How much does a chatbot cost
The honest answer to "how much does a chatbot cost" is: from zero to several thousand euros. The spread is not vendor greed — the word "bot" covers very different things.
Three tiers and their price
| Tier | Capability | Price | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Button flow | menu, price list, contact capture | from €600 | 3–5 days |
| With integrations | CRM, payments, notifications | from €1,100 | 1–2 weeks |
| With AI | free-form questions, knowledge base | from €1,100 | 2–3 weeks |
What drives the price
- Flow complexity — every branch adds build and test time.
- Integrations — CRM, payments, stock and telephony are separate jobs.
- Knowledge base — for an AI bot this is often half the project.
- Channels — Telegram, WhatsApp and a website widget are three connections.
Running costs
Beyond the build: hosting €5–20 per month, AI model usage €20–150 at moderate volume, builder subscription from €10 if you use one, and support from €260.
When it pays off
Do the maths on enquiries, not on the bot. If a manager spends 10 minutes on a repetitive question and there are 200 of them a month, that is about 33 hours. Multiply by the hourly cost — that is your monthly saving. A €1,100 bot saving €400 a month pays back in under three months.
When you should not buy one
Under 20–30 enquiries a month a bot will not pay for itself. If every question is unique and needs an expert, a bot only annoys people. In both cases start with an automation audit.
FAQ
Does Telegram charge for bots?
No. Telegram itself is free; you pay for hosting and development.
Can I build one for free?
A simple button bot, yes — see how to create a Telegram chatbot.
Describe your case and we will quote your scenario, not a market average.
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