How much does an AI chatbot cost in the UK?
Updated 5 November 2026
An AI chatbot for a small business website can cost anything from nothing on a limited free plan to thousands of pounds a month for an enterprise platform. Most small businesses end up paying somewhere in the tens of pounds a month, with the price driven by how many conversations it has and what else comes with it.
The headline price is rarely the whole story. Below we explain the main ways chatbots are priced, what pushes the cost up, and what to ask before you sign up.
The four ways AI chatbots are priced
Most products use one of these models, or a mix of them.
- Free plans. Many live chat tools offer a free tier with a small number of AI conversations a month. Good for trying the idea, but usually limited and branded.
- Per seat or per plan, plus AI usage. A monthly price per team member for live chat, with AI conversations sold as an add-on or in bundles. Tidio, for example, listed paid plans from $29 a month when we checked in November 2026.
- Per resolution or per conversation. Some AI agents, like Intercom's Fin, charge for each conversation the AI resolves. Predictable per chat, but costs grow with your traffic.
- Quote-based. Conversational marketing and enterprise platforms such as Leadoo and Cognigy usually price after a demo, based on your traffic and the features you need.
What pushes the price up
Two chatbots that look the same on a pricing page can cost very different amounts once you use them.
- Conversation volume. Most AI pricing is linked to how many chats or messages the AI handles.
- Team seats. If you pay per person for live chat, adding staff adds cost.
- Knowledge size. Some tools limit how many pages or documents the chatbot can learn from on cheaper plans.
- Removing branding, extra bots for other websites, and integrations with your CRM or booking system.
- Set-up help. Some vendors charge for building your bot. Others let you do it yourself.
- Currency. Many chatbot tools are priced in US dollars, so the cost in pounds moves with the exchange rate.
Hidden costs to look out for
Ask what happens when you go over your allowance, whether unused conversations roll over, and whether booking, lead management or a CRM cost extra. A cheap chatbot that sends leads to an inbox nobody checks costs you more than a dearer one that creates a follow-up task.
Is an AI chatbot worth it?
Work it out from the value of one new customer. If a new client is worth a few hundred pounds to you, a chatbot only has to turn one or two extra visitors a month into customers to pay for itself. Look at how many people visit your site, how many contact you now, and ask whether answering them instantly, at any hour, would change that.
What HaloTasker costs
HaloTasker's AI chatbot is included in your HaloTasker plan, in pounds, with no per-seat charge for the chatbot. The same plan includes online bookings it can book into, lead management, a client portal, invoices and workflows. Start with a 14-day free trial without a credit card, and see the pricing page for current plans.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free AI chatbot for websites?
Yes, several tools have free plans, but they usually limit the number of AI conversations and show the vendor's branding. They're a good way to test the idea.
Do I pay per conversation?
It depends on the tool. Some charge per conversation or per resolution, some include a monthly allowance in a plan, and enterprise platforms usually quote.
Is a chatbot cheaper than live chat staff?
For everyday questions, yes. An AI chatbot answers every visitor at once, at any hour, for the price of a monthly plan rather than someone's time.
