Crisp is a capable, well-designed shared-inbox and chat platform with a generous free tier. For a small local business the question is narrower: how much does the AI actually cost once it's doing real work, and is a shared inbox what you needed in the first place?
The pricing, side by side
| Crisp | BotDesk | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Yes — 2 seats, no AI credits | 7-day free trial |
| Entry paid | Mini $45/mo (4 seats, ~90 AI conversations) | $29/mo, unlimited conversations, AI included |
| More AI volume | Essentials $95/mo (~450 AI conversations), Plus $295/mo | Growth $59 / Pro $99, flat, unlimited |
| AI model | Metered AI credits per plan; buy more when they run out | Included, not metered |
| Setup | Configure inbox, channels, bot flows | Scan your website, live in minutes |
| Built for | Support teams wanting a shared inbox across channels | Local & small service businesses |
The catch for a busy month: AI credits
Crisp's paid plans include a set amount of AI credits — roughly 90 automated conversations on Mini ($45), ~450 on Essentials ($95). That's fine until your chat gets popular, at which point you're either buying more credits or bumping to the next tier. The better your bot works, the more it costs.
The difference in one line: Crisp meters the AI and sells a shared inbox. BotDesk includes the AI on every plan, unlimited, and is built to be the receptionist itself.
When Crisp is the better pick
- You want a permanent free plan and two seats is enough.
- You run a support team that lives in a shared inbox across email, chat, and social — that's Crisp's strength.
- You want a broad platform and are comfortable configuring channels and flows.
When BotDesk fits better
- You're a local or service business — it learns your site automatically and answers hours/prices/services.
- You want price certainty — flat $29–$99, unlimited conversations, no AI meter.
- You want to be live in minutes, not configure an inbox.
Try BotDesk on your own website in about ten seconds with the demo generator. Also weighing Tidio, Intercom, or Chatbase? We wrote those too.