Chatbot quotes range from €30 a month to €100,000 — and both can be correct. The price depends on one question: does it need to chat, or does it need to do work in your systems? Here is the honest breakdown.
Last updated: 11 June 2026
A standard SaaS chatbot costs roughly tens to a few hundred euros per month; a configured mid-range bot with integrations typically runs into thousands to low tens of thousands once set up properly. A custom AI agent that works from your own data and systems is a development project — at Crux Digits a fixed €20,000 proof of concept, production from €50,000, plus €500/month managed operation.
Almost every chatbot quote falls into one of three classes — the trick is knowing which one your problem actually needs:
| Class | What it is | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS widget | Off-the-shelf FAQ bot, scripted flows, your branding | ~tens to a few hundred € / month |
| Configured platform bot | Platform bot with CRM/helpdesk integrations and flow design | setup in the thousands + monthly fee |
| Custom AI agent | Works from your own data and systems: answers from real stock, terms, orders; takes actions | development project: fixed €20,000 PoC, production from €50,000 (Crux pricing) |
The licence is rarely the real cost. Budget for these regardless of class:
The sober way to decide: count the conversations. If your team answers, say, 30 routine questions a day at four minutes each, that is roughly two hours of work daily — order of €10,000–15,000 a year in loaded wage cost. A SaaS bot that deflects half of that pays for itself many times over. A €20,000 custom agent needs a bigger prize: think order-status handling with system look-ups, quote requests answered from real price logic, or after-hours coverage that wins orders. In our €2,500 AI audit we do this math with your real volumes before you spend anything on a build — and sometimes the answer is 'buy the €50 SaaS tool', which we will happily put in writing. For the broader cost picture, see our guide on what AI implementation costs.
Off-the-shelf SaaS chatbots start at roughly tens of euros per month for scripted FAQ flows. Good ones with helpdesk integrations typically land in the hundreds per month, plus setup effort. For pure FAQ deflection, that is often all you need.
At Crux Digits: a €20,000 fixed-price proof of concept on your own data, production from €50,000, and €500 per month managed operation. That buys an agent that answers from your real stock, terms and orders — and can take actions, not just chat.
Because 'chatbot' covers everything from a scripted FAQ widget to an integrated AI agent. Quotes differ on integrations, data access, escalation design and who operates it afterwards. Always ask: what systems does it read from, and who maintains it?
Often yes, at the SaaS level — if routine questions genuinely eat hours. A custom agent needs volume or high-value conversations to justify €20,000. Count your conversations first; that is exactly what our €2,500 audit does with real numbers.
A chatbot answers within a conversation. An AI agent works: it looks things up in your systems, executes steps (create a ticket, update an order, draft a quote) and escalates by rule. The price difference between the two reflects exactly that gap.
The €2,500 AI audit counts your conversations and tells you honestly: SaaS tool, platform bot, or custom agent.
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