Best Free Chatbot for Website in 2025: Complete Comparison Guide

You need a chatbot for your website. But you're not ready to spend $200/month on enterprise software.

The good news: Free chatbot options in 2025 are surprisingly powerful. The bad news: Most "free" plans have hidden limitations that make them useless.

This guide compares the best free website chatbots so you can choose the right one.

What "free" actually means in 2025

Before comparing platforms, understand how free tiers work:

Common limitations:

• Conversation caps (50-500/month)
• Feature restrictions (no integrations, basic AI)
• Branding requirements ("Powered by X")
• Limited customization
• No human handoff

What to look for:

• Enough conversations for your traffic
• AI-powered responses (not just decision trees)
• Website widget included
• Basic analytics
• Reasonable upgrade path

A "free" plan that handles 50 conversations when you get 500 visitors isn't free—it's a trial.

The best free website chatbots compared

1. Widget-Chat

Best for: Small businesses, startups, Flutter/mobile apps

Free tier includes:

• 250 conversations/month
• AI-powered responses (GPT-4 level)
• Website widget
• Mobile app integration
• Multi-language support (107 languages)
• Basic analytics
• Custom branding (no "Powered by" badge)

Limitations:

• Single project
• Community support only

Verdict: Most generous free tier for AI quality. Best if you need mobile app support.

2. Tidio

Best for: E-commerce, Shopify stores

Free tier includes:

• 50 conversations/month
• Live chat + chatbot combo
• Shopify integration
• Basic automation
• Mobile app for agents

Limitations:

• Very low conversation limit
• Limited AI capabilities
• Tidio branding required

Verdict: Good for tiny stores. Quickly outgrown.

3. HubSpot Chatbot

Best for: Companies already using HubSpot CRM

Free tier includes:

• Unlimited conversations
• CRM integration
• Basic chatbot flows
• Meeting scheduling
• Mobile app

Limitations:

• Rule-based only (no AI)
• HubSpot branding
• Requires HubSpot account
• Limited customization

Verdict: Great if you need CRM integration. Limited without AI.

4. Crisp

Best for: Startups, SaaS companies

Free tier includes:

• 2 seats (operators)
• Basic live chat
• Mobile apps
• Unlimited websites

Limitations:

• No chatbot automation in free tier
• No AI responses
• Very basic features

Verdict: Good for live chat, poor for automated chatbots.

5. Tawk.to

Best for: Budget-conscious businesses wanting live chat

Free tier includes:

• Unlimited agents
• Unlimited chats
• 100+ integrations
• Mobile apps
• Ticketing system

Limitations:

• No AI chatbot (live chat only)
• Requires human operators
• Tawk.to branding

Verdict: Best free live chat. Not a chatbot solution.

Feature comparison table

Feature	Widget-Chat	Tidio	HubSpot	Crisp	Tawk.to
Free conversations	250/mo	50/mo	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
AI-powered	Yes	Limited	No	No	No
Custom branding	Yes	No	No	No	No
Mobile widget	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multi-language	107	35	Limited	Limited	45
Human handoff	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (default)
No coding required	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

How to choose the right free chatbot

Choose Widget-Chat if:

• You want AI-quality responses
• You have a mobile app (Flutter especially)
• Branding matters (no third-party badges)
• You serve international customers
• You expect 100-250 conversations/month

Choose Tidio if:

• You run a small Shopify store
• You want live chat + basic automation
• You have under 50 conversations/month
• E-commerce features matter most

Choose HubSpot if:

• You already use HubSpot CRM
• You don't need AI responses
• Lead capture is your priority
• You can build rule-based flows

Choose Tawk.to if:

• You have staff to monitor chat live
• You don't need automated responses
• Budget is the only consideration
• Volume is unpredictable

The hidden costs of "free" chatbots

Watch for these traps:

Conversation overages: Some platforms charge $0.10-0.50 per conversation over limits. 100 extra conversations = $10-50 surprise bill.

Feature paywalls: Free analytics that only show data from last 24 hours. Need history? Pay $50/month.

Integration fees: Connect to Zapier or your CRM? That's a premium feature.

Branding removal: Want to remove "Powered by X"? Upgrade to $30/month minimum.

AI quality: Free tier uses GPT-3.5 or worse. Good responses require paid plans.

Calculate the true cost before committing.

Setting up your free chatbot (step-by-step)

Here's how to launch a free chatbot today:

Step 1: Sign up (2 minutes)

1. Go to your chosen platform
2. Create account with email
3. Verify email address
4. Skip the sales call offer

Step 2: Configure basics (5 minutes)

1. Name your chatbot
2. Set your timezone
3. Add business hours
4. Write welcome message

Step 3: Train with your content (10 minutes)

1. Add FAQ content (paste or upload)
2. Include website URLs to learn from
3. Add product/service descriptions
4. Set up fallback responses

Step 4: Customize appearance (5 minutes)

1. Match brand colors
2. Upload logo
3. Position widget (bottom-right is standard)
4. Configure mobile behavior

Step 5: Install on website (5 minutes)

1. Copy embed code
2. Paste before </body> tag
3. Publish your site
4. Test on live page

Total time: Under 30 minutes.

Maximizing your free tier

Get the most from limited free conversations:

Reduce unnecessary chats:

• Add comprehensive FAQ page (reduces basic questions)
• Use proactive messaging wisely (don't trigger on every page)
• Set expectations about response types

Optimize for conversion:

• Focus chatbot on high-intent pages (pricing, checkout)
• Capture leads early in conversation
• Route complex issues to email/phone

Monitor and adjust:

• Check which questions consume most conversations
• Update knowledge base to improve first-response accuracy
• Remove low-value automation triggers

Graduate strategically:

• Track when you hit limits
• Calculate ROI before upgrading
• Compare paid tiers across platforms

When to upgrade from free

Free tiers aren't forever. Upgrade when:

Volume exceeds limits: Consistently hitting conversation caps = lost opportunities.

Features become critical: Need integrations, advanced analytics, or team features.

Brand matters more: Third-party badges look unprofessional to enterprise clients.

ROI is proven: Free tier generated measurable value. Paid tier will multiply it.

Typical upgrade timeline: 2-6 months after launch.

Free chatbot success stories

Freelance consultant:

• Platform: Widget-Chat free tier
• Conversations: 80/month
• Result: 3 new clients/month from after-hours inquiries
• ROI: $6,000+ revenue from free tool

Local restaurant:

• Platform: Tidio free tier
• Conversations: 45/month
• Result: Automated reservation inquiries
• ROI: 2 hours saved daily on phone calls

SaaS side project:

• Platform: Widget-Chat free tier
• Conversations: 200/month
• Result: 40% of support handled automatically
• ROI: Delayed need to hire support person

Free doesn't mean ineffective.

Common mistakes with free chatbots

Mistake 1: Choosing based on conversation count alone

High limits mean nothing if AI quality is poor. 1,000 bad responses < 250 good ones.

Mistake 2: Ignoring mobile experience

60%+ of chat happens on mobile. Test mobile widget thoroughly.

Mistake 3: Not testing AI quality

Send real customer questions before committing. Garbage responses = wasted effort.

Mistake 4: Skipping analytics

If you can't measure it, you can't improve it. Basic analytics is essential.

Mistake 5: Complex setup on free tier

Keep it simple. Save advanced flows for when you upgrade.

The bottom line

The best free website chatbot depends on your specific needs:

• Best overall free AI chatbot: Widget-Chat (250 conversations, true AI, custom branding)
• Best for Shopify: Tidio (e-commerce features, limited conversations)
• Best for HubSpot users: HubSpot Chatbot (CRM integration, no AI)
• Best for live chat only: Tawk.to (unlimited, requires humans)

Start with the free tier that matches your use case. Test for 30 days. Upgrade only when you've proven value.

You don't need to spend money to start. You need to start.

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Widget-Chat offers the most capable free tier: 250 AI-powered conversations monthly, custom branding, 107 languages, and mobile app support—all without a credit card.

Start free today →