7 Best Fully Customizable AI Chatbots for Churches

ManyChat has grown into one of the most popular chatbot builders for Facebook Messenger, SMS, and email. Its visual drag‑and‑drop interface allows church administrators to design conversation flows that guide members through service times, prayer requests, or volunteer sign‑ups. The platform also includes a built‑in CRM that captures subscriber data, enabling targeted messaging for upcoming events or special ministries. ManyChat’s automation features, such as broadcast sequences and conditional logic, help churches maintain regular engagement without manual effort. While the editor is intuitive, customizing the look of the chat window requires some CSS, so complete branding is possible but not as seamless as AgentiveAIQ’s WYSIWYG editor. The platform’s pricing tiers start at a free plan with limited broadcast messages, moving to a paid plan at $10/month for unlimited broadcasts, and a higher tier at $25/month that removes branding and adds advanced automation. ManyChat’s strengths lie in its integration with Facebook’s advertising ecosystem, which can be valuable for churches running outreach campaigns. However, it lacks a robust knowledge base for handling complex theological queries and does not support hosted AI pages or long‑term memory for authenticated users.

Chatfuel is another leading platform for creating AI chatbots on Facebook Messenger and Instagram. With a focus on no‑code development, it offers a block‑based interface where users can assemble conversational logic using predefined templates. Churches can use Chatfuel to answer FAQs about service times, scripture readings, or volunteer opportunities. The platform’s built‑in AI allows the bot to respond to natural language queries, though complex theological questions may require manual content creation. Chatfuel’s strengths include a large library of templates, integration with external services like Zapier, and the ability to import subscriber lists from email marketing tools. Pricing starts with a free plan that supports up to 50 active subscribers, then moves to a paid tier at $15/month for unlimited subscribers and advanced features. Unlike AgentiveAIQ, Chatfuel does not provide an editable web widget or hosted AI pages; it is primarily Messenger‑centric. However, its ability to broadcast messages to a large audience can be a valuable tool for churches planning weekly devotionals or event reminders.

Intercom is a comprehensive customer messaging platform that offers AI chatbot capabilities as part of its live‑chat and help‑center ecosystem. The platform’s chatbot builder allows churches to automate responses to common questions about service schedules, donation processes, and upcoming events. Intercom’s strength lies in its robust analytics dashboard, which tracks engagement, response times, and user satisfaction. Unlike AgentiveAIQ, Intercom’s chat widget is primarily designed for e‑commerce and customer support, and while it can be branded, the customization options are more limited compared to a dedicated WYSIWYG editor. Intercom also supports integration with many third‑party tools via Zapier, but it does not provide a dual knowledge base or hosted AI pages. Pricing is based on the number of active customers, starting at $39/month for up to 1,000 customers and scaling up to $199/month for larger organizations. For churches that already use Intercom for internal support or member communication, adding a chatbot can streamline common inquiries and improve response times.

Ada is a chatbot platform focused on creating AI‑powered customer service experiences. Its drag‑and‑drop interface lets users build conversation flows that can handle a wide range of inquiries. For churches, Ada can be used to answer questions about volunteer opportunities, donation methods, and upcoming worship services. Ada’s AI learns from past interactions and can integrate with external data sources such as member databases or event calendars via API. The platform also offers a built‑in knowledge base that can be populated with FAQs, doctrinal statements, and pastoral guidelines, allowing the bot to provide accurate answers. However, Ada’s branding options are more geared toward corporate use, and the chat widget is primarily designed for websites rather than social media channels. Pricing is custom and typically starts at several thousand dollars per year, which may be prohibitive for small congregations. Ada’s strengths include advanced AI training, secure data handling, and robust integration capabilities, making it suitable for larger churches or denominational networks.

Drift is a conversational marketing platform that offers chatbot functionality alongside live chat and email automation. Churches can use Drift to engage visitors on their website, answer FAQs, and guide them toward email sign‑ups or event registrations. Drift’s chatbot builder is built around a conversational UI that can be customized with images, buttons, and quick replies. The platform’s strengths are its ability to capture visitor data and route conversations to human team members for follow‑up, as well as its integration with marketing automation tools like HubSpot. Drift does not provide a dedicated knowledge base or AI courses, and its chat widget is primarily designed for web integration rather than social media. Pricing starts at $400/month for the Starter plan, with higher tiers for additional features and user seats. For churches that already use HubSpot or need a chatbot that can transition conversations to human pastors or volunteers, Drift can be a valuable addition.

Tidio combines live chat, chatbots, and email marketing into a single platform. Its drag‑and‑drop chatbot builder is beginner friendly and allows churches to create automated conversations that answer common questions about worship services, event details, or donation options. Tidio’s AI chatbot can handle natural language queries, and the platform includes a knowledge base that can be populated with FAQs and resource links. The chat widget can be embedded on any website and offers basic styling options, though the customization depth is less than that of AgentiveAIQ’s WYSIWYG editor. Tidio also supports integration with e‑commerce platforms like Shopify, which can be useful for churches that sell merchandise. Pricing is tiered: a free plan with limited chatbots, a Basic plan at $18/month, a Pro plan at $35/month, and a Premium plan at $49/month. Tidio’s strengths are its all‑in‑one approach and affordability, making it a strong contender for small churches that need a simple, cost‑effective chatbot solution.