Chatbotx
The open-source alternative to ManyChat, built for AI 🤖
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What is Chatbotx?
ChatbotX is an open-source, agentic AI platform for building omnichannel chat automation. It helps businesses automate, scale, and take control of conversations across messaging channels including WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Zalo, Email, and Webchat. The platform serves businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to enterprises, as well as developers and builders who want full control over their automation infrastructure.
Key features include a Visual Flow Builder with drag-and-drop functionality and 15+ node types, AI Agents powered by OpenAI, DeepSeek, or Gemini for automated customer support 24/7, a Live Chat Inbox with human takeover and conversation assignment, and Contact CRM with tags, custom fields, and segmentation. The platform also offers Broadcasting for targeted messages, Sequences for automated drip campaigns, Team Management with roles and permissions, Rich Messaging with buttons, quick replies, catalogs, and carousel cards, Comment-to-DM automation, A/B Testing, Triggers, Webhooks & HTTP integrations, and Growth Tools including conversation starter links.
ChatbotX is designed for marketing teams, customer support teams, e-commerce businesses, agencies, and developers who need omnichannel chat automation. Being open-source, it appeals to teams who want no vendor lock-in, full infrastructure ownership, and the ability to self-host. The platform supports MCP-compatible clients for advanced agent workflows and provides APIs, CLI, and extensibility for custom integrations.
Chatbotx pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
ChatbotX is open-source and free to self-host with full access to all features. The platform is built as Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) with no vendor lock-in. For teams who want a hosted solution, professional plans are available through ChatbotX subscription: Basic plan at $15/month billed quarterly includes access to top AI models, 3600 images with Image Generation, fast content writing, quick summaries, unlimited file uploads, HD Image Generation, content translation, image analysis, and web search. Advanced plan at $23/month billed quarterly includes 18000 images with Image Generation, advanced web search, complex data analysis, PDF/Excel summarization, link summarization, advanced coding, and priority support. The open-source self-hosted version gives full control over infrastructure and data without monthly fees.
Chatbotx pros
- Open-source with no vendor lock-in
- Self-hosted deployment option with full infrastructure control
- Omnichannel support for WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, Zalo, Email, and Webchat
- Visual drag-and-drop Flow Builder with 15+ node types
- AI Agents with OpenAI, DeepSeek, and Gemini integration
- 24/7 automated customer support across all channels
- Live Chat Inbox with human takeover capability
- Contact CRM with tags, custom fields, and segmentation
- Broadcasting and Sequences for drip campaigns
- A/B Testing for optimizing message flows
- Comment-to-DM automation for social media engagement
- Rich messaging with buttons, quick replies, catalogs, and carousels
- Webhooks and HTTP integrations for external APIs
- Entry Point Links for ads, websites, and QR codes
- Team Management with roles and permissions
- Analytics for tracking bot/human engagement and response times
- MCP-compatible clients for advanced agent workflows
- API and CLI for programmatic access
- Growth tools including conversation starter links
- Docker Compose deployment for easy setup
Chatbotx cons
- Self-hosting requires technical expertise for setup and maintenance
- Documentation primarily focused on developers rather than non-technical users
- No permanent hosted free tier for cloud deployment
- Requires Docker and infrastructure knowledge for deployment
- Database setup needed (PostgreSQL, Redis, ClickHouse)
- AI features require separate API keys and costs from OpenAI/DeepSeek/Gemini
- Zalo OA integration only available for self-hosted deployment
- Telegram integration requires manual BotFather token setup
- Learning curve for Flow Builder with 15+ node types
- No built-in payment processing mentioned
Frequently asked questions about Chatbotx
What is ChatbotX?
ChatbotX is an open-source, agentic AI platform for building omnichannel chat automation. It helps businesses automate, scale, and take control of conversations across messaging channels including WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, Zalo, Email, and Webchat. The platform combines visual flow building with AI-powered automation.
Is ChatbotX really free and open-source?
Yes, ChatbotX is Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). You can self-host the platform with full access to all features without paying monthly fees. This gives businesses full control over their automation, data, and infrastructure with no vendor lock-in.
Which messaging channels does ChatbotX support?
ChatbotX supports WhatsApp Business, Facebook Messenger, Instagram (via Facebook Login), Telegram, Zalo Official Account, Email, and Webchat. Each channel can be connected through the Settings → Channels interface with platform-specific authentication.
How do I install ChatbotX?
You can install ChatbotX using Docker Compose by cloning the GitHub repository, running pnpm install, starting infrastructure services with docker compose up -d (which starts PostgreSQL, Redis, Storage, and optional ClickHouse), running database migrations, and starting development servers with pnpm dev. A quickstart guide is available in the documentation.
What AI models does ChatbotX support?
ChatbotX AI Agents can use OpenAI, DeepSeek, or Gemini for AI-powered responses and actions. You need to configure your own API keys for these services. The platform also supports MCP (Model Context Protocol) Servers to expand AI Agent integration capabilities.
Can I use ChatbotX without self-hosting?
ChatbotX is primarily designed as a self-hosted open-source platform. For teams who prefer not to self-host, professional subscription plans are available that provide hosted access to top AI models and advanced features including image generation, data analysis, and priority support.
How do I create automated conversation flows?
Use the Visual Flow Builder with drag-and-drop functionality. You can build Flows with 15+ node types including Text, Image, Carousel, buttons, quick replies, and data collection questions. Button actions include Send Message, Open Link, Perform Action, Jump to Node, Start External Flow, and Start External Node. Flows support branching, triggers, and A/B testing.
What analytics does ChatbotX provide?
ChatbotX Analytics tracks chatbot performance, bot and human engagement rates, new contact sources, and response times by channel. You can monitor how well your automation is performing and identify opportunities to optimize conversations.
How do I integrate external APIs with ChatbotX?
You can integrate external APIs using Webhooks and HTTP nodes in your Flows. Webhooks automatically send data to external apps when events happen to contacts. You can also use the Public API for programmatic integration, the CLI for command-line access, and MCP-compatible clients for advanced agent workflows.
Can I transfer conversations to human agents?
Yes, ChatbotX includes a Live Chat Inbox with human takeover capability. You can assign conversations to team members, filter chats, switch between Bot and Human modes, and set up automatic distribution across your team. The Inbox supports manual assignment and team collaboration features.