBM Watson Assistant is its industry-specific applications. Whether you're in retail, healthcare, or telecommunications, this AI chatbot can be tailored to meet your specific needs, providing customized solutions that resonate with your audience. By offering personalized interactions, IBM Watson Assistant helps improve customer engagement and loyalty, making it an invaluable asset to your customer service strategy.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include the ability to manage multiple languages, which allows you to support a diverse customer base without language barriers. The assistant also offers sentiment analysis, enabling it to detect customer emotions and adjust its responses accordingly. This feature is particularly useful for handling sensitive situations with empathy. Additionally, the assistant's capability to learn from interactions means it continually improves its responses, leading to more accurate and helpful customer service over time.
Integrations include Web Chat, Phone, Slack, Facebook Messenger, SMS via Twilio, WhatsApp via Twilio, Custom Extensions, IBM App Connect, IBM Cloud Functions, IBM Watson Discovery, Salesforce, and Zendesk.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Advanced features for managing interruptions and automating repetitive tasks
- Strong AI and NLP features enhance customer experience across multiple platforms
- Quick creation of virtual assistants
Cons:
- Time-consuming process for creating advanced actions
- Issues with displaying multimedia content, particularly technical diagrams
Ushur is a Customer Experience Automation™ company that offers an AI chatbot specifically tailored for customer service needs. It provides omnichannel solutions, allowing businesses to engage with customers through web, email, and SMS messaging, enhancing the overall customer experience.
Why I Picked Ushur: I picked Ushur because it offers real-time AI agents for text, chat, and voice communication, which ensures that your team can interact with customers in a manner that feels personal and immediate. This feature is particularly beneficial for maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction by addressing inquiries and concerns promptly. Additionally, Ushur's AI capabilities include document extraction, which can automate and simplify the process of handling complex customer requests like KYC compliance, reducing the manual workload on your team and allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks.
Another reason I chose Ushur is its focus on security and compliance, crucial for industries handling sensitive information such as healthcare and finance. The platform is designed to meet various industry standards, ensuring that customer data is protected. This level of security gives you peace of mind, knowing that your customer's information is in safe hands while allowing you to focus on delivering excellent service.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include the invisible app, which facilitates interactions without requiring customers to download any apps. The ushur hub serves as a centralized platform for customer engagement, making it easier for your team to manage interactions from various channels. Moreover, ushur studio allows for real-time process automation, enabling you to customize workflows to suit your specific customer service needs, thereby improving operational efficiency.
Integrations include Salesforce Sales Cloud, HubSpot CRM, Amazon Connect, Slack, Dropbox Business, BambooHR, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong customer support with quick response times
- Effective automation features that enhance productivity
- User-friendly interface that simplifies navigatio
Cons:
- Integration issues with certain legacy systems
- Some users experienced slow performance during peak times
Compass is an AI-powered platform designed to enhance customer service by providing intelligent, real-time assistance. It offers a suite of tools that aid in streamlining tasks and improving user interactions through its rich database of knowledge articles and document resources.
Why I Picked Compass: I chose Compass because of its AI-powered chat assist, which provides accurate and immediate support. This feature helps reduce the need for extensive training and support calls, making it easier for your team to focus on more complex issues. Additionally, the application walkthroughs simplify complex tasks with step-by-step guides, ensuring users can easily find solutions to their problems. These functionalities help increase productivity and improve the overall user experience.
Another reason Compass stands out is its extensive knowledge base, which offers a wealth of resources for both employees and customers. This feature empowers users to self-solve issues, leading to higher retention and conversion rates. The document library also facilitates onboarding and training with polished content, enhancing the learning experience for new team members. Together, these features make Compass a valuable tool for improving customer service and accelerating onboarding processes.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include support for rich media, interactivity, and collaboration for content creation. The platform provides integration options via a browser plugin or script, ensuring it fits smoothly into your existing applications. Additionally, Compass offers empowerment tools that give your team easy access to essential information, aiding in complex task management and onboarding.
Integrations include Jira Service Management, Bitbucket Cloud, Opsgenie, Statuspage, CircleCI, GitHub, GitLab, PagerDuty, Sentry, Slack, NetSuite, and Salesforce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- User-friendly interface simplifies navigation and deployment
- Tracks user behavior to improve training
- Provides step-by-step guidance to minimize user errors
Cons:
- Primarily supports English, limiting accessibility
- May require technical skills for setup
Other AI Chatbots For Customer Service
Here are some other conversational AI platforms that didn’t make it into my shortlist of the best chatbot software, but are still worth taking a closer look at:
- SwiftCX
For AI-driven customer insights
- UDESK
For reducing human agent workload
- LiveAgent
For quick customer responses
- Freshdesk
For AI-powered ticket triage
- Chatbase
For tailored customer responses
- Neople
For seamless integration with existing workflows
- SysAid
For quick responses using organizational data
- ChatBot
For customizing conversation flows
- Zendesk
For AI-powered customer interactions
- LiveHelpNow
For omnichannel customer communication
- HubSpot CRM
All-in-one sales & chatbot software
- Freshchat
For multi-channel customer engagement
- LivePerson
For answering questions during the purchase interaction
- PartnerHero
For outsourced chatbot management
- Khoros
For faster insights and collaboration
- Odus
For automating calls and messages
- HappyFox Chatbot
For teams of different sizes that need custom solutions
- LiveChat
For sales teams
- Jetlink Conversational AI Platform
For teams that want to scale
- Kindly Assist
For building complex AI chatbots based on NLP
- Ada
For dealing with customer inquiries in real-time
- Linc
End-to-end CX automation solution
Related CX Software Reviews
If you still haven't found what you're looking for here, check out these related customer experience management tools that we've tested and evaluated.
- Customer Service Software
- Help Desk Software
- Call Center Software
- Customer Messaging Platform
- Digital Experience Platform
- Sentiment Analysis Tools
What is an AI Chatbot for Customer Service?
An AI chatbot for customer service is a software application that uses artificial intelligence to interact with customers and handle inquiries in real-time. Customer service representatives, support teams, and businesses generally use these tools to improve customer interaction and efficiency.
They provide value by reducing response times and freeing up human agents for more complex tasks. AI chatbots can handle a wide range of tasks, such as answering frequently asked questions, troubleshooting issues, and guiding users through processes. Features like natural language processing, 24/7 availability, and automated responses help with handling customer inquiries quickly and accurately.
Overall, these tools offer businesses a way to streamline their support operations and improve customer satisfaction.
Selection Criteria for the Best AI Chatbot
Selecting the best AI chatbots for customer service required a meticulous approach, grounded in both comprehensive market research and personal expertise. I began by reviewing AI chatbot platforms with the highest customer reviews, gathering a broad list of potential candidates.
My years of experience then played a crucial role in refining this list, as I evaluated each platform against a set of carefully considered criteria, designed to highlight tools that genuinely add value by alleviating the workload on customer service teams and enhancing the user experience.
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
- Provide instant responses to customer queries
- Handle routine questions (order tracking, returns and exchanges, troubleshooting)
- Route customers to the correct department or agent
- Collect customer feedback
- Support multiple languages
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
- Integrate with CRM systems
- Offer predictive analytics
- Provide voice recognition capabilities
- Enable sentiment analysis
- Allow custom branding or personas
Usability (10% of total score)
- Intuitive interface design
- Easy navigation
- Customizable workflows
- Mobile compatibility
- Clear documentation
Onboarding (10% of total score)
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Pre-built templates
- Live webinars and Q&A sessions
- Step-by-step setup guides
Customer Support (10% of total score)
- 24/7 support availability
- Multichannel support options
- Dedicated account managers
- Response time to inquiries
- Availability of self-help resources (knowledge base, community forums)
Value For Money (10% of total score)
- Competitive pricing plans
- Transparent pricing structure
- Value-added features included
- Flexible subscription options
- Free trial availability
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
- Overall satisfaction ratings
- Feedback on ease of use
- Comments on feature set
- Reviews of customer support
- Testimonials on return on investment
Since integration capabilities are essential for ensuring the AI chatbot works seamlessly within the existing technological framework, I prioritized platforms with robust native integrations, API access for custom solutions, and compatibility with key business tools and platforms.
How to Choose AI Chatbots for Customer Service
You'll want to ensure the best fit possible when choosing an AI chatbot for customer service for your company. Here are the questions you should be asking yourself before making a purchasing decision:
⬜ What are your goals for employing an AI chatbot?
⬜ Have you ever used an AI chatbot for customer service before?
⬜ How many users will need access to the tool? And how often?
⬜ Which 3 key software features can't you live without?
⬜ Does your company have unique or niche needs?
⬜ What channels does it need to connect to? Website, app, other?
⬜ What's your budget for AI chatbot software?
It could be helpful to write down the answers to these questions before you start reading the reviews below. That way, you can measure each tool against the features, functionality, and flexibility you actually need.
Trends in AI Chatbots for Customer Service
The latest trends in AI chatbot technology are propelled by the need to solve specific challenges in customer service operations. Below, I explore the key trends shaping the future of AI chatbots.
- Emotionally Intelligent Responses: Advanced natural language processing (NLP) capabilities enable chatbots to understand and respond to the emotional tone of customer inquiries. This evolution addresses the need for more empathetic and contextually relevant customer interactions, leading to higher satisfaction rates.
- Voice-Enabled Conversational Interfaces: The integration of voice recognition allows users to interact with chatbots using natural speech, making technology more accessible and aligning with the use of voice-assisted devices.
- AI Ethics and Bias Mitigation: Ethical AI practices can counteract bias in chatbot interactions. This reflects a growing awareness of and response to the ethical implications of AI, ensuring chatbots treat all users fairly and without prejudice.
- Hyper-Automation of Customer Service Processes: Beyond just simple queries, AI chatbots are being used to automate complex customer service workflows. This includes integrating with backend systems to perform tasks such as order processing, appointment scheduling, and issue resolution without human intervention.
- Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Chatbots that can learn from each interaction and adapt their responses over time are in high demand. This feature ensures that the service provided by chatbots becomes more accurate and efficient, reflecting the need for continuous improvement in customer service quality.
Features of an AI Chatbot for Customer Service
AI chatbots are transforming the landscape of customer interaction. Although the tools in the market are evolving rapidly, here are some features that stood out to me in the best chatbots:
- No-code chatbot builder: Software that requires minimal technical knowledge and includes an easy-to-install chat widget. This feature simplifies the setup process, allowing businesses of any size to deploy chatbots without needing extensive IT resources.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): The ability of a chatbot to understand and process human language naturally. NLP enables chatbots to comprehend queries in various forms, ensuring interactions are as human-like as possible.
- Comprehensive knowledge database: A vast, accessible repository of information that the chatbot can use to answer a wide range of queries, reducing the need for human intervention.
- Omnichannel compatibility: Support for multiple communication platforms such as live chat, SMS, and social media ensures customers can receive assistance through their preferred communication channel.
- Templates for conversation workflows: Pre-built templates for various customer interaction scenarios can dramatically speed up chatbot deployment and ensure consistency in responses.
- Self-learning capabilities: The ability for chatbots to learn from interactions and improve over time. This feature helps reduce the gap between human and machine understanding, leading to more accurate and helpful responses.
- Integration capabilities: Easy integration with existing customer relationship management (CRM) systems and databases. This ensures that chatbots can access and utilize customer data for personalized interactions, significantly improving the customer experience.
- Multilingual support: This is particularly important for businesses operating in global markets.
- Sentiment analysis: The ability to gauge the customer's mood or sentiment during interactions allows chatbots to adjust their responses accordingly, providing a more empathetic and tailored customer experience.
- User-friendly dashboard and analytics: This enables continuous improvement of the chatbot service by identifying areas of success and opportunities for enhancement.
Benefits of AI Chatbots for Customer Service
By automating interactions and providing timely, intelligent responses, AI chatbots have transformed the way companies approach customer service, as well as how customers interact with businesses. Here are five primary advantages of implementing this technology:
- Instant Response: They deliver real-time responses to customer inquiries, significantly reducing the time customers spend waiting for answers and improving overall satisfaction.
- Scalability: AI chatbots can handle an increasing number of inquiries without the need for additional resources, allowing businesses to efficiently manage spikes in customer service demands.
- Cost Efficiency: By automating routine inquiries, chatbots reduce the workload on human agents and lower operational costs associated with customer support.
- Personalized Experiences: AI chatbots can tailor conversations based on customer data, offering personalized recommendations and support that enhance the customer journey.
- Reduction in Human Error: Automating responses to frequently asked questions and routine inquiries not only speeds up the service but also minimizes the chances of incorrect information being relayed to customers.
AI chatbots for customer service embody a significant leap toward creating more dynamic, efficient, and customer-centric business operations. With their ability to adapt, learn, and provide value at every touchpoint, these chatbots are not just a trend but a fundamental component of modern customer service strategies.
Costs & Pricing For AI Chatbots for Customer Service
The market for customer service AI chatbots offers a variety of plan options to cater to different business needs and budgets. Here, we break down the common plan options and their pricing to help you make an informed decision.
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic chatbot functionalities, Limited interactions per month, Community support, Basic analytics |
| Starter | $20 - $50/ month | Basic plus: Customizable chatbot designs, More interactions per month, Email support |
| Professional | $100 - $500/ month | Starter plus: Integration capabilities, Advanced analytics, Priority support |
| Enterprise | $1000+/month | Professional plus: Custom development options, AI model training, 24/7 support, Unlimited interactions |
Each plan caters to different stages of business growth, from those just exploring AI chatbot solutions to large enterprises requiring sophisticated, tailor-made functionalities. When selecting a plan, consider not only the current needs of your business but also future growth, ensuring that the chosen solution can scale as your customer service demands evolve.
FAQs: More on AI, Chatbots, and Customer Service
Here are the answers to the questions I receive most often about AI, the best AI chatbots, and customer service in general.
How do I choose the right AI chatbot for my support channels?
Start by listing your current support channels (chat, email, social, etc.) and the types of customer inquiries you handle. Look for AI chatbots that support your primary channels and integrate with your CRM or helpdesk tools. Assess each vendor’s ability to handle complexity, language support, and automation depth. Ask vendors for case studies relevant to your industry—don’t rely on generic demos.
What integrations should I look for in customer service chatbots?
You should prioritize integrations with your CRM, helpdesk, live chat platform, and knowledge base. Also check for support with calendar, ticketing, and eCommerce systems if relevant. Smooth integration ensures your chatbot can resolve cases efficiently, personalize customer interactions, and automate workflows seamlessly for your team.
What are the advantages of using AI chatbots for customer service?
Modern consumers don’t want to wait to receive answers to their questions. When they hit a blockade, customers simply move on to the next business. This is the main advantage of having AI customer service chatbots ready and able to answer basic customer queries or escalate issues 24/7.
AI-powered chatbots can also help your business with lead generation by collecting user’s contact information on the spot. The data collected by chatbots can be used as learning material for both the chatbot and the company.
How can I ensure my AI chatbot delivers personalized customer experiences?
Train your chatbot using customer data from your CRM and feedback. Create detailed intent libraries and use conversation flows that reference purchase history or past interactions. Regularly review bot transcripts for areas to fine-tune answers. Consider platforms with advanced natural language processing to recognize returning customers and personalize greetings or offers.
What security or compliance standards should chatbots meet for customer service?
Look for chatbots that offer end-to-end encryption, GDPR or CCPA compliance, and strong data access controls. Review the vendor’s security documentation and ask if they’ve completed SOC 2, ISO 27001, or similar audits. For sensitive industries, ensure the solution supports custom retention policies and audit trails.
How long does it take to implement an AI chatbot in a typical customer service environment?
Most AI chatbot implementations take 2–8 weeks depending on your support volume and integration needs. Simple FAQ bots can go live in days, while complex, multi-channel deployments may need testing and training. Involve both your CX and IT teams early to speed up onboarding and cut down on surprises.
How do AI and machine-learning-based chatbots differ from rule-based chatbots?
AI chatbots use natural language processing and machine learning to understand and respond to customer queries, even if questions are phrased in new ways. Rule-based bots follow pre-set decision trees and only recognize specific keywords or phrases. For CX leaders, AI chatbots are better at handling variety, while rule-based bots are simpler but less flexible.
How can I measure the ROI of using an AI-based chatbot for customer service?
Measure ROI by tracking support ticket deflection, reduction in response times, and agent workload before and after chatbot deployment. Also measure customer satisfaction and NPS scores. Use cost savings (fewer agents, shorter handling times) and improved retention as key financial indicators for your business case.
What are the downsides and limitations to using AI chatbots in customer service?
AI chatbots may misunderstand context, struggle with complex requests, or require ongoing maintenance. Poorly trained bots can frustrate customers. You’ll also need to manage data privacy, security, and escalation to live agents. Start small, monitor performance, and commit to iterative improvement for best results.
Use an AI-Powered Chatbot to Take Your Customer Service to the Next Level
Any business or organization that still believes in human interactions as the only approach to customer relationship management probably hasn’t seen the numbers. It’s expected that up to 85% of customer interactions are already being managed without involving human agents, be it an AI assistant or otherwise.
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