37 Best Chatbots For Customer Service Online In 2026
10 Best Chatbots For Customer Service Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 37 tools reviewed.
Countless software solutions offer a chatbot for customer service, but sifting through them can be overwhelming. You want a chatbot that not only handles customer inquiries across multiple channels but also escalates complex issues to human agents seamlessly - and need to find the right one for your team. I’ve got you covered! In this post, I draw from my professional experience as a seasoned CX specialist to curate a list of the top chatbots designed to improve the effectiveness of your customer service operations.
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Best Chatbot for Customer Service Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top chatbot for customer service selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for it focus on generating sales | 7-day free trial + free plan available | From $25/user/month | Website | |
| 2 | Best for automating repetitive frontline support | Free plan available | From $16/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 3 | Best for AI-first ticket resolution | Free demo available | From $16/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 4 | Best AI chatbot for capturing leads | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 5 | Best for its easy-to-use interface | 15-day free trial available | From $7/operator/month | Website | |
| 6 | Best for customizable AI agents | 14-day free trial | From $19/user/month | Website | |
| 7 | Best for 24/7 ecommerce support | 14-day free trial | From $39/agent/month | Website | |
| 8 | Best for AI-driven chat automation | Free plan available | From $25/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 9 | Best for handling complex customer queries | Free plan available | From $32/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 10 | Best intent-aware response engine | Free trial available | Pricing upon request | Website |
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Freshdesk
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.4 -
Hiver
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Creatio CRM
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7
Best Chatbot for Customer Service Review
Below are my detailed summaries of the best chatbot for customer service that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one for you.
Tidio is a chatbot software that helps businesses engage with customers online and automates its customer service using artificial intelligence to respond to customer queries promptly and accurately.
Tidio's chatbots can automate various customer service tasks, including answering common questions, resolving issues, and providing support. These chatbots are constantly learning and improving their understanding of human language, making them more efficient. Tidio lets you customize your chatbots to match your website's branding, from a template or by adding elements, including text, images, and buttons. The software allows users to set up rules to determine when and how their chatbot will respond to specific keywords or phrases. Chatbots can also be used to track satisfaction levels over time.
Tidio's abandoned cart feature lets your chatbot follow up with the customer over the next few days, ensuring they remember their unfinished purchase. The chatbots can also collect contact information and qualify leads by asking questions about a lead's budget, timescale, and requirements to determine whether they are a good fit for your products or services.
Finally, Tidio's chatbots can also be used to schedule appointments and demos, and it integrates with tools like Shopify, Wordpress, Squarespace, Magento, Wix, and Joomla.
Quidget is an AI-powered support agent designed to automate repetitive frontline support. It learns from your website, FAQs, and uploaded resources, providing fast, accurate responses 24/7.
One of the reasons I chose Quidget is its ability to support customers in over 45 languages. This feature ensures that you can communicate effectively with a diverse customer base without the need for additional translation services. Quidget speaks fluently in languages like Chinese, French, Spanish, and more—no training is required.
Another standout feature is Quidget's human handoff capability. While it efficiently manages routine inquiries, Quidget knows when to escalate more complex issues to your human support team. This ensures that customers receive the appropriate level of assistance for their needs, maintaining a high standard of service.
Integrations include Euphoric.ai, Zendesk, WhatsApp, and Slack.
SparrowDesk offers a fresh take on chatbots for customer service by combining AI automation with human-agent support in one platform, making it appealing for support teams at small to mid-sized businesses (and even scaling enterprises) who are looking to reduce repetitive ticket volume and respond faster across channels.
Why I Picked SparrowDesk
I picked SparrowDesk because of its AI agent, Luna, which automates a significant portion of customer interactions, providing instant responses and seamless transitions to human agents when necessary. This feature is crucial for businesses that face high volumes of repetitive queries, allowing them to maintain a high level of service without overburdening their human staff. Additionally, the AI Copilot offers real-time support to agents by providing conversation summaries and context-aware suggestions, which can greatly enhance the quality and speed of customer service.
SparrowDesk Key Features
In addition to its AI-driven automation, SparrowDesk offers several other features tailored for customer service:
- Omnichannel Inbox: Manages all customer interactions from various channels in one place, ensuring no conversation is missed.
- Interactive Analytics: Provides real-time insights into team performance and customer interactions, helping you fine-tune your service strategy.
- Service Level Agreements (SLA): Sets clear expectations and targets for response times, ensuring your team meets customer demands consistently.
- Multilingual Support: Offers assistance in multiple languages, allowing you to cater to a diverse, global customer base.
SparrowDesk Integrations
Native integrations are not currently listed by SparrowDesk.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- AI Copilot assists agents with smart draft suggestions.
- Multilingual support caters to a global audience.
- Omnichannel inbox centralizes communication across platforms.
Cons:
- Dependence on AI may not suit all customer service styles.
- Limited native integrations could hinder seamless connectivity.
Birdeye is a holistic online reputation management software designed to help local businesses keep track of customer reviews, feedback, and messages. Its chatbot functionality is robust and useful to various needs and contexts. Chatbot messages are brought together in a shared inbox with email, SMS, and social media messages for easier management in a single place.
The chatbot has AI and automation capabilities that speed up responses, capture and convert leads, and alleviate manual work from your customer service team. You can set up automated flows to respond to customer FAQs, and also respond in real-time chat for more specific inquiries.
In addition to its chatbot capabilities, the software also offers a well-rounded suite of features for overall online reputation management. This includes the ability to track customer reviews across over 150 different online review sites, and to solicit feedback from customers via automated surveys. You can also schedule appointments and manage payments through the platform, among other key tasks.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Square, Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, Zoho Invoice, Pipedrive, Thryv, Keap, HubSpot, Lightspeed, and hundreds of other SaaS tools.
The software costs from $299 per user, per month. A free demo is available.
New Product Updates from Birdeye
Birdeye Integrates With Jobber for Automated Customer Engagement
Birdeye now integrates with Jobber, enabling automated review requests and customer engagement workflows directly from Jobber. For more information, visit Birdeye's official site.
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Zoho SalesIQ is live chat software that allows you to engage with your customers in real-time. It's best suited for small to medium-sized businesses looking to improve their customer service and increase website conversions. The live chat feature is particularly useful in engaging with potential customers who are browsing your website and can help convert them into paying customers.
It's easy to set up and use, even for someone who is not particularly tech-savvy, and the user interface is simple and intuitive, which makes it easy to navigate and customize the settings. It includes visitor tracking, which provides valuable insights into visitor behavior and helps you identify potential leads. It also has an auto-triggering feature that can be set up to prompt visitors to engage in a chat conversation based on certain criteria such as time spent on the website or pages visited.
Another feature that I found particularly useful was the ability to create chatbots. While chatbots are becoming increasingly common in the customer service industry, Zoho SalesIQ's chatbot feature stands out for its ease of use and customization options. It's simple to create a chatbot that can provide basic information or route the conversation to a live agent if needed.
Zoho SalesIQ also offers integrations with other popular business tools, such as Zoho CRM, Google Analytics, and Salesforce.
Plans start at $7/operator/month, and they offer a 15-day free trial.
Zendesk is a customer service platform offering AI-powered chatbots and agents to handle routine inquiries, provide 24/7 support, and improve overall response times. Its AI tools can engage customers across multiple channels, answer questions using a connected knowledge base, and hand off more complex cases to human agents when needed.
One reason I picked Zendesk is its flexibility in tailoring AI agents to fit your support process. You can adapt responses, workflows, and integrations so the bot works seamlessly with your existing tools. Zendesk also supports asynchronous messaging through its Sunshine Conversations feature, which means customers can start a conversation and return to it later without losing context—ideal for busy users.
Features include web messenger customization options like display style, colors, and notification sounds; third-party bot integration to connect with other chatbot platforms; and omnichannel support for engaging with customers on web, mobile, and social channels.
Integrations include Geckoboard, eWebinar, Klaus, TypeGenie, Nicereply, Hootsuite, Mailchimp, PandaDoc, Trello, Jira, Harvestr, and Dialpad.
eDesk is an AI-powered customer support solution crafted for e businesses, seamlessly managing customer inquiries through a unified inbox while automating support tasks. With its 24/7 chatbot and real-time insights, eDesk is ideal for businesses aiming to enhance customer engagement and streamline support operations. It addresses the challenges of efficient communication and converting visitors into loyal customers, making it indispensable for those in the digital marketplace.
Why I Picked eDesk
I picked eDesk because of its specialized focus on ecommerce, offering a 24/7 chatbot that ensures continuous customer support without the need for constant human intervention. This feature, combined with its real-time reporting capabilities, allows you to monitor and improve your customer service efficiency. The unified inbox centralizes all customer interactions, reducing the complexity of managing multiple communication channels and ensuring that no message goes unanswered.
eDesk Key Features
In addition to its standout 24/7 chatbot, eDesk offers several other features that cater to your customer service needs:
- Intelligent Ticket Routing: Automatically routes inquiries to the right team members, ensuring faster resolution.
- Automated Replies: Provides instant responses to common questions, freeing up your team's time for more complex issues.
- Sentiment Analysis: Evaluates customer sentiment, allowing you to tailor your responses to improve customer satisfaction.
- Knowledge Base: Offers a self-service option for customers, reducing the volume of incoming queries.
eDesk Integrations
Integrations include Amazon, eBay, Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Walmart, Allegro, Google Shopping, WhatsApp, and Facebook.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Designed to handle high volumes of ecommerce inquiries
- AI automations reduce repetitive support tasks
- Integrates rich order data for enhanced customer service
Cons:
- Reporting and analytics, while present, can be less customizable than more enterprise dashboards
- Primarily built for ecommerce, less flexible for other industries
Hiver is an AI-powered customer service platform designed to meet the needs of businesses seeking to enhance customer interactions and streamline support processes. By integrating AI-driven chatbots, Hiver empowers your team to handle routine queries, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks. This solution is ideal for enterprises aiming to improve response times and customer satisfaction through efficient workflow automation and insightful analytics.
Why I Picked Hiver
I picked Hiver for its unique ability to integrate AI-driven chatbots that provide automated responses and resolutions, which is crucial for customer service efficiency. The platform's omnichannel inbox allows your team to manage communications across multiple channels, improving response times and customer satisfaction. Additionally, Hiver's workflow automation streamlines task management, enabling your team to focus on more strategic initiatives. These features make Hiver a compelling choice for businesses looking to enhance their customer service operations.
Hiver Key Features
In addition to its robust chatbot capabilities, I also found Hiver offers several other features beneficial to customer service teams:
- Omnichannel Inbox: Manage all customer communications across various platforms from a single interface, enhancing visibility and response coordination.
- Knowledge Base: Provide customers with self-service options through a comprehensive repository of help articles, reducing the volume of common inquiries.
- Workflow Automation: Automate repetitive tasks and query routing to improve efficiency and reduce manual intervention.
- Customer Feedback Collection: Gather and analyze customer feedback to gain actionable insights and improve service quality.
Hiver Integrations
Integrations include Gmail, Slack, Google Sheets, HubSpot, Asana, ClickUp, Google Chat, monday.com, Any.do, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Workflow automation reduces manual tasks
- AI tools accelerate response drafting
- Omnichannel inbox centralizes customer communication
Cons:
- Heavy reliance on Google Workspace
- Limited integrations restrict platform flexibility
New Product Updates from Hiver
Hiver Omni Adds Support for Custom Email Providers
Hiver Omni introduces Custom Email Providers, allowing teams to connect external email services to shared inboxes. This update helps centralize customer communication in one workspace. For more information, visit Hiver's official site.
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Chatbase is an AI chatbot platform built to enhance customer service by managing advanced queries with precision and speed. It enables businesses to create and customize AI support agents without coding, using powerful language models like GPT-3.5-turbo and GPT-4 to deliver natural, human-like conversations across channels.
I picked Chatbase because it combines advanced conversational AI with smart escalation features, ensuring that customers get the right answers quickly and that complex issues are smoothly handed off to human agents. This balance between automation and personal touch makes it ideal for teams that want efficient, reliable support without losing human oversight. I also like that it’s secure by design, with SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance, giving you confidence that your customer data is protected. Its multilingual capabilities, covering more than 80 languages, make it a strong fit for global customer service operations.
Features include action configuration, which allows AI agents to perform tasks such as booking appointments or updating subscriptions, and AI model comparison, letting you test and refine which model best suits your needs. It also provides advanced reporting and analytics, giving you insights into performance and improvement opportunities. Integrations include Make, Zendesk, Notion, Slack, Stripe, Salesforce, Cal.com, Calendly, WhatsApp, Zapier, Messenger, and API access for deeper system connections.
14.ai gives fast-scaling ecommerce and omnichannel brands a way to deliver fast, on-brand customer support without increasing headcount. If you’re fielding messages across multiple channels and want a chatbot that doesn’t just reply but actually resolves issues, 14.ai is designed to take that weight off your team. It’s built for merchants and modern digital brands that want customers to get answers instantly while still feeling cared for.
Why I Picked 14.ai
I picked 14.ai for chatbots for customer service because it focuses on true automated resolution rather than simple scripted replies. Its intent- and sentiment-aware engine crafts personalized responses across channels like email, chat, TikTok, and Telegram, helping your team avoid repetitive conversations while keeping brand voice intact. I also appreciate how the AI adapts tone automatically, giving customers a consistent experience even when volume spikes.
14.ai Key Features
In addition to its conversational intelligence, you also get several features that strengthen its role as a customer-service chatbot:
- Real-time order management: Pull live Shopify and TikTok Shop order data into conversations to handle refunds, exchanges, fulfillment checks, and shipment status questions.
- Dynamic knowledge-base ingestion: Automatically sync FAQs, policies, SOPs, product descriptions, and historical tickets so the chatbot always replies with current information.
- Re-order and upsell link generation: Create re-order links or light upsell prompts directly in chat to support post-purchase retention.
- Unified multichannel workspace: Manage email, chat, TikTok messages, and Telegram inquiries from one hub, even when most conversations are handled by AI.
14.ai Integrations
Integrations include Shopify, TikTok Shop, Stripe, and support for custom APIs that allow teams to connect internal systems or proprietary tools.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Brand-matched replies improve customer experience
- AI can surface upsell pathways in support chats
- Multichannel inbox keeps communication organized
Cons:
- Less suited for complex, multi-step support issues
- VIP interactions may still need manual oversight
Other Chatbot for Customer Service
Here are some additional chatbot for customer service options that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
- Tars
For ease of setup
- Intercom
For simple customer interface
- Drift
For turning conversations into sales
- LiveHelpNow
For omnichannel customer support
- Acquire
Designed for more human-like automated chats
- Kommunicate
For balancing chatbots with the human touch
- Activechat
For customer-centric brands
- Helpshift
For rapid deployment
- Genesys
For chatbots that span digital channels
- Quiq Messaging
For integrating with bots from other platforms
- SAAS First
Knowledge base-trained chatbot
- SwiftCX
For AI-assisted live agent support
- Stonly
For interactive step-by-step guides
- Freshchat
For scaling customer support on any channel
- CoSupport AI
For faster, accurate, and secure customer support
- Alhena AI
For quick deployment and higher accuracy
- Zendesk Sell
Excels at reducing repetitive work
- Kore
Automates and streamlines customer journeys
- Podium
For local businesses
- Netomi
For dealing with spikes in support demand
- Kayako
Combines help center, website, and mobile app support
- IBM Watson Assistant
For understanding customers in context
- Drift Conversation Cloud
For tailored chatbot conversations
- Yellow.ai
For total user experience automation
- Botmock
Codeless rapid prototyping of conversation apps
- Olark
Integrates chatbots with live support
Chatbot for Customer Service Selection Criteria
When selecting the best chatbot for customer service to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like handling high volumes of queries and improving response times. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Automating responses to FAQs
- Providing 24/7 customer support
- Handling multiple conversations simultaneously
- Integrating with existing CRM systems
- Collecting customer feedback
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Adaptive learning capabilities
- Personalized customer interactions
- Multilingual support
- Sentiment analysis
- Real-time analytics dashboard
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive interface design
- Easy navigation
- Customizable workflows
- Quick setup process
- User-friendly chatbot builder
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Access to onboarding webinars
- Pre-built templates for quick setup
- Dedicated support during migration
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- 24/7 support availability
- Multiple support channels
- Response time to queries
- Access to a knowledge base
- Personalized support options
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Pricing compared to features offered
- Availability of a free trial
- Transparent pricing structure
- Discounts for annual billing
- Competitive pricing within the market
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Consistency of positive feedback
- Commonly reported issues
- User satisfaction with features
- Feedback on customer service
- Overall user experience ratings
How to Choose Chatbot for Customer Service
It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:
| Factor | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Scalability | Determine if the chatbot can grow with your business. Consider how many interactions it can handle and if it supports adding more users or features. |
| Integrations | Check if it connects with your existing systems like CRM or help desks. Look for seamless data sharing and reduced manual work. |
| Customizability | Assess how easily you can tailor the chatbot to your branding and workflows. Consider the level of coding required for customization. |
| Ease of use | Evaluate the user interface and how quickly your team can learn to use it. Look for drag-and-drop builders or intuitive dashboards. |
| Implementation and onboarding | Investigate the time and resources needed to get started. Consider the availability of training materials or support during the initial phase. |
| Cost | Compare the total cost, including hidden fees. Consider if the pricing aligns with your budget and offers good value for the features provided. |
| Security safeguards | Ensure the chatbot complies with data protection regulations. Check for features like encryption and access controls to protect customer data. |
| Support availability | Consider the level of support offered. Look for 24/7 availability, multiple contact methods, and a responsive support team to assist with issues. |
What Is Chatbot for Customer Service?
A chatbot for customer service is a tool that automates responses to customer inquiries, providing 24/7 support and handling routine questions. Customer service representatives and support teams generally use these tools to improve efficiency and response times. Features like automated responses, real-time interaction, and integration capabilities help manage large volumes of queries and enhance customer satisfaction. These tools ultimately save time and resources while improving the customer experience.
Features
When selecting chatbot for customer service, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Automated responses: Provides instant answers to common questions, freeing up your team for more complex issues.
- 24/7 availability: Ensures customer support is always accessible, improving customer satisfaction and retention.
- Real-time interaction: Engages customers immediately, reducing wait times and enhancing the user experience.
- Multilingual support: Communicates with customers in their preferred language, expanding your reach and accessibility.
- Integration capabilities: Connects with existing systems like CRM and help desks, ensuring seamless data flow and reducing manual tasks.
- Visitor tracking: Monitors customer behavior in real-time, providing insights to tailor interactions and improve service.
- Lead scoring: Prioritizes potential customers based on their interactions, helping your team focus on high-value leads.
- Customizable workflows: Allows tailoring of processes to fit your specific business needs, enhancing efficiency.
- Data analytics: Offers insights into customer interactions and performance, enabling informed decision-making.
- Security safeguards: Protects customer data with encryption and access controls, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
Benefits
Implementing chatbot for customer service provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Increased efficiency: Automates routine inquiries, allowing your team to focus on complex tasks and reducing response times.
- Cost savings: Reduces the need for a large support staff by handling a significant volume of queries automatically.
- Improved customer satisfaction: Offers 24/7 availability, ensuring customers receive timely support whenever they need it.
- Enhanced data insights: Provides analytics on customer interactions, helping you make informed decisions to improve service.
- Broader reach: Multilingual support allows you to cater to a diverse customer base, expanding your market presence.
- Better lead management: Features like lead scoring help prioritize high-value customers, optimizing your sales efforts.
- Consistent support quality: Ensures uniform responses and service quality across all customer interactions, maintaining brand reputation.
Costs & Pricing
Selecting chatbot for customer service requires an understanding of the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in chatbot for customer service solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for Chatbot for Customer Service
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic chat capabilities, limited integrations, and standard support. |
| Personal Plan | $5-$25/user/month | Automated responses, basic analytics, and email support. |
| Business Plan | $30-$75/user/month | Advanced analytics, multilingual support, and CRM integrations. |
| Enterprise Plan | $100-$200/user/month | Customizable workflows, dedicated account manager, and priority support. |
Chatbot for Customer Service FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about chatbot for customer service:
Can chatbots handle complex customer queries?
No, chatbots typically excel at handling routine and straightforward queries. For complex issues, it’s best to have a system in place where the chatbot can escalate the conversation to a human agent. You can configure triggers that identify when a query is beyond the chatbot’s capabilities. Train your team on how to take over and provide personalized support when needed.
Do chatbots require ongoing maintenance?
Yes, chatbots need regular updates and maintenance to function effectively. You’ll need to update their knowledge base with new FAQs and information as your business evolves. Monitor performance metrics to identify areas for improvement. Regular maintenance ensures the chatbot remains accurate and continues to meet your customers’ needs efficiently.
How do you measure ROI from a chatbot for customer service?
You’ll want to track metrics like the percentage of queries your chatbot handles without human help, average response time, and cost per interaction. ROI is typically calculated as (Benefits – Costs) ÷ Costs × 100%.
You should also consider less tangible gains such as higher customer satisfaction or lower agent burnout. Don’t forget to include ongoing costs like maintenance, updates, and integrations.
How do you maintain and improve a chatbot after deployment?
You should regularly review chatbot conversations to spot failed interactions or confusing responses. Use analytics and user feedback to fine-tune conversation flows and update content.
Tracking metrics like containment rate, escalation rate, and satisfaction scores helps you identify areas for improvement and measure progress over time.
When should you escalate from chatbot to a human agent?
Escalate when users express frustration, when the issue falls outside common scenarios your bot can handle, or when a user specifically asks for human help.
Chatbots handle repetitive or transactional queries well, but complex or emotional issues are better managed by people. Setting clear handoff rules keeps customer interactions smooth.
What’s Next:
If you're in the process of researching chatbot for customer service, connect with a SoftwareSelect advisor for free recommendations.
You fill out a form and have a quick chat where they get into the specifics of your needs. Then you'll get a shortlist of software to review. They'll even support you through the entire buying process, including price negotiations.