The short answer
Our recommended free customer service AI chatbots for 2026 are Botpress, Chatbase, Crisp, Freshchat, HubSpot, Landbot, ManyChat, tawk.to, Tidio, Voiceflow and Zoho SalesIQ (listed alphabetically, not ranked). Each has a free plan; AI answers are often capped on free tiers.
At a glance
| # | Name | Made by | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Botpress | Botpress | Custom AI agents |
| 2 | Chatbase | Chatbase | Answering from your own content |
| 3 | Crisp | Crisp | Startups |
| 4 | Freshchat | Freshworks | Growing support teams |
| 5 | HubSpot | HubSpot | CRM-connected chat |
| 6 | Landbot | Landbot | No-code conversational flows |
| 7 | ManyChat | ManyChat | Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp |
| 8 | tawk.to | tawk.to | Free live chat |
| 9 | Tidio | Tidio | Small online shops |
| 10 | Voiceflow | Voiceflow | Designing chat and voice agents |
| 11 | Zoho SalesIQ | Zoho | Small businesses on Zoho |
Listed alphabetically, not ranked.
The 11 picks in detail
1Botpress
BotpressVisual builder for AI agents with a free pay-as-you-go tier.
- Made by
- Botpress
- Best for
- Custom AI agents
- Category
- Free customer service AI chatbots
2Chatbase
ChatbaseBuilds a chatbot trained on your website and documents, with a free tier.
- Made by
- Chatbase
- Best for
- Answering from your own content
- Category
- Free customer service AI chatbots
3Crisp
CrispShared inbox and chat widget with a free plan; AI features on paid tiers.
- Made by
- Crisp
- Best for
- Startups
- Category
- Free customer service AI chatbots
4Freshchat
FreshworksMessaging and bots across web and apps, with a free plan for small teams.
- Made by
- Freshworks
- Best for
- Growing support teams
- Category
- Free customer service AI chatbots
5HubSpot
HubSpotFree chatbot builder and live chat connected to the free HubSpot CRM.
- Made by
- HubSpot
- Best for
- CRM-connected chat
- Category
- Free customer service AI chatbots
6Landbot
LandbotDrag-and-drop chatbots for websites and WhatsApp, with a free sandbox.
- Made by
- Landbot
- Best for
- No-code conversational flows
- Category
- Free customer service AI chatbots
7ManyChat
ManyChatAutomates social media conversations, with a free plan.
- Made by
- ManyChat
- Best for
- Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp
- Category
- Free customer service AI chatbots
8tawk.to
tawk.toCompletely free live chat, with optional paid AI assist.
- Made by
- tawk.to
- Best for
- Free live chat
- Category
- Free customer service AI chatbots
9Tidio
TidioLive chat plus the Lyro AI agent, with a limited number of free AI conversations.
- Made by
- Tidio
- Best for
- Small online shops
- Category
- Free customer service AI chatbots
10Voiceflow
VoiceflowCollaborative design and build of AI agents, with a free starter plan.
- Made by
- Voiceflow
- Best for
- Designing chat and voice agents
- Category
- Free customer service AI chatbots
11Zoho SalesIQ
ZohoFree plan with live chat and a bot builder.
- Made by
- Zoho
- Best for
- Small businesses on Zoho
- Category
- Free customer service AI chatbots
Free plans, prices and features change often. Check each provider’s website for current terms before you sign up.
What to know before you choose
Make it easy to reach a human for complex issues.
Train bots on your real help content and review answers regularly.
Disclose that users are chatting with AI, and protect personal data.
Check how many AI conversations the free plan includes.
How to choose
- Test two or three tools on a real task before you commit.
- Read the free plan limits: usage caps, features, file sizes and commercial use.
- Check privacy: whether your data is used for training and where it is stored.
- Make sure you can export your work if you switch tools.
- For business use, check admin controls, security and compliance on paid plans.
Red flags
- Free plans that require a card and auto-renew.
- Vague privacy policies on how your data is used.
- No way to export your data.
- Claims of perfect accuracy.
- Unknown developers with no company details.
How we chose
These are iCreativez Technologies’ own recommendations, based on research and experience of the market. We looked at a usable free plan or free tier, quality of results, privacy and reputation of the developer. The list is listed alphabetically, not ranked. Details such as services, prices, plans and locations change, so confirm them directly before you decide. No one paid to appear.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best free customer service AI chatbots?
Our recommended free customer service AI chatbots for 2026 are Botpress, Chatbase, Crisp, Freshchat, HubSpot, Landbot, ManyChat, tawk.to, Tidio, Voiceflow and Zoho SalesIQ (listed alphabetically, not ranked). Each has a free plan; AI answers are often capped on free tiers.
Are these AI tools really free?
Each has a free plan or free tier at the time of writing, but limits apply, such as monthly usage caps, fewer features or watermarks. Free plans change often, so check the current terms on each tool’s website.
Is it safe to put business data into free AI tools?
Be careful. Some free plans may use your inputs to improve their models. Avoid entering confidential, personal or client data unless the provider’s terms and settings allow you to opt out, or use a business plan with data protection commitments.
How did you choose this list?
These are iCreativez Technologies’ own recommendations, based on research and experience of the market. The list is listed alphabetically, not ranked, and nobody paid to appear. iCreativez publishes this page and is not part of the list.