{"id":31139,"date":"2026-07-28T10:02:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T08:02:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/chatbot-app\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T16:44:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:44:21","slug":"chatbot-app","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/","title":{"rendered":"Chatbot App: The 12 Best in 2026 (and How to Build Yours)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>(function(){var s=document.createElement(\"style\");s.appendChild(document.createTextNode(\".bn-art{--bn-cream:#faf8f2;--bn-card:#faf6ea;--bn-sand:#ebe3cb;--bn-sand-2:#f3ecd9;--bn-sand-zebra:#f6f0df;--bn-coral:#fe716b;--bn-coral-soft:#fdeeed;--bn-coral-line:#f6c9c6;--bn-blue:#5b7bfb;--bn-blue-soft:#eef1fe;--bn-blue-line:#c9d4fb;--bn-green:#7bbf66;--bn-green-soft:#eef6ea;--bn-ink:#3d351f;--bn-text:#414b56;--bn-muted:#6d6653;--bn-border:#e6dcc2;--bn-r:16px;--bn-r-sm:11px;--bn-sp:22px;--bn-sh:0 1px 2px rgba(61,53,31,.05),0 10px 26px rgba(61,53,31,.07);--bn-sh-sm:0 1px 2px 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13px;background:var(--bn-sand-2);border-bottom:1px solid var(--bn-border)}.bn-shot-dot{width:8px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--bn-green);flex:none}.bn-shot-bar b{color:var(--bn-ink);font-size:.9em}.bn-shot-bar span{margin-left:auto;font-family:var(--bn-mono);font-size:10px;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.06em;color:var(--bn-muted)}.bn-shot-log{padding:13px 14px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:8px}.bn-shot .bn-bot-msg{max-width:86%;font-size:.9em}.bn-shot-quick{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:6px;margin-top:2px}.bn-shot-quick span{font-size:.78em;color:var(--bn-ink);background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--bn-coral-line);border-radius:999px;padding:4px 11px}.bn-exlink{margin:13px 0 0;font-weight:700;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:6px}.bn-exlink svg{width:16px;height:16px;flex:none;color:var(--bn-coral)}.bn-lb{background:var(--bn-card);border:1px solid var(--bn-border);border-radius:var(--bn-r);padding:24px 26px;margin:28px 0;box-shadow:var(--bn-sh)}.bn-lb h3{margin:.1em 0 .3em}.bn-lb>p{font-size:.95em;color:var(--bn-muted);margin:0 0 16px}.bn-lb-ctrl{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:11px;align-items:center;margin:0 0 16px}.bn-lb-ctrl br{display:none}.bn-lb-search{flex:1;min-width:200px;font-family:inherit;font-size:16px;color:var(--bn-ink);background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--bn-border);border-radius:999px;padding:11px 18px;outline:none}.bn-lb-search:focus{border-color:var(--bn-coral)}.bn-lb-filters{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:8px}.bn-art .bn-lb-fbtn{font-family:inherit;font-size:16px;color:var(--bn-ink);background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--bn-coral-line);border-radius:999px;padding:9px 16px;cursor:pointer;transition:.15s}.bn-art .bn-lb-fbtn:hover{background:var(--bn-coral-soft)}.bn-art .bn-lb-fbtn.on{background:var(--bn-coral);color:#fff;border-color:var(--bn-coral)}.bn-lb .bn-lb-th{cursor:pointer;user-select:none;white-space:nowrap}.bn-lb .bn-lb-th:hover{color:#fbf7ec;opacity:.85}.bn-lb-rank{font-family:var(--bn-mono);font-weight:700;color:var(--bn-coral);text-align:center}.bn-lb-score{font-family:var(--bn-mono);font-weight:700;color:var(--bn-ink);text-align:right;white-space:nowrap}.lb-empty{padding:16px;text-align:center;color:var(--bn-muted);font-size:.95em}.bn-lb-foot{font-size:16px;color:var(--bn-muted);margin:14px 0 0;font-style:italic}@media(max-width:680px){.bn-art{font-size:17px}.bn-stats,.bn-grid,.bn-cols,.bn-ex .bn-ba,.bns-grid,.bn-roi-fields,.bn-roi-out{grid-template-columns:1fr}.bn-roi-field:last-child{grid-column:auto}.bn-toc ol{columns:1}.bn-art h2{font-size:1.5em}.bn-bot-msg{max-width:90%}}.bn-art .lb-empty{display:none}.bn-art .appx-note{font-size:16px;color:var(--bn-muted);margin:14px 0 0;font-style:italic}.bn-art .bn-quiz br,.bn-art .bn-lb br,.bn-art .bn-cta p br,.bn-art .bn-grid br,.bn-art .bn-cols br,.bn-art .bn-tablewrap br{display:none}.bn-art .bn-quiz #app-d{background:var(--bn-coral-soft);border-color:var(--bn-coral-line)}.bn-art .bn-quiz #app-b{background:var(--bn-green-soft);border-color:#cfe6c4}.bn-art .bn-cta p .bn-cta-btn{margin:6px 6px}.bn-art sup,.bn-art sub{font-size:14px;line-height:0}.bn-art .bn-lb-th{white-space:nowrap}\"));document.head.appendChild(s);})();<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"bn-art\">\n<div class=\"bn-tldr\">\n<p><strong>In short.<\/strong> \u201cChatbot app\u201d means two very different things: the app you install to chat with an AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Vibe, Lumo\u2026), and the chatbot you put on your own website to answer your customers. Both are useful, and neither replaces the other.<\/p>\n<p>Below: a filterable comparison of 12 apps, the real prices recorded on July 28, 2026 on the official pages, what the free tiers actually allow, where your data goes, and a selector that settles it in 5 questions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Type \u201cchatbot app\u201d into Google and you get a mix: Play Store listings, roundups of mobile apps, and comparisons of professional platforms. That\u2019s no accident. Two opposite needs hide behind those two words, and most pages only handle one of them.<\/p>\n<p>This article handles both, in order: first the apps you use to <strong>chat<\/strong> with an AI, then the chatbot app you can have <strong>speak for you<\/strong> to your customers. Every figure quoted here was recorded on July 28, 2026 on the vendors\u2019 official pages, screenshots included.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Summary<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #3d351f;color:#3d351f\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #3d351f;color:#3d351f\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#Three_different_things_behind_the_same_two_words\" >Three different things behind the same two words<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#1_The_app_you_chat_with\" >1. The app you chat with<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#2_Your_brands_chatbot\" >2. Your brand\u2019s chatbot<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#3_Business_use_cases\" >3. Business use cases<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#Comparison_12_chatbot_apps_worth_knowing_in_2026\" >Comparison: 12 chatbot apps worth knowing in 2026<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#Find_the_app_that_matches_how_youll_use_it\" >Find the app that matches how you\u2019ll use it<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#General-purpose_apps_when_you_want_one_app_for_everything\" >General-purpose apps: when you want one app for everything<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#The_European_ones_when_the_data_question_comes_up\" >The European ones: when the data question comes up<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#The_specialized_ones_when_you_already_know_what_you_need\" >The specialized ones: when you already know what you need<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#How_much_does_a_chatbot_app_cost_in_2026\" >How much does a chatbot app cost in 2026?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#How_far_does_the_free_version_really_go\" >How far does the free version really go?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#Your_data_where_does_it_actually_go\" >Your data: where does it actually go?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#What_to_check\" >What to check<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#What_it_changes\" >What it changes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#Which_chatbot_app_do_you_need_The_5-question_test\" >Which chatbot app do you need? The 5-question test<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#The_selector\" >The selector<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#The_other_meaning_building_your_own_chatbot_app\" >The other meaning: building your own chatbot app<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#What_a_consumer_app_will_never_do_for_you\" >What a consumer app will never do for you<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#The_5_steps_to_build_a_chatbot_app_that_earns_its_place\" >The 5 steps to build a chatbot app that earns its place<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#How_much_does_your_own_chatbot_app_cost\" >How much does your own chatbot app cost?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#A_legal_obligation_kicks_in_on_August_2_2026\" >A legal obligation kicks in on August 2, 2026<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#Frequently_asked_questions\" >Frequently asked questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-app\/#Your_chatbot_app_the_one_thats_actually_yours\" >Your chatbot app, the one that\u2019s actually yours<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"trois-sens\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Three_different_things_behind_the_same_two_words\"><\/span>Three different things behind the same two words<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"bn-def\">\n<span class=\"bn-klabel\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"9\"><\/circle><path d=\"M12 16v-5M12 8h.01\"><\/path><\/svg>Definition<\/span>\n<p>A <strong>chatbot app<\/strong> is software whose main interface is a conversation: you type, a program answers. The word \u201capp\u201d can mean the app you install on your phone, the program running on a server, or the business job you put it to. Hence the confusion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bn-grid\">\n<div class=\"bn-card\">\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_The_app_you_chat_with\"><\/span><svg viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><rect x=\"6\" y=\"2\" width=\"12\" height=\"20\" rx=\"3\"><\/rect><path d=\"M11 18h2\"><\/path><\/svg>1. The app you chat with<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>You download it, you ask your questions. That\u2019s ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, Vibe. A general-purpose assistant, trained on the web, that knows neither your catalog nor your opening hours.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bn-card\">\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Your_brands_chatbot\"><\/span><svg viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><path d=\"M21 15a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H7l-4 4V5a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h14a2 2 0 0 1 2 2z\"><\/path><\/svg>2. Your brand\u2019s chatbot<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The one that answers your visitors on your site, your online store or WhatsApp. It speaks in your name, knows your products, and belongs to you. That\u2019s a project, not a download.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bn-card\">\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Business_use_cases\"><\/span><svg viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><path d=\"M4 19V5M4 19h16\"><\/path><path d=\"M8 15l3-4 3 3 4-6\"><\/path><\/svg>3. Business use cases<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The \u201cwhat is it for\u201d meaning: customer support, pre-sales, HR, appointment booking, order tracking. That\u2019s what our <a href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-example\/\">chatbot examples<\/a> cover.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>One reader in two lands here for meaning 1, the other for meaning 2. Both sections are below. Let\u2019s start with the consumer apps, since that\u2019s what Google puts forward on this query.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"comparateur\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Comparison_12_chatbot_apps_worth_knowing_in_2026\"><\/span>Comparison: 12 chatbot apps worth knowing in 2026<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The table below is filterable and sortable. Search for a name, or filter on what matters to you: a European vendor, access without signing up, a specialized app.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bn-lb\" id=\"appcmp\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Find_the_app_that_matches_how_youll_use_it\"><\/span>Find the app that matches how you\u2019ll use it<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>12 apps for chatting with an AI, each listed with what it does best.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bn-lb-ctrl\">\n<input class=\"bn-lb-search\" id=\"appcmp-q\" type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Search an app, a vendor...\" aria-label=\"Search an app\">\n<div class=\"bn-lb-filters\">\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"bn-lb-fbtn on\" data-f=\"all\">All<\/button><br>\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"bn-lb-fbtn\" data-f=\"general\">General-purpose<\/button><br>\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"bn-lb-fbtn\" data-f=\"specialise\">Specialized<\/button><br>\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"bn-lb-fbtn\" data-f=\"europe\">European vendor<\/button><br>\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"bn-lb-fbtn\" data-f=\"sanscompte\">No sign-up<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bn-tablewrap\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"bn-lb-th\" data-s=\"name\">App<\/th>\n<th class=\"bn-lb-th\" data-s=\"editor\">Vendor (country)<\/th>\n<th>Where to use it<\/th>\n<th>What it does best<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr data-name=\"ChatGPT\" data-editor=\"OpenAI United States\" data-best=\"versatile general purpose write summarize\" data-tags=\"general gratuit sanscompte\">\n<td>ChatGPT<\/td>\n<td>OpenAI (United States)<\/td>\n<td>iOS, Android, web, desktop<\/td>\n<td>The most versatile: writing, summarizing, coding, analyzing a document<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-name=\"Gemini\" data-editor=\"Google United States\" data-best=\"android google integration\" data-tags=\"general gratuit\">\n<td>Gemini<\/td>\n<td>Google (United States)<\/td>\n<td>iOS, Android, web<\/td>\n<td>Integration with Android, Gmail and the Google services<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-name=\"Claude\" data-editor=\"Anthropic United States\" data-best=\"writing documents analysis\" data-tags=\"general gratuit\">\n<td>Claude<\/td>\n<td>Anthropic (United States)<\/td>\n<td>iOS, Android, web, desktop<\/td>\n<td>Long-form writing and document analysis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-name=\"Copilot\" data-editor=\"Microsoft United States\" data-best=\"windows office productivity\" data-tags=\"general gratuit\">\n<td>Copilot<\/td>\n<td>Microsoft (United States)<\/td>\n<td>iOS, Android, web, Windows<\/td>\n<td>Working inside Windows and Microsoft 365<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-name=\"Vibe ex Le Chat\" data-editor=\"Mistral AI France\" data-best=\"french european sovereign\" data-tags=\"general gratuit europe\">\n<td>Vibe (formerly Le Chat)<\/td>\n<td>Mistral AI (France)<\/td>\n<td>iOS, Android, web<\/td>\n<td>The French alternative, running its own models<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-name=\"Lumo\" data-editor=\"Proton Switzerland\" data-best=\"privacy encryption confidential\" data-tags=\"general gratuit europe sanscompte\">\n<td>Lumo<\/td>\n<td>Proton (Switzerland)<\/td>\n<td>iOS, Android, web<\/td>\n<td>Privacy: encrypted conversations, no training on them<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-name=\"Perplexity\" data-editor=\"Perplexity AI United States\" data-best=\"search sources engine\" data-tags=\"specialise gratuit sanscompte\">\n<td>Perplexity<\/td>\n<td>Perplexity AI (United States)<\/td>\n<td>iOS, Android, web<\/td>\n<td>Looking things up with the sources shown<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-name=\"Grok\" data-editor=\"xAI United States\" data-best=\"news social network real time\" data-tags=\"specialise gratuit\">\n<td>Grok<\/td>\n<td>xAI (United States)<\/td>\n<td>iOS, Android, web, X network<\/td>\n<td>Following the news and the conversations on X<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-name=\"DeepSeek\" data-editor=\"DeepSeek China\" data-best=\"code reasoning open source\" data-tags=\"specialise gratuit\">\n<td>DeepSeek<\/td>\n<td>DeepSeek (China)<\/td>\n<td>iOS, Android, web<\/td>\n<td>Reasoning and code, on openly released models<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-name=\"Meta AI\" data-editor=\"Meta United States\" data-best=\"messagerie whatsapp instagram\" data-tags=\"general gratuit\">\n<td>Meta AI<\/td>\n<td>Meta (United States)<\/td>\n<td>WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, standalone app<\/td>\n<td>AI where you already chat, with nothing to install<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-name=\"Character AI\" data-editor=\"Character Technologies United States\" data-best=\"characters roleplay companion\" data-tags=\"specialise gratuit\">\n<td>Character.AI<\/td>\n<td>Character Technologies (United States)<\/td>\n<td>iOS, Android, web<\/td>\n<td>Characters and conversational role-play<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-name=\"Nation AI\" data-editor=\"Nation France\" data-best=\"no signup browser instant\" data-tags=\"gratuit europe sanscompte\">\n<td>Nation AI<\/td>\n<td>Nation (France)<\/td>\n<td>Browser, nothing to install<\/td>\n<td>Chatting straight away, with no account to create<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"lb-empty\" id=\"appcmp-empty\">No app matches that search. Clear the field or go back to the \u201cAll\u201d filter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"bn-lb-foot\">Table compiled on July 28, 2026 from the vendors\u2019 official pages. These apps move fast: check the features and the quotas before you commit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"bn-fig\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/botnation-application-chatbot-img1.jpg\" alt=\"Five chatbot apps shown as five colorful smartphones displaying conversation bubbles, seen from above\"><figcaption>Choosing a chatbot app is mostly choosing a job: writing, searching, coding, or having your brand answer for you.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"General-purpose_apps_when_you_want_one_app_for_everything\"><\/span>General-purpose apps: when you want one app for everything<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Copilot do roughly the same things: answer, write, summarize, translate, analyze a file. The choice rarely comes down to raw quality, it comes down to <strong>where you already work<\/strong>. On Android with a Gmail inbox, Gemini is a thumb away. In a Windows and Microsoft 365 environment, Copilot is already installed. For long text and documents, Claude is often more comfortable. ChatGPT remains the Swiss army knife, and the richest in side features.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bn-call bn-tip\">\n<svg viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><path d=\"M9 18h6M10 22h4\"><\/path><path d=\"M12 2a7 7 0 0 0-4 12.7V17h8v-2.3A7 7 0 0 0 12 2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n<div>\n<span class=\"bn-klabel\">Tip<\/span>\n<p>Don\u2019t go looking for \u201cthe best\u201d chatbot app in the abstract. Ask two free apps the same question for a week, on your real topics. The ranking that counts is the one your own answers produce, not the one in a comparison table.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_European_ones_when_the_data_question_comes_up\"><\/span>The European ones: when the data question comes up<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Two names stand out. <strong>Vibe<\/strong>, the app from French vendor Mistral AI: it\u2019s the former Le Chat, renamed in 2026 when Mistral merged its assistant, its work mode and its coding tool under a single brand (source: Mistral help center). Accounts, subscriptions and conversations were carried over. <strong>Lumo<\/strong>, launched by Proton in July 2025, takes the opposite angle: few spectacular features, but encrypted conversations, no training on your exchanges, and access without an account. Proton announced in 2025 that it was moving the Lumo infrastructure to Germany.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_specialized_ones_when_you_already_know_what_you_need\"><\/span>The specialized ones: when you already know what you need<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Perplexity<\/strong> answers like a search engine, with the sources under every claim. It\u2019s the app to open when you need to check something, not when you need to write.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Grok<\/strong>, the app from xAI, gets its value from being plugged into the X network. We gave it a <a href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/grok-chatbot\/\">full guide to Grok<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DeepSeek<\/strong> built its reputation on reasoning and code, with models published in open access.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Character.AI<\/strong> plays a different game: characters, role-play and conversation for its own sake.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Want to see how these models actually rank, and who decides? The <a href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-arena\/\">Chatbot Arena leaderboard<\/a> has users vote blind on head-to-head answers. It\u2019s the most quoted measure in the field, with its limits.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"prix\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_does_a_chatbot_app_cost_in_2026\"><\/span>How much does a chatbot app cost in 2026?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Here are the official prices recorded on July 28, 2026, not estimates. They change regularly: the date matters as much as the figure.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bn-tablewrap\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>What you are after<\/th>\n<th>Monthly budget<\/th>\n<th>Example recorded on July 28, 2026<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Chatting, without paying<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac0<\/td>\n<td>ChatGPT Free, Vibe Free, Lumo, Nation AI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Chatting a lot, as an individual<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac8 to \u20ac25 per month<\/td>\n<td>ChatGPT Go at \u20ac8, ChatGPT Plus at \u20ac23, Vibe Pro at \u20ac14.99 excluding tax<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Heavy or advanced professional use<\/td>\n<td>over \u20ac100 per month<\/td>\n<td>ChatGPT Pro from \u20ac103 per month<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Your own chatbot, built by you<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac0 to \u20ac59 per month<\/td>\n<td>Botnation: For Free \u20ac0, Basic \u20ac39, Pro \u20ac59 per month<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Your own chatbot, built for you<\/td>\n<td>on quote<\/td>\n<td>Botnation Enterprise plan, chatbot creation services included<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"bn-fig\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/chatgpt-pricing-en-shot.jpg\" alt=\"ChatGPT pricing page in English showing the Free, Go at 8 euros, Plus at 23 euros and Pro from 103 euros per month plans\"><figcaption>The official ChatGPT pricing page, in English and in euros, captured on July 28, 2026 (source: chatgpt.com).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For the other consumer apps, an individual subscription sits around \u20ac20 per month. That\u2019s a market ballpark, not an official price: check the figure on the vendor page before you subscribe, and watch the \u201cexcluding tax\u201d line in particular, which adds 20% to the final bill in France.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"gratuit\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_far_does_the_free_version_really_go\"><\/span>How far does the free version really go?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Every app in the table has a free version. That\u2019s true, and it\u2019s incomplete. Here is what free costs you in practice.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"bn-steps\">\n<li><b>Quotas, often invisible<\/b>A number of messages per day or per window of a few hours. You only find out the moment you go over, usually in the middle of something.<\/li>\n<li><b>A weaker model<\/b>The free version often drops to a lighter model once the quota is hit. Answers stay decent, they lose their edge.<\/li>\n<li><b>Capped features<\/b>Web search, image generation, analysis of large files, memory between conversations: that\u2019s where the gap between free and paid shows up.<\/li>\n<li><b>Your exchanges, sometimes used for training<\/b>Several vendors reuse free-account conversations by default to improve their models. The opt-out almost always exists, you just have to go find it in the settings.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"bn-call bn-warn\">\n<svg viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><path d=\"M10.3 3.9 1.8 18a2 2 0 0 0 1.7 3h17a2 2 0 0 0 1.7-3L13.7 3.9a2 2 0 0 0-3.4 0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12 9v4M12 17h.01\"><\/path><\/svg>\n<div>\n<span class=\"bn-klabel\">Careful<\/span>\n<p>A consumer chatbot app isn\u2019t a professional tool by default. Pasting a customer file, a contract or a medical record into one hands that data to a third party, outside your control. For regular professional use, take an enterprise plan with a contract behind it, or a tool you host and configure yourself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"donnees\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_data_where_does_it_actually_go\"><\/span>Your data: where does it actually go?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This is the question app comparisons skip most often. Three criteria are enough to see clearly.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bn-cols\">\n<div class=\"bn-col biz\">\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_check\"><\/span><svg viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><path d=\"M12 2 3 6v6c0 5 3.8 9.2 9 10 5.2-.8 9-5 9-10V6z\"><\/path><\/svg>What to check<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Where the servers sit, and under which jurisdiction<\/li>\n<li>Whether your conversations train the model, and how to opt out<\/li>\n<li>How long the history is kept, and whether you can delete it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bn-col cli\">\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_it_changes\"><\/span><svg viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"9\"><\/circle><path d=\"M9 12l2 2 4-4\"><\/path><\/svg>What it changes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>A European vendor makes compliance simpler, it doesn\u2019t deliver it alone<\/li>\n<li>Opting out of training takes 30 seconds in the settings<\/li>\n<li>Access without an account leaves fewer traces tied to your identity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The two most serious options on this front remain Vibe for a French vendor, and Lumo for encrypted conversations. Watch the shortcut, though: \u201cEuropean vendor\u201d isn\u2019t a synonym for \u201cGDPR-compliant in your context\u201d. What binds you is how you use the tool and what you feed into it.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"bn-fig\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/botnation-application-chatbot-shot-mistral.jpg\" alt=\"Official Mistral AI pricing page showing the Free, Pro, Team and Enterprise plans for Vibe\"><figcaption>The Mistral AI pricing page: the assistant now shows up under the name Vibe. Captured on July 28, 2026, displayed in dollars, with a currency selector that offers euros (source: mistral.ai).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"selecteur\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_chatbot_app_do_you_need_The_5-question_test\"><\/span>Which chatbot app do you need? The 5-question test<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Answer the 5 questions below. The selector isn\u2019t selling you anything: on a tie, it recommends the least committing option, meaning a free general-purpose app.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bn-quiz\" id=\"appsel\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_selector\"><\/span>The selector<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>5 questions, one recommendation. No data is sent anywhere, everything is worked out in your browser.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bnq-q\">\n<p class=\"bnq-qt\">1. What will this app be used for day to day?<\/p>\n<p><label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as1\" data-v=\"a\"><span>Writing, summarizing, answering everyday questions<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as1\" data-v=\"b\"><span>Handling sensitive or work-related information<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as1\" data-v=\"c\"><span>Finding up-to-date information, with the sources<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as1\" data-v=\"d\"><span>Answering my customers or my visitors automatically<\/span><\/label>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"bnq-q\">\n<p class=\"bnq-qt\">2. Who will be asking the questions?<\/p>\n<p><label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as2\" data-v=\"a\"><span>Me, for my personal use<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as2\" data-v=\"b\"><span>Me and my colleagues, in a work setting<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as2\" data-v=\"c\"><span>Me, for research or market monitoring<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as2\" data-v=\"d\"><span>Visitors and customers I don\u2019t know<\/span><\/label>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"bnq-q\">\n<p class=\"bnq-qt\">3. What happens if the answer is wrong?<\/p>\n<p><label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as3\" data-v=\"a\"><span>Nothing serious, I spot it and I fix it<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as3\" data-v=\"b\"><span>It becomes a privacy or compliance problem<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as3\" data-v=\"c\"><span>I lose time double-checking everything elsewhere<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as3\" data-v=\"d\"><span>My company is on the hook in front of a customer<\/span><\/label>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"bnq-q\">\n<p class=\"bnq-qt\">4. What should the answer be based on?<\/p>\n<p><label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as4\" data-v=\"a\"><span>The general knowledge of the model, that\u2019s enough<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as4\" data-v=\"b\"><span>The same, but without my exchanges being used for training<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as4\" data-v=\"c\"><span>The live web, with the sources shown<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as4\" data-v=\"d\"><span>My own content: catalog, prices, FAQ, procedures<\/span><\/label>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"bnq-q\">\n<p class=\"bnq-qt\">5. Where should the conversation happen?<\/p>\n<p><label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as5\" data-v=\"a\"><span>In an app on my phone or in my browser<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as5\" data-v=\"b\"><span>In an app whose hosting I can account for<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as5\" data-v=\"c\"><span>In my browser, next to a search engine<\/span><\/label><br>\n<label class=\"bnq-opt\"><input type=\"radio\" name=\"as5\" data-v=\"d\"><span>On my site, my online store, WhatsApp or Messenger<\/span><\/label>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"bnq-btn\" id=\"appsel-go\">See my recommendation<\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"appx-note\" id=\"appsel-note\">Answer the 5 questions, then click the button.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bnq-res\" id=\"app-a\">\n<p class=\"bnq-rt\">A free general-purpose app is enough<\/p>\n<p>Your need is the one most people have: a versatile assistant, to write and understand faster. Take the one already sitting in your environment (Gemini on Android, Copilot on Windows) or ChatGPT if you\u2019re starting from scratch. Stay on the free tier as long as you\u2019re not hitting the quotas. Paying is a decision you make when the limit gets in your way, not before.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bnq-res\" id=\"app-b\">\n<p class=\"bnq-rt\">Go with a European app, and set the privacy options<\/p>\n<p>Your answers point to a data issue. Look at Vibe, the app from French vendor Mistral AI, or Lumo from Proton for encrypted conversations. Either way, turn off training on your exchanges in the settings, and never paste a customer file into a consumer app without a contract covering it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bnq-res\" id=\"app-c\">\n<p class=\"bnq-rt\">Take an app built for search<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re not looking for a writer, you\u2019re looking for a verifiable answer. Perplexity shows its sources under every claim, which saves you the cross-checking step. Keep a general-purpose app alongside it for writing: the two jobs don\u2019t overlap.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bnq-res\" id=\"app-d\">\n<p class=\"bnq-rt\">What you need isn\u2019t a consumer app, it\u2019s your own chatbot<\/p>\n<p>You want to answer people who aren\u2019t you, on topics only your company knows. No app in the table will do it: they know nothing about your catalog, your prices or your procedures. What you need is a chatbot fed with your content and placed on your channels. The next section explains how it gets built, and what it costs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"bn-fig\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/botnation-application-chatbot-img2.jpg\" alt=\"Person seen from behind in a warmly lit living room, chatting with a chatbot app on their smartphone in the evening\"><figcaption>Consumer apps are excellent for personal use. They stop dead the moment someone has to answer on behalf of a company.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"creer\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_other_meaning_building_your_own_chatbot_app\"><\/span>The other meaning: building your own chatbot app<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You run a shop, a trade business, a local government office, an HR department or an online store, and you\u2019re searching for \u201cchatbot app\u201d to <strong>equip your business<\/strong>. The reasoning changes completely.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_a_consumer_app_will_never_do_for_you\"><\/span>What a consumer app will never do for you<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>ChatGPT knows nothing about your opening hours, your return policy, or the stock level of the item a customer is asking about. It\u2019s not on your site at 10 p.m. either, when a visitor hesitates. A business chatbot does three things no downloaded app does:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>it answers <strong>from your content<\/strong>, not from the general knowledge of the web;<\/li>\n<li>it lives <strong>on your channels<\/strong>: website, online store, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram;<\/li>\n<li>it <strong>does something<\/strong> at the end: capture a contact, book an appointment, hand over to a human.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>On that last point, the numbers against the old contact form are worth a look: we documented them in <a href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-vs-form\/\">chatbot versus form<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_5_steps_to_build_a_chatbot_app_that_earns_its_place\"><\/span>The 5 steps to build a chatbot app that earns its place<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol class=\"bn-steps\">\n<li><b>Pick one problem to solve<\/b>Not \u201canswer everything\u201d. A measurable goal: absorb the delivery questions, qualify the quote requests, take pressure off the front desk. The chatbots that fail are almost always the ones that tried to do it all.<\/li>\n<li><b>Gather the raw material<\/b>Existing FAQ, product pages, terms of sale, the standard emails your support team sends. That material drives answer quality far more than the model you pick. We lay out the method in our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/train-chatbot-own-data\/\">training a chatbot on your own data<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><b>Write down the 20 questions that keep coming back<\/b>Use your real conversations, not questions you imagined. Twenty well-handled questions often cover most of the incoming volume.<\/li>\n<li><b>Choose the right type of chatbot<\/b>Guided script, AI chatbot fed with your documents, or a mix of the two. The choice depends on how varied the requests are: see our comparison of <a href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/type-of-chatbot\/\">chatbot types<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><b>Publish on the right channels, then fix<\/b>A chatbot gets tuned by reading the real conversations of the first two weeks. That\u2019s where performance is won, not in the initial setup.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure class=\"bn-fig\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/botnation-application-chatbot-img3.jpg\" alt=\"Hands laying out colored cards in a tree structure on a light wooden desk, next to a smartphone showing conversation bubbles\"><figcaption>Building a business chatbot starts with organizing answers, not with writing code.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_does_your_own_chatbot_app_cost\"><\/span>How much does your own chatbot app cost?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Two paths, two budgets. The first: you build it yourself on a no-code platform. At Botnation, the For Free plan is \u20ac0 per month and already lets you publish a chatbot, with no credit card. The Basic and Pro plans are \u20ac39 and \u20ac59 per month. The second path: you have the chatbot built by the team behind the platform, under the Enterprise plan, which explicitly includes chatbot creation services, a dedicated account manager and personalized onboarding. That plan is <strong>on quote<\/strong>: we publish neither a price nor a lead time, because both depend on the real scope.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"bn-fig\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/botnation-pricing-en-shot.jpg\" alt=\"Botnation pricing page in English showing For Free at 0 euros, Basic at 39 euros and Pro at 59 euros per month\"><figcaption>The Botnation plans on the English pricing page, captured on July 28, 2026. The trial is free and asks for no credit card.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"bn-call bn-info\">\n<svg viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"9\"><\/circle><path d=\"M12 16v-5M12 8h.01\"><\/path><\/svg>\n<div>\n<span class=\"bn-klabel\">Full disclosure<\/span>\n<p>Botnation edits a no-code chatbot creation platform <strong>and<\/strong> builds custom chatbots for its clients, through its Enterprise plan. So we\u2019re judge and jury on the second half of this article. Better to say so up front. The consumer app prices quoted above come from the official pages of their vendors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_legal_obligation_kicks_in_on_August_2_2026\"><\/span>A legal obligation kicks in on August 2, 2026<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re putting a chatbot online for your business, note that date. Article 50 of the European artificial intelligence regulation (Regulation EU 2024\/1689, known as the AI Act) becomes applicable <strong>from August 2, 2026<\/strong>. It requires AI systems designed to interact directly with people to be built so that those people <strong>know they are talking to an AI<\/strong>, unless it is obvious to a reasonably attentive user.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bn-call bn-warn\">\n<svg viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><path d=\"M10.3 3.9 1.8 18a2 2 0 0 0 1.7 3h17a2 2 0 0 0 1.7-3L13.7 3.9a2 2 0 0 0-3.4 0z\"><\/path><path d=\"M12 9v4M12 17h.01\"><\/path><\/svg>\n<div>\n<span class=\"bn-klabel\">To do before August 2<\/span>\n<p>Check that your chatbot states clearly what it is from the very first message, and that handover to a human is possible. Failing the transparency obligations of Article 50 carries a fine of up to \u20ac15 million or 3% of total worldwide annual turnover, whichever is higher. General information, which does not replace legal advice tailored to your situation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In practice, it\u2019s one line of text to add to the welcome message. Well-designed chatbots were already doing it: announcing that you\u2019re an automated assistant raises satisfaction rather than lowering it, because the user adjusts their expectations.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"faq\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_asked_questions\"><\/span>Frequently asked questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<details class=\"bn-faq\">\n<summary>What is the best chatbot app?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"bn-faq-b\">\n<p>There\u2019s no universal winner, and be wary of rankings that name one. ChatGPT is the most versatile, Gemini the best integrated with Android, Claude the most comfortable with long documents, Perplexity the best for looking things up, Vibe and Lumo the most interesting on the data question. The selector above points you in the right direction in 5 questions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"bn-faq\">\n<summary>What exactly is a chatbot app?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"bn-faq-b\">\n<p>It\u2019s software whose interface is a conversation: you write a message, a program answers you in plain language. The term covers the mobile app you install to chat with an AI just as much as the chatbot a company puts on its website. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/products\/faq\/\">FAQ chatbot page<\/a> shows what that second version looks like in practice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"bn-faq\">\n<summary>What is the best free chatbot?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"bn-faq-b\">\n<p>The free versions of ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, Vibe, Perplexity and Lumo cover personal use comfortably. For daily use without an account, Lumo, Perplexity and Nation AI open straight in the browser. To build your own chatbot without paying, most no-code platforms offer a free plan, Botnation included at \u20ac0 per month.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"bn-faq\">\n<summary>Is there a 100% free chatbot app?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"bn-faq-b\">\n<p>Yes, with limits. Every app in the comparison has a permanently free version. In exchange: message quotas, a lighter model at times, advanced features reserved for subscribers, and conversations often reused to train the models if you don\u2019t turn the option off. Free works very well for personal use, much less so for regular professional use.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"bn-faq\">\n<summary>Which chatbot apps come from a European vendor?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"bn-faq-b\">\n<p>Every app in the table handles English, and most major European languages, without trouble. If you want a European <strong>vendor<\/strong> rather than an American one, the list narrows to Vibe (Mistral AI, France), Lumo (Proton, Switzerland) and Nation AI (France). Filter on \u201cEuropean vendor\u201d in the comparison table to isolate them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"bn-faq\">\n<summary>Can you use a chatbot app without creating an account?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"bn-faq-b\">\n<p>Yes, on several of them. ChatGPT has offered a guest mode since 2024, Perplexity answers without a login, Lumo doesn\u2019t ask for a Proton account and Nation AI opens straight in the browser. The limits are real: no history, no memory between conversations, and tighter quotas than with a free account.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"bn-faq\">\n<summary>Can you put a chatbot inside your own mobile app?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"bn-faq-b\">\n<p>Yes. A chatbot built on a no-code platform publishes to a website, but also to a messaging app such as WhatsApp or Messenger, which often removes the need to develop an app at all. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/channels\/\">publishing channels<\/a> lay out the options, and our <a href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/whatsapp\/\">WhatsApp chatbot guide<\/a> covers the most requested case.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"bn-faq\">\n<summary>Does a chatbot have to say it\u2019s an AI?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"bn-faq-b\">\n<p>From August 2, 2026, yes, in the European Union. Article 50 of Regulation EU 2024\/1689 requires informing a person that they are interacting with an AI system, except where it is obvious. In concrete terms, a clear line in the welcome message is enough in most cases. This information is general and does not replace legal advice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<div class=\"bn-cta\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_chatbot_app_the_one_thats_actually_yours\"><\/span>Your chatbot app, the one that\u2019s actually yours<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The apps in the comparison answer your questions. A Botnation chatbot answers the questions your customers ask, with your content, on your site and on WhatsApp. The free plan lets you publish a first bot with no credit card.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"bn-cta-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/pricing\/\">See the plans, including the free one<\/a> <a class=\"bn-cta-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/chatbot-request\/\" style=\"background:transparent;color:#fff !important;box-shadow:none;border:2px solid #fe716b\">Request a quote<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;color:#6d6653;font-style:italic;margin-top:26px\">Sources for the figures quoted: official pricing pages of <a href=\"https:\/\/chatgpt.com\/fr-FR\/pricing\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ChatGPT<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/mistral.ai\/pricing\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Mistral AI<\/a>, Mistral help center for the move from Le Chat to Vibe, Proton product page for Lumo, and <a href=\"https:\/\/artificialintelligenceact.eu\/article\/50\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Article 50 of Regulation EU 2024\/1689<\/a> for the transparency obligation. Recorded on July 28, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>(function(){function ready(fn){if(document.readyState===\"loading\"){document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",fn);}else{fn();}}function norm(t){t=t.toLowerCase();if(t.normalize){t=t.normalize(\"NFD\").replace(\/[\\u0300-\\u036f]\/g,\"\");}return t;}function initCmp(){var root=document.getElementById(\"appcmp\");if(!root){return;}var tbs=root.getElementsByTagName(\"tbody\");if(tbs.length===0){return;}var tb=tbs[0];var q=document.getElementById(\"appcmp-q\");var empty=document.getElementById(\"appcmp-empty\");var btns=root.getElementsByClassName(\"bn-lb-fbtn\");var ths=root.getElementsByClassName(\"bn-lb-th\");var cur=\"all\";var sortKey=\"\";var sortDir=1;function apply(){var rs=tb.getElementsByTagName(\"tr\");var n=0;var s=norm(q.value);for(var i=0;i!==rs.length;i++){var r=rs[i];var okt=true;if(cur!==\"all\"){okt=(r.getAttribute(\"data-tags\").indexOf(cur)!==-1);}var okq=true;if(s.length!==0){var hay=norm(r.getAttribute(\"data-name\")+\" \"+r.getAttribute(\"data-editor\")+\" \"+r.getAttribute(\"data-best\"));okq=(hay.indexOf(s)!==-1);}var show=false;if(okt){if(okq){show=true;}}if(show){r.style.display=\"\";n=n+1;}else{r.style.display=\"none\";}}if(n===0){empty.style.display=\"block\";}else{empty.style.display=\"none\";}}function sortBy(k){if(sortKey===k){sortDir=-sortDir;}else{sortKey=k;sortDir=1;}var rs=tb.getElementsByTagName(\"tr\");var arr=[];for(var i=0;i!==rs.length;i++){arr.push(rs[i]);}var attr=\"data-name\";if(k===\"editor\"){attr=\"data-editor\";}arr.sort(function(a,b){return sortDir*a.getAttribute(attr).localeCompare(b.getAttribute(attr));});for(var j=0;j!==arr.length;j++){tb.appendChild(arr[j]);}}function bindBtn(b){b.addEventListener(\"click\",function(){cur=b.getAttribute(\"data-f\");for(var k=0;k!==btns.length;k++){btns[k].className=\"bn-lb-fbtn\";}b.className=\"bn-lb-fbtn on\";apply();});}function bindTh(t){t.addEventListener(\"click\",function(){sortBy(t.getAttribute(\"data-s\"));});}for(var i=0;i!==btns.length;i++){bindBtn(btns[i]);}for(var m=0;m!==ths.length;m++){bindTh(ths[m]);}q.addEventListener(\"input\",apply);apply();}function initSel(){var root=document.getElementById(\"appsel\");if(!root){return;}var go=document.getElementById(\"appsel-go\");var note=document.getElementById(\"appsel-note\");var ids=[\"app-a\",\"app-b\",\"app-c\",\"app-d\"];go.addEventListener(\"click\",function(){var ins=root.getElementsByTagName(\"input\");var ca=0;var cb=0;var cc=0;var cd=0;var tot=0;for(var i=0;i!==ins.length;i++){if(ins[i].checked){var v=ins[i].getAttribute(\"data-v\");if(v===\"a\"){ca=ca+1;}if(v===\"b\"){cb=cb+1;}if(v===\"c\"){cc=cc+1;}if(v===\"d\"){cd=cd+1;}tot=tot+1;}}for(var j=0;j!==ids.length;j++){document.getElementById(ids[j]).className=\"bnq-res\";}if(tot===0){note.style.display=\"block\";return;}note.style.display=\"none\";var mx=Math.max(ca,Math.max(cb,Math.max(cc,cd)));var order=[\"a\",\"b\",\"c\",\"d\"];var vals=[ca,cb,cc,cd];var best=\"a\";var found=0;for(var k=0;k!==order.length;k++){if(found===0){if(vals[k]===mx){best=order[k];found=1;}}}document.getElementById(\"app-\"+best).className=\"bnq-res on\";});}ready(function(){initCmp();initSel();});})();<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In short. \u201cChatbot app\u201d means two very different things: the app you install to chat with an AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Vibe, Lumo\u2026), and the chatbot you put on your own website to answer your customers. Both are useful, and neither replaces the other. Below: a filterable comparison of 12 apps, the real prices recorded [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":31096,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[362],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chatbot-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31139"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31140,"href":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31139\/revisions\/31140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/botnation.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}