Four kinds of website chatbots
- Button bot — buttons and ready answers. Predictable and inexpensive.
- Lead form — a few questions that clarify the request and send it to your CRM or messenger.
- AI assistant — answers free-text questions from your documents: prices, terms, instructions.
- Handoff to a messenger — the conversation continues in WhatsApp or Telegram, where the customer already is and where you reply from your phone.
Which one fits your business
| Your goal | Best type | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Answer the same questions without staff | Button bot | from $200 |
| Get more requests from visitors | Lead form + messenger handoff | from $200 |
| Answer detailed questions about services and terms | AI assistant on your documents | from $500 |
| One assistant on the site, WhatsApp and Telegram, linked to a CRM | Connected bot | from $600 |
AI assistants: what matters
An AI assistant is only as good as the information it gets. A good one answers from your documents rather than from general knowledge, says “I don't know” when the answer is not there, never invents prices, and hands the conversation to a person when needed. Conversations are logged so you can see what customers ask and improve the answers. Each answer costs from a fraction of a cent to a few cents in AI fees, depending on the model.
Turning chats into requests
- Ask two to four questions — what they need, when, and how to reach them.
- Send the request instantly to your Telegram, WhatsApp or CRM.
- Reply within minutes during working hours: speed matters more than the bot itself.
- Show the price range early — it filters out requests that would not fit.
How much it costs
| Chatbot | Build | Running per month |
|---|---|---|
| Button bot or lead form | from $200 | $0–10 |
| AI assistant on your documents | from $500 | $10–40 for a small business |
| Bot linked to a CRM and messengers | from $600 | $5–10 + AI fees if used |
Common mistakes
- Hiding the human. Customers should always be able to reach a person.
- AI without limits. An assistant that guesses prices or promises can cost more than it saves.
- Pop-ups that jump at visitors before they have read anything.
- No follow-up. A request that sits unanswered for a day is usually lost.
Are there free website chatbots?
Free chat widgets exist and work well if you reply by hand. Automatic answers, AI and integrations with your CRM or messengers are where paid tools or a custom bot come in. A custom bot costs once and has no per-seat fee.
Questions
Will a chatbot replace my support team?
No — it takes the repetitive questions, and your team handles the conversations that need a person.
Can one bot work on the website and in WhatsApp?
Yes. One bot can serve the website, WhatsApp and Telegram, with one admin panel.
Can an AI chatbot give wrong answers?
It can if it is not limited. That is why it answers only from your documents, says when it doesn't know and passes the chat to a person.
How much does an AI chatbot cost per month?
For a small business, usually $10–40 in AI fees plus a server — it depends on how many questions it answers.
How long does it take to add a chatbot?
A button bot or lead form takes 3–5 days; an AI assistant on your documents 1–2 weeks.