--- title: Chatfuel canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/chatfuel/ category: Chatbot Builders points: 41 rank: 11 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # Chatfuel AI chatbot platform for WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and website chat, with a knowledge base, live chat and unlimited contacts. 41 points out of 100. #11 of 12 chatbot builders. Vendor: Chatfuel. Website: https://chatfuel.com/ - Business costs $18 a month on yearly billing and includes $20 of AI credits a month [1]. - There is no free plan; a 7-day trial gives $15 of credits [2]. - Every plan includes all channels, unlimited contacts and teammates, and every feature [2]. - Supported channels are WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and a website widget; Telegram is not supported [3]. - Chatfuel does not publish a conversation allowance; AI replies draw down a dollar wallet [2]. Verdict: Chatfuel suits businesses that sell in WhatsApp and Instagram chats and want a bot that answers from a knowledge base, with live chat for staff [3][4][8]. Every plan includes every feature and unlimited contacts [2]. The catch: AI usage is metered in dollars, not conversations, so cost at 1,000 chats is not published, and the closed website widget always shows the Chatfuel icon [11]. Best for: Small businesses and agencies that sell through WhatsApp and Instagram messages. Status: Chatfuel's help centre says its current products are built around AI automations, not the flow builder [13]. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Channels | Channels | Website chat widget, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram | 8/14 | Supported channels page lists Instagram, Facebook (Messenger), WhatsApp, TikTok and a website widget; Telegram is not supported [3]. | | Channels | Chat API | Yes | 4/4 | The Public API is a GraphQL API to read conversations and send messages on every channel [7]. | | Building | No-code builder | No | 0/6 | Help centre says the bot 'isn't a flowchart you draw on a canvas'; manual flows are called the legacy approach [13][15][16]. | | Building | Answers from your own content | Yes | 9/9 | The Knowledge Base holds your FAQ, catalog and business details; files uploaded at registration are extracted into it [4][5]. | | Building | Calls other systems | Yes | 4/4 | The JSON API plugin sends REST requests to outside services mid-conversation; Slack, Google Sheets and HubSpot connect via the AI Co-Worker [6]. | | Running it | Handoff to a human | Yes | 8/8 | Live chat lets an agent assign the chat to themselves and the AI stops replying; included in every plan [2][8]. | | Running it | Built-in analytics | Yes | 6/6 | Home page shows reporting built into the dashboard, with conversations started and leads; the Leads board closes leads as won or lost [9][10]. | | Running it | Remove vendor branding | No | 0/4 | The closed website chat button always shows the default Chatfuel icon, on all plans [11]. | | Trust | SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 | Not published | 0/6 | The security page names SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 only for its hosting providers, not for Chatfuel itself [14]. | | Trust | Open source | Not published | 0/3 | | | Trust | Data processing agreement | Yes | 2/2 | The compliance page lists a Data Processing Agreement with Standard Contractual Clauses 'upon request' [12]. | | Price | Free plan | No | 0/5 | Pricing page: 'Every plan starts with a free trial'; the trial lasts 7 days with $15 of credits [1][2]. | | Price | Price for 1,000 conversations | Not published | 0/9 | Allowance is a $20 monthly credit wallet; contacts are unlimited and no conversation count is published [1][2]. | | Independent testing | G2 AI CX evaluation | Not tested | 0/20 | G2 did not include it in the October 2026 test [17]. Not on G2's leaderboard. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Business | $18/month, yearly ($216/year) [1][2] | $18 | | Agency S | $90/month, yearly ($1,080/year) [1] | $90 | The yearly toggle is marked −10%; credits are granted per month and do not carry over. WhatsApp message charges from Meta also come out of the credit wallet [1][2]. ## Strengths - Every plan covers every channel, feature, contact and teammate; only AI replies and WhatsApp messages draw from credits [2]. - A documented GraphQL Public API reads and sends messages on every channel and can take over a chat as a human [7]. - Chatfuel says a data processing agreement and security policies are available on request [12]. - A JSON API plugin calls outside REST services during a conversation [6]. - Teammates can take over from the AI by assigning themselves in live chat [8]. ## Limits - No free plan, only a 7-day trial [2]. - No conversation allowance is published; usage is a dollar wallet that does not carry over each month [2]. - The chat button on a website always shows the Chatfuel icon, on all plans [11]. - Telegram, Viber and Line are not supported [3]. - Bots are set up with prompts and settings, not a flowchart drawn on a canvas [15]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Chatfuel says it is fully compliant with GDPR [12]. ## Sources 1. [Chatfuel pricing](https://chatfuel.com/pricing), Chatfuel, accessed 2026-10-09 2. [Chatfuel Plans and Pricing](https://chatfuel.com/docs/billing/chatfuel-plans-and-pricing), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 3. [Supported Channels](https://chatfuel.com/docs/getting-started/supported-channels), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 4. [How to Set Up Knowledge Base](https://chatfuel.com/docs/ai-features/how-to-set-up-knowledge-base), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 5. [How to manage uploaded company information](https://chatfuel.com/docs/ai-features/how-to-manage-uploaded-company-information), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 6. [How to Integrate with JSON API](https://chatfuel.com/docs/integrations/how-to-integrate-with-json-api), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 7. [Messaging API Reference](https://chatfuel.com/docs/public-api/messaging), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 8. [How to Stop AI During Active Conversations](https://chatfuel.com/docs/ai-features/how-to-stop-ai-during-active-conversations), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 9. [Chatfuel home](https://chatfuel.com/), Chatfuel, accessed 2026-10-09 10. [Funnel and drop-off report](https://chatfuel.com/docs/for-agencies/funnel-and-drop-off-report), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 11. [How to change the widget icon](https://chatfuel.com/docs/website/how-to-change-widget-icon), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 12. [What Regulations Does Chatfuel Comply With?](https://chatfuel.com/docs/security/what-regulations-does-chatfuel-comply-with), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 13. [Why There Is No Flows Button](https://chatfuel.com/docs/getting-started/why-there-is-no-flows-button), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 14. [How Is My Data Protected?](https://chatfuel.com/docs/security/how-is-my-data-protected), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 15. [Bot modules and blocks](https://chatfuel.com/docs/for-agencies/bot-modules-and-blocks), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 16. [Why the Co-Worker Cannot Edit Flows](https://chatfuel.com/docs/ai-features/why-co-worker-cant-edit-flows), Chatfuel Help Center, accessed 2026-10-09 17. [AI CX Agent Evaluations, General CX leaderboard](https://www.g2.com/categories/ai-agents/agent-evaluations), G2, accessed 2026-10-08