Trying to choose the right AI chatbot can feel like you’re navigating a maze, especially when you get to the pricing page. It’s all confusing credit systems and potential hidden costs that make it nearly impossible to figure out your budget or know if you’re getting a fair deal.
We’re here to cut through that noise. This guide offers a clear, honest look at Chatling Pricing for 2025. We’ll break down each plan, demystify its AI credit system, and point out some key limitations so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your business.
What is Chatling?
At its core, Chatling is a no-code platform that lets you build AI chatbots for your website and WhatsApp. It's designed for simplicity, so you can create conversational flows using a drag-and-drop builder without touching a line of code.
Most people use it to automate simple tasks like lead generation, answering basic FAQs, or just being the first point of contact for visitors on their site. You can train the AI by uploading documents or just giving it a link to your website. It’s a decent starting point if you just want a simple, public-facing chatbot without a complicated setup.
A detailed breakdown of the Chatling Pricing plans
Chatling has three main tiers: Free, Starter, and Ultimate. On the surface, they seem pretty straightforward, but the real cost can creep up on you, thanks to add-ons and a confusing credit system.
Let’s take a look at the core plans.
| Feature | Free | Starter | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $0 | $29 | $99 |
| Annual Price | $0 | $290 | $990 |
| AI Credits | 100/mo | 3,000/mo | 12,000/mo |
| Chatbots | 2 | 5 | 35 |
| Seats | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Knowledge Base | 500,000 chars | 20,000,000 chars | 90,000,000 chars |
| Integrations | Basic | API Access, Zapier | API Access, Zapier |
| Customization | Limited | Full | Full |
| Branding | "Powered by Chatling" | "Powered by Chatling" | Removable |
The free plan: What you actually get
The Free plan gives you a basic entry point with two chatbots and 100 AI credits a month. But here’s the fine print: the "unlimited chats" only count for conversations that don't use any AI. This kind of defeats the purpose of an AI chatbot, right? With only 100 credits, you'll burn through your allowance pretty fast, making this plan feel more like a short-term trial than a real solution for any business.
The starter plan: The first paid tier
At $29 per month, the Starter plan is where you have to begin if you’re serious about using an AI chatbot. It bumps you up to 3,000 AI credits and gives you a much larger knowledge base capacity. You also get full customization options and API access, which is handy for connecting to other tools. It’s definitely a step up, but you’re still stuck with the "Powered by Chatling" branding unless you’re ready to pay more.
The ultimate plan: For higher volume
For $99 a month, the Ultimate plan is aimed at businesses with more website traffic. It gives you 12,000 AI credits, up to 35 chatbots, and six seats for your team. This is also the only plan where you can finally remove the "Powered by Chatling" branding. For many, that’s a must-have to keep the user experience feeling professional and on-brand.
The hidden costs: Don't forget the add-ons
Your bill doesn't always stop at the monthly subscription. If you run out of AI credits or knowledge base characters, you’ll have to buy add-ons to keep things running. An extra 1,000 AI credits, for instance, will set you back another $10 per month. This can make your costs unpredictable, especially if your business is growing or you have a busy month with lots of customer questions.
Understanding Chatling's AI credit system: What you will actually pay
Alright, this is where things get complicated. Chatling’s pricing isn't a simple "one message, one credit" deal. How many credits you use depends entirely on which AI model is powering your chatbot. This is what makes your monthly bill so hard to predict.
A simple question answered by a basic model might only use half a credit. But a more complex query that needs a powerful model could burn through 50 credits in a single response.
| AI Model | Credits Used Per Message |
|---|---|
| Claude 3 Haiku | 0.5 |
| GPT-4.1 Nano | 0.5 |
| GPT-4.1 | 2.5 |
| GPT-4o | 2.5 |
| Claude 4 Sonnet | 3 |
| Claude 3 Opus | 50 |
This variable system turns budgeting into a total guessing game. If you need a more advanced model like Claude 3 Opus to give your customers high-quality answers, your monthly credit allowance could vanish in a flash. You’re then stuck choosing between buying expensive add-ons or having your chatbot go offline, leaving customers hanging.
This kind of unpredictability is a common headache with many AI tools. It’s why platforms like eesel AI have simpler, more transparent pricing. Their plans are based on a set number of "AI interactions," which can be a reply or an automated action. Your bill is predictable every month, no matter how complex a user's question is.
Key features and limitations to consider with Chatling
When you’re looking at the price, you have to weigh it against the value you’re actually getting. Chatling has some good things going for it, but it also has some big limitations, especially if your team is focused on customer support.
Strength: A user-friendly visual builder
To give credit where it’s due, Chatling's drag-and-drop interface is clean and easy to use. It makes it simple for non-technical folks to map out conversational flows, add response options, and get a basic chatbot live without writing any code. For simple things like collecting an email address, it’s a big plus.
Limitation: No seamless human escalation or live chat
This is a deal-breaker for any serious support team. When a chatbot inevitably can't answer a question, the conversation just hits a wall. With Chatling, there's no built-in way to hand the chat over to a human agent. This leaves your customers stuck and frustrated, forcing them to find another way to contact you and start all over again.
This is the main difference between a simple website widget and a true support automation tool. Platforms designed to work with your team, like the eesel AI Agent, plug right into your existing helpdesk. They can resolve tickets on their own but are also built to escalate to a human in the same tool (like Zendesk or Intercom) whenever needed. That way, the customer gets a smooth, uninterrupted experience.
Limitation: Siloed knowledge and manual training
Chatling’s AI learns from files you manually upload and website links you provide. While that’s better than nothing, it creates a knowledge silo that you have to constantly maintain. If you update a help article or a company policy changes, someone on your team has to remember to go back into Chatling and re-sync everything. If you forget, the AI starts giving out outdated information.
Modern AI solutions are much more integrated. For example, eesel AI connects to your help center, but it also pulls knowledge from internal wikis like Confluence and Google Docs. Even better, it can train directly on your team's past support tickets. This lets the AI learn your brand voice, understand common customer problems, and find proven solutions from thousands of real conversations your team has already had, all on its own.
A better alternative for integrated support automation: eesel AI
For teams that need more than a basic lead-gen bot, comparing Chatling to a deeply integrated platform like eesel AI really highlights the difference in what you get.
Predictable pricing without surprise fees
First off, eesel AI offers straightforward, interaction-based pricing. The plans are built around a clear number of monthly AI interactions, so you won’t get hit with surprise fees just because you used a more powerful AI model. Their "no per-resolution fees" model means you're not penalized for being efficient, which is a big change from Chatling’s unpredictable credit system.
Automation that works with your helpdesk, not around it
Chatling is yet another tool that your team has to log into and manage. In contrast, eesel AI plugs directly into the helpdesks and chat tools your team already uses every day. It offers products that solve real problems right where your team works, like an AI Copilot that drafts replies for agents inside your helpdesk's ticket editor, or AI Triage that automatically routes and tags new tickets. A simple website chatbot just can't do any of that.
Test with confidence using real-world simulation
Launching a new AI tool can feel like a shot in the dark. With eesel AI's simulation engine, you can take out the guesswork. Before you turn the AI on for live customers, you can run it on thousands of your past tickets. This shows you exactly how it would have performed, what its resolution rate would have been, and gives you an accurate forecast of your cost savings. It’s a risk-free way to see if the tool is effective before you commit.
Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison:
| Feature | Chatling | eesel AI |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Variable, complex credit system | Predictable, per-interaction model |
| Human Handover | Not available | Seamless escalation within your helpdesk |
| Primary Use Case | Website lead gen & basic FAQs | End-to-end support & ITSM automation |
| Training Method | Manual upload of docs/URLs | Automated learning from tickets, docs, & more |
| Pre-launch Testing | Basic preview | Powerful simulation on historical tickets |
Choosing the right tool for your goals
So, what's the bottom line? Chatling is an accessible and affordable tool if you just need a simple, standalone chatbot for lead generation or answering basic questions on your website. Its visual builder makes it easy to get started without needing a developer.
This video provides a quick overview of setting up a Chatling account, including a look at its integrations and pricing structure.
However, its unpredictable pricing, lack of human handover, and siloed knowledge make it a tough choice for teams that need reliable customer support automation. If you’re a support or IT team looking for a powerful, deeply integrated, and predictable AI solution that actually makes your existing workflow better, a platform like eesel AI is the clear winner.
Ready to see how AI can work seamlessly within your support workflow? Go live in minutes with eesel AI and simulate its impact on your past tickets today.
Frequently asked questions
Chatling's credit system can make your monthly bill unpredictable. The number of AI credits used per message varies significantly based on the AI model employed, making it difficult to forecast exact costs.
Yes, beyond the monthly subscription, you might incur extra costs for add-ons. If you exceed your monthly allowance of AI credits or knowledge base characters, you'll need to purchase additional bundles, which can add to your bill.
You can remove the "Powered by Chatling" branding only when you subscribe to the Ultimate plan. This option is not available on the Free or Starter tiers.
The Free plan offers limited utility for businesses, as its "unlimited chats" don't include AI interactions. With only 100 AI credits per month, it's more suited as a short-term trial than a sustainable solution.
Chatling is generally best for businesses needing a simple, standalone chatbot for basic lead generation or website FAQs. Its pricing and feature set are less ideal for complex customer support or integrated team workflows.
Chatling's variable credit usage makes its pricing less predictable compared to alternatives. Platforms like eesel AI offer interaction-based pricing, providing a clear and consistent monthly bill without surprise fees from varying AI model usage.
