Last updated: June 2026
Picking a chatbot platform isn't really about the feature checklist. It's about what you pay as you grow, and how boxed in you get later. Here's how Chatbase and Invent actually compare, with current pricing and where each one fits.
TL;DR
Chatbase is a fast way to put a Q&A bot on one website. Invent is the alternative when you need custom-trained AI across multiple channels (WhatsApp, Instagram, email, SMS, and web) without paying per bot, per seat, or per feature. If you're also weighing Botpress, Tidio, or CustomGPT, see the comparison below.
Why teams leave Chatbase
Chatbase is a solid starting point, but a few friction points push teams to look for alternatives:
- Credit-based pricing gets expensive fast. GPT-4 responses consume credits per message, so a busy month can burn through a plan's allowance in days and costs get hard to predict at scale.
- Seat caps and metered credits. Paid plans cap teammates (2 on Hobby, 3 on Standard, 5 on Pro) and meter monthly message credits, so more people or more volume means upgrading the whole tier.
- Website-widget-first design. Chatbase centers on a web widget, so native WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, and email channels tend to need add-ons or workarounds rather than being built in.
- No native live inbox or human handoff. When the AI cannot answer, there is no built-in way to escalate to a human agent with the full conversation context attached.
- Branding removal costs extra. Taking off the 'Powered by Chatbase' badge is a paid add-on ($1,188/year) on top of the plan tier.
- Knowledge base storage limits per agent. Character and storage caps apply per agent, so large or multi-product knowledge bases can hit walls.
How Chatbase and Invent differ
Chatbase is built around website widget bots with fast setup, good for simple Q&A or GPT-style chat on a site. Invent is usage-based and multi-channel: you pay for the messages you actually handle, and bots, seats, and channels aren't metered separately. Chatbase is the quick site-bot; Invent is the platform you grow into. It also does more than answer: the same assistant reaches out with proactive follow-ups and broadcasts across WhatsApp, SMS, and email, and hands off to a human when it matters, so it runs both sides of the conversation, not just a reply box.
Pricing compared
Figures are as of June 2026; check each vendor for the latest.
- Chatbase: a free tier (50 message credits a month, one agent). Paid plans run $32/month (Hobby, 500 credits), $120/month (Standard, 4,000 credits), and $400/month (Pro, 15,000 credits), then Enterprise. Credits are consumed per message; extras cost $40 per 1,000, and branding removal is $1,188/year. API access is included on paid plans.
- Invent: 100 free messages a month with every feature on, then usage-based pricing from $0.001 per message, billed on messages handled rather than per seat. API included. See how usage-based pricing compares to subscriptions.
Feature comparison
Chatbase vs Invent at a glance: pricing model, free plan, API access, contact limits, knowledge base, and support.
Here's how they compare right now (June 2026):
- Pricing model: Chatbase per message plus plan tier; Invent usage-based pricing from $0.001/message
- Free plan: Chatbase small credit allowance; Invent 100 messages a month, all features
- API access: Chatbase on paid plans; Invent included free
- Knowledge base: Chatbase per-agent character limit; Invent 2 GB per organization
- Channels: Chatbase web, widget, WhatsApp; Invent web, WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, Slack, email
- Support: Chatbase plan-restricted; Invent ongoing support included
How Invent compares to other Chatbase alternatives
Chatbase alternatives at a glance: Invent, Chatbase, Botpress, Tidio, CustomGPT, and Intercom Fin compared across pricing, channels, training, and handoff.
Invent isn't the only Chatbase alternative. Here's how the most commonly considered options stack up, so you can find the right fit for your use case. Features as of June 2026; verify on each vendor's site before deciding.
- Invent: best if you want a custom-trained AI that works across WhatsApp, Instagram, email, and web chat without per-seat fees. Usage-based pricing from $0.001 per message (100 messages free each month), knowledge-base-grounded answers, a unified inbox, broadcasts, and human handoff, all SOC 2 Type II certified.
- Botpress: best for developers who want open-source, flow-level control over the conversation. Powerful for custom logic, but more technical to build and host, and channels are largely on you.
- CustomGPT: best for document-heavy, single-site Q&A with citation requirements. Strong at grounding answers in large document sets, but limited native multi-channel reach.
- Tidio: best for a simple website chat widget with light AI (Lyro). Quick to start and ecommerce-friendly, but limited beyond web chat and basic flows.
A deeper look at the differences
Pricing and predictability
This is the biggest split. Chatbase meters by messages and bots, and several things (extra agents, branding removal, custom domain, extra credits) are add-ons. Invent charges for the messages you actually handle, with generous plan limits (up to 50 assistants, channels, and members on the Business plan), so the bill tracks real volume instead of how many people or features you add. If you want the full reasoning, see usage-based vs subscription pricing.
Channels and reach
Chatbase centers on a website widget plus a few channels. Invent runs the same assistant across web chat, WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, Slack, and email, with CRM integrations, so a customer can move between channels and keep context.
AI models and flexibility
Chatbase is tied to a fixed model lineup per plan. Invent lets you pick GPT, Claude, Gemini, or Grok per assistant, so you can match model to task and switch as models improve, without re-platforming.
Knowledge base and training
Invent indexes up to 2 GB per organization on the Business plan, so docs, help articles, and product data ground the answers. You upload your knowledge once (policies, terms, product details, FAQs) and every channel and every bot uses it. That's what makes it a custom-trained AI chatbot rather than a generic widget: the answers come from your data, not a generic model.
Human handoff
Automation only works if the handoff does. Invent escalates to a person with full conversation context, and a teammate can take over or hand back without the customer repeating themselves.
Security and administration
SSO, role controls, audit visibility, and a published trust posture are included rather than gated behind a top tier, which matters once more than a couple of people touch the inbox. Invent is SOC 2 Type II certified, with independently audited safeguards for teams that need to verify security before deploying customer-facing AI.
An illustrative cost scenario
Illustrative only; confirm current vendor pricing before deciding. Take a team handling about 10,000 customer conversations a month across web and WhatsApp, with five teammates and two assistants.
- On a per-bot, per-feature model: a single widget bot is cheap, but a second bot, more agents, branding removal, and a custom domain each add cost on top of the message tier.
- On Invent: seats and assistants are included up to your plan limits (50 each on Business), and you pay per message handled, so the cost moves with conversation volume, not team size or feature flags.
The pattern holds in general: per-seat, per-bot, or per-resolution models climb as you add people, bots, or volume; usage-based billing climbs only with actual messages.
Switching from Chatbase to Invent
Switching is mostly a copy-over, not a rebuild:
- Export your FAQ and help docs (you likely built these for Chatbase already).
- Recreate your bot as an Invent assistant and upload the same knowledge.
- Connect your website widget, then add WhatsApp or other channels when ready.
- Run both in parallel for a week, compare resolution and CSAT, then cut over.
Who should pick which
Chatbase is a fine choice if all you need is a fast Q&A bot on one website and you'll stay there. Invent fits when you expect more: extra bots, a team, multiple channels, model choice, and a bill that doesn't jump every time you add one of those.
The bottom line
Chatbase is a quick way to put a Q&A bot on a website. If you expect to add channels, bots, or a team, Invent's usage-based model usually stays cheaper and simpler as you scale. Weighing other tools too? See our roundup of the best AI chat automation platforms and Lindy vs Invent.
FAQs
What is the best Chatbase alternative for a custom-trained AI chatbot?
The best alternative depends on your use case. If you need a custom-trained AI that works across multiple channels (WhatsApp, Instagram, email, and web chat) without paying per bot or per seat, Invent is a strong fit. It ingests up to 2 GB of your own data (docs, URLs, policies) and uses that knowledge to answer customers consistently across every channel you connect. For developer-level flow control, Botpress is the strongest open-source option. For document-heavy enterprise use cases with citation requirements, CustomGPT is worth a look. For a simple website Q&A widget, Chatbase itself or Tidio may be enough.
Why do people look for Chatbase alternatives?
The most common reasons are credit-based pricing that becomes unpredictable at scale, per-agent and per-seat caps that force tier upgrades as teams grow, limited native channels beyond a website widget, no built-in live inbox or human handoff, and add-on costs for branding removal and custom domains. Teams that need multi-channel AI, a shared inbox, or predictable usage-based pricing typically look elsewhere.
Is Invent a good Chatbase alternative?
Yes, especially if you need more than a website widget: multi-channel messaging, generous per-plan limits, and usage-based pricing without per-feature gates.
Does Chatbase have a free plan?
Yes, a limited free tier with a small monthly message allowance and one agent. Invent's free tier includes 100 messages a month with all features on.
How much does Chatbase cost in 2026?
As of June 2026, Chatbase's paid plans are $32/month (Hobby, 500 message credits), $120/month (Standard, 4,000 credits), and $400/month (Pro, 15,000 credits), plus a custom-priced Enterprise tier. Extra credits run $40 per 1,000 and removing branding is $1,188/year. Because credits are spent per message, the real cost rises with volume. Confirm current numbers on Chatbase's pricing page before deciding.
Can I move my Chatbase knowledge base to Invent?
Yes. Export your documents and FAQs, upload them to an Invent assistant, and the same content grounds answers across every channel.
Does Invent limit the number of bots?
Invent's plans include set limits rather than charging per bot. Pay As You Go covers 2 assistants, 3 channels, and 5 members; the Business plan ($29/month) raises that to 50 assistants, 50 channels, 50 members, and 100,000 contacts. You're billed on messages handled, not per assistant or per seat, so scaling within your plan doesn't change the price.
Want predictable, usage-based pricing with no per-seat fees? Start free with Invent
