How the options compare.
| Chatbot SaaS (Intercom Fin, Zendesk, Tidio…) | Oravel | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Hours to days: connect help centre, switch on. | 2–4 weeks for a first system after the audit; live in 30 days or setup fee back. |
| Cost model | Subscription, often plus per-resolution or per-conversation fees; see each vendor's pricing page. | One-time build from €3,900 plus Run & Care €490/month, plus model and channel usage. |
| Knowledge | Help-centre articles and snippets inside the platform. | Any approved source: help centre, PDFs, Notion, SharePoint, your database. |
| Actions | Within the platform and its app marketplace. | Across your systems: bookings, CRM updates, order lookups, approvals. |
| Data & control | Runs in the vendor's cloud under their terms. | In your accounts where possible; code and prompts are yours. |
| Best when | Help-centre questions, one platform, standard flows. | Multi-system workflows, approvals, Arabic/Dutch channels, custom rules. |
We don't quote these vendors' prices because they change and differ by plan. Intercom, Zendesk, Tidio, respond.io and ManyChat all publish current pricing on their own websites; compare the cost per resolved conversation at your expected volume.
Choose them if…
An off-the-shelf bot is the sensible first step for a lot of teams.
Choose us if…
These are the signs you've outgrown a switch-on bot.
Questions worth asking.
Ask any SaaS vendor: what counts as a billable resolution, what happens to your conversation data, and what the bot can do outside their platform.
Ask any builder, including us: who maintains it after launch, what it costs each month at your volume, and whether you could switch it off and keep the code.
Common questions.
Can you build on top of Intercom or Zendesk instead of replacing them?
Yes, and we often do. Your team keeps its inbox; the agent connects the platform to the systems it can't reach on its own.
Is a custom agent always better?
No. For help-centre questions on one platform, a SaaS bot is usually faster and cheaper to start. We'll tell you if that's your situation.
What about ManyChat for Instagram and WhatsApp?
It's a good tool for marketing flows and simple replies. For bookings, back-office lookups or regulated hand-offs, a built agent gives more control.
Want this in your business?
Tell us how you work today. We'll tell you honestly what AI can take off your team's plate, what it costs, and whether we are the right fit.