Imagine a customer visiting your website late at night with a simple question: “Where’s my order?” They don’t want to wait hours, or worse, days for a response. Nowadays, instant gratification is the norm, and customers expect businesses to be available 24/7 (even during holidays).
What is a customer support chatbot?
A customer support chatbot is an automated software that provides real-time support, typically via a chat interface. Integrated into websites, help desks, and apps, these chatbots allow businesses to engage with customers 24/7.
There are two types:
- Rule-based chatbots, which follow pre-set workflows to guide users through predictable queries. While easy to set up, rule-based chatbots can be limited by their lack of flexibility. They’re great for handling questions like “What are your business hours?” or “How do I reset my password?” but struggle when faced with unexpected queries.
- AI-powered chatbots, which use machine learning and natural language processing to understand intent, learn from interactions, and handle complex, dynamic conversations. With AI-driven chatbots like eesel, businesses can handle complex inquiries, automate ticket routing, and offer more robust customer support. It’s the next step in delivering fast, efficient, and personalized customer service.
Chatbots have evolved beyond simple FAQ tools. They now automate repetitive tasks, triage tickets, and hand off complex issues to human agents, enabling teams to focus on critical problems.
Top 14 customer support chatbots in 2024
Chatbots have become essential tools for businesses looking to enhance customer service by automating inquiries, reducing wait times, and providing 24/7 support. Here’s a look at the top 14 customer support chatbots in 2024.
1. eesel AI
Best for: highly customizable AI solutions for complex queries
eesel’s AI chatbot offers powerful, AI-driven responses with deep customization options, ideal for businesses looking to automate more than just basic inquiries. It integrates with multiple platforms and learns from past interactions to continuously improve customer support, making it highly effective for managing complex queries and providing personalized assistance.
Features:
- Real-time updates with product information and knowledge sources
- Customizable workflows and automations
- Seamless integration with existing platforms
- Handles complex inquiries and automates ticket routing
Pricing: Plans start at $39/month. Pay per interaction model, perfect for scaling without the price. No auto-billing – only pay for what you need.
Why choose eesel: Perfect for businesses seeking advanced AI-driven automation and highly customizable solutions to handle complex, evolving customer queries efficiently. With integration across a multitude of platforms and the ability to automate entire workflows, eesel allows businesses to scale their support operations while delivering smarter, more efficient customer service.
2. Front Chatbot
Front offers a versatile, no-code chatbot builder that allows businesses to create custom workflows. It integrates seamlessly into Front’s customer support platform, managing email, chat, and other communication channels.
Features:
- Drag-and-drop chatbot builder
- AI-driven replies
- Proactive messaging and conversation triaging
Pricing: Starts at $19/seat/month.
Why Choose Front: Ideal for businesses needing a customizable chatbot that connects across multiple channels to manage simple and complex inquiries.
3. Zendesk Answer Bot
Best for: Large Enterprises with Complex Support Needs
Zendesk Answer Bot automates responses by leveraging AI to pull information from the company’s knowledge base. It supports omnichannel deployment and escalates complex queries to human agents.
Features:
- AI-powered knowledge base responses
- Supports social media, email, and chat
- Advanced AI for tone and intent detection
Pricing: Starts at $19/agent/month.
Why Choose Zendesk: Scalable AI solution ideal for larger enterprises with complex customer support needs.
4. Zoho Desk’s Zobot
Best for: Companies Using Zoho
Zobot integrates with Zoho SalesIQ, offering a no-code interface to automate workflows. It supports hybrid chatbot functionality, combining rule-based automation with AI for dynamic customer engagement.
Features:
- No-code builder and AI assistant
- Hybrid bot functionality
- Seamless integration with Zoho
Pricing: Starts at $20/user/month.
Why Choose Zobot: Perfect for businesses already in the Zoho ecosystem, offering custom automation and AI-driven engagement.
5. Help Scout’s Beacon
Best for: Small to Mid-Sized Teams
Help Scout’s Beacon provides lightweight automation and live chat through a customizable help widget, perfect for businesses looking for simple self-service options.
Features:
- Customizable help widget
- Proactive messaging and knowledge base integration
Pricing: Starts at $25/user/month.
Why Choose Help Scout: Great for small teams that need effective live chat without complex AI.
6. Intercom’s Fin AI Chatbot
Best for: Real-Time Interactions and Lead Qualification
Intercom’s Fin AI chatbot uses AI to provide personalized responses, qualify leads, and support multilingual conversations. It integrates with CRM tools to deliver a personalized customer experience.
Features:
- AI-powered lead qualification
- Multilingual support
- CRM integration
Pricing: Starts at $39/seat/month + $1 per chatbot resolution.
Why Choose Intercom Fin: Ideal for real-time customer interactions and lead generation.
7. Drift Chatbot
Best for: Sales-Driven Conversations
Drift enhances sales and marketing interactions using conversational AI to guide customers through the buyer’s journey, capturing leads and scheduling meetings.
Features:
- Conversational AI for lead generation
- Customer segmentation and meeting scheduling
Pricing: Starts at $2,500/month (billed annually).
Why Choose Drift: Perfect for businesses focused on sales and engagement, using AI for personalized, high-conversion interactions.
8. Tidio’s Lyro AI Chatbot
Best for: E-commerce and Small Businesses
Tidio’s Lyro AI chatbot automates common questions, tracks orders, and creates support tickets, making it particularly useful for e-commerce stores.
Features:
- No-code chatbot builder
- Multi-channel support for web, email, and social media
Pricing: Starts at $39/month for Lyro AI.
Why Choose Tidio: Affordable, flexible solution for automating customer support in e-commerce.
9. Ada AI Chatbot
Best for: Multilingual Support
Ada supports over 100 languages, making it ideal for global businesses. It offers customizable chatbots for customer support, sales, and marketing.
Features:
- Multilingual support across 100+ languages
- AI-driven personalization and automated responses
Pricing: Custom pricing upon request.
Why Choose Ada: A powerful, scalable solution for businesses with a diverse, global customer base.
10. Botsify Chatbot
Best for: Lead Generation and Conversational Forms
Botsify automates customer interactions and lead generation, integrating with WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to engage customers across multiple channels.
Features:
- Conversational forms and drag-and-drop builder
- Multi-channel integration and live chat fallback
Pricing: Starts at $49/month.
Why Choose Botsify: Easy-to-use solution for small businesses looking to automate interactions and generate leads.
11. Flow XO
Best for: Workflow Automation and Payment Processing
Flow XO automates workflows and processes payments directly through chat, making it ideal for businesses handling e-commerce or transactions.
Features:
- Workflow automation with conditional logic
- Secure payment processing and multi-platform integration
Pricing: Starts at $25/month.
12. Hiver Chatbot
Best for: Email-Based Customer Support
Hiver’s chatbot automates responses across email, WhatsApp, and phone, integrating directly into a company’s inbox. It helps manage routine queries and escalates complex issues to human agents.
Features:
- Multi-channel support via email, chat, and phone
- Automated responses and handoff to human agents
Pricing: Available with Hiver’s help desk system.
Why Choose Hiver: Perfect for businesses relying heavily on email-based support, with seamless integration into inboxes.
HelpCrunch Chatbot
Best for: Website Visitor Engagement
HelpCrunch’s chatbot helps businesses engage website visitors by automating responses to FAQs and providing real-time support. It’s part of HelpCrunch’s broader customer service platform.
Features:
- No-code chatbot builder for custom chat flows
- Real-time support and knowledge base integration
Pricing: Starts at $12/user/month.
Why Choose HelpCrunch: A simple, user-friendly chatbot for engaging website visitors and automating common inquiries.
14. Forethought Solve AI
Best for: AI-Powered Support for Complex Issues
Forethought’s Solve AI uses intent detection to handle complex customer inquiries, providing agents with real-time knowledge base suggestions to improve resolution times.
Features:
- AI-powered intent detection
- Customizable workflows and multilingual support
Pricing: Contact for pricing.
Why Choose Forethought Solve AI: Best for businesses seeking to improve agent productivity and streamline complex support inquiries using AI.
So, which customer support chatbot is right for you?
Customer support chatbots have become essential tools for businesses looking to provide fast, efficient service while reducing costs. The chatbots listed in this guide offer a variety of solutions, from simple tools for small businesses to more advanced AI-powered systems for large enterprises. By automating repetitive tasks, improving response times, and integrating seamlessly with your existing platforms, these chatbots help businesses deliver better customer experiences.
While chatbots can handle simple tasks, advanced AI solutions like eesel offer the flexibility, customization, and intelligence you need to provide personalized, efficient support. Whether you’re managing routine inquiries or complex requests, eesel can help streamline operations and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Explore how eesel AI can boost your customer support by signing up for a free trial today.