Below are affordable AI-enabled communication platforms that work well for startups, grouped by common needs (quick no-code chat, omnichannel support, developer/custom control, programmable SMS/voice). Prices/features are accurate as of Sep 14, 2025 — always double‑check vendor pages before buying.

Quick-launch, low‑cost/no‑code bots and chat (best if you want something live fast)

• ManyChat — generous free tier for chat & marketing automations; Pro plans scale by contacts (starts ≈ $15+/mo depending on contacts). Great for Instagram/FB/WhatsApp funnels and marketing-first bots. Good non‑dev option. (inbox.manychat.com)
• Tidio — easy website chat + GPT-style AI features; free tier and low monthly Starter/Growth plans (starts ≈ $24/mo billed annually for Starter). Good for simple live chat + AI reply suggestions. (tidio.com)
• Landbot — visual/no‑code builder focused on website & WhatsApp bots; lower-tier plans for small businesses and AI chats included in Starter tiers. Good when you need polished conversational flows without code. (webflow.landbot.io)

Affordable hosted helpdesk + omnichannel support (best if you need unified inbox + AI)

• Freshchat (Freshworks) — free tier (up to ~10 agents) and Growth/Pro plans from about $19/agent/mo; includes channels (chat, FB, WhatsApp) and AI features on higher plans. Good mid‑range choice for startups needing omnichannel support. (freshworks.com)
• Crisp — simple pricing with a free plan and inexpensive paid tiers; adds AI automations and chatbots at low cost. Good for small teams wanting an affordable omnichannel inbox. (crisp.chat)
• Chatwoot — open‑source/self‑hosted (free) plus low‑cost cloud plans (cloud “Startups” from ~$19/agent/mo); built‑in AI assistant (“Captain”) via integrations. Best if you want to own data and save on recurring SaaS seat costs. (chatwoot.com)

Developer/DIY + open source (best if you have engineering resources and want minimal license fees)

• Rasa — open source for self‑hosting with a free developer edition; enterprise managed options exist if you scale. Great for full control, privacy and advanced/custom conversational logic. (Note: managed/enterprise tiers are higher cost.) (rasa.com)
• Botpress — open source + cloud; free/pay‑as‑you‑go options and small paid plans; charges for AI usage separately (you control LLM calls). Good if you want flexible, developer‑centric bots without high SaaS seats. (botpress.com)

Programmable SMS/WhatsApp/Voice with AI (best if you need SMS, WhatsApp, phone + custom flows)

• Twilio (Programmable Messaging, Conversations, Studio) — pay‑as‑you‑go messaging and voice (SMS/WhatsApp per‑message fees, Studio flow executions low per‑call cost). Twilio also offers AI Assistants (metered message/minute pricing) so you can embed LLM-based agents into SMS/voice with predictable usage billing. Excellent when you need full control and channel breadth; watch per‑message costs. (twilio.com)

Higher‑end platforms that offer startup discounts (powerful but can be expensive at scale)

• Intercom — full-featured AI helpdesk + Fin AI agent; seat + usage pricing but Intercom runs a startup Early Stage program with steep first‑year discounts for eligible startups (makes it affordable early on). Good if you want a single, modern product with advanced AI features and are eligible for startup discounts. (intercom.com)
• Drift — focused on conversational marketing and sales; powerful but typically more expensive (often enterprise‑level pricing). Consider only if budget allows or you need advanced sales automation. (research.com)

How to pick (quick checklist)

• No code + fastest launch: ManyChat, Tidio, Landbot.
• Cheapest self‑hosted + data ownership: Chatwoot, Rasa, Botpress.
• Need SMS/WhatsApp/voice and custom logic: Twilio (pay‑as‑you‑go).
• Want a unified commercial product with startup discounts and scale later: Intercom (apply for Early Stage).
• Watch the hidden drivers: per‑message/“resolution” charges, per‑seat fees, and AI‑resolution/LLM call costs — those add up as usage grows. (Check each vendor’s usage/AI pricing before committing.) (twilio.com)

Short recommendations (if you want a single pick)

• Fastest + cheapest to start (no engineering): ManyChat or Tidio (start free, upgrade as you grow). (inbox.manychat.com)
• Best balance of low cost + control: Chatwoot self‑hosted (free) or Chatwoot cloud Startups ~$19/agent/mo. (chatwoot.com)
• If you need SMS/WhatsApp + voice and can build: Twilio (pay‑as‑you‑go). (twilio.com)

If you want, I can:

• narrow this list to platforms that integrate with a specific stack (e.g., Shopify, HubSpot, Stripe), or
• produce a one‑page cost comparison for 3 platforms you’re considering (monthly total for X chats/SMS and Y agents).

(Prices and included AI usage change often — I used each vendor’s pricing pages and docs as sources above; verify on the vendor site before purchase.)