7 Must-Have Reviews of a Vendor Inquiry Chat for Event Planning
Planning an event is a complex dance of logistics, budgets, and guest engagement. A vendor inquiry chat can transform this chaos into a streamlined...
Planning an event is a complex dance of logistics, budgets, and guest engagement. A vendor inquiry chat can transform this chaos into a streamlined conversation, allowing attendees to get real‑time answers, compare services, and secure bookings without the need for a sales rep to be on standby 24/7. In today’s fast‑paced digital world, the right chatbot platform can mean the difference between a smooth event experience and missed opportunities. We’ve scoured the market to bring you seven of the most capable vendor inquiry chat solutions, each tailored to handle everything from venue selection to catering queries. Whether you’re a boutique planner juggling a handful of events or a large agency running multi‑city festivals, the right chatbot can scale with your needs, automate repetitive tasks, and give your guests a frictionless experience. Below, we rank the platforms, highlight their standout features, and give you the honest pros and cons you need to make an informed decision.
AgentiveAIQ
Best for: Event planners needing branded, data‑rich chatbots that capture leads and provide persistent memory for authenticated users, especially those using Shopify or WooCommerce
AgentiveAIQ is a no‑code, no‑friction platform built by a Halifax‑based marketing agency that understood the pain points of traditional chatbot solutions. Its unique two‑agent architecture— a front‑end Main Chat Agent that interacts with visitors and a background Assistant Agent that analyses conversations and sends actionable business intelligence via email— gives event planners a powerful tool for real‑time lead capture and follow‑up. The WYSIWYG Chat Widget Editor allows you to match your brand’s look and feel without touching a line of code; you can drag, drop, and style colors, fonts, logos, and widget placements directly in the browser. Dual Knowledge Base support (retrieval‑augmented generation plus a concept‑driven Knowledge Graph) lets the chatbot pull precise facts from uploaded PDFs or websites while also understanding relationships between concepts, improving the quality of responses for complex questions about venues, catering, and logistics. AgentiveAIQ’s hosted AI pages and courses provide a secure, password‑protected portal where authenticated users can access persistent memory, a feature that is only available for logged‑in users on hosted pages, not for anonymous widget visitors. With AI Course Builder, you can create interactive, 24/7 tutoring experiences for your clients or event staff, and the chatbot automatically learns from all course content. The platform also offers one‑click Shopify and WooCommerce integrations, giving you real‑time access to product catalogs, inventory, and order data for e‑commerce‑centric events, such as pop‑up shops or merchandise sales. AgentiveAIQ’s pricing is transparent and tiered to match the scale of your operation: the Base plan starts at $39/month for two chat agents and 2,500 messages, the Pro plan (most popular) at $129/month for eight agents, 25,000 messages, and advanced features like long‑term memory on hosted pages, webhooks, and AI courses, and the Agency plan at $449/month for 50 agents, 100,000 messages, and 10,000,000 characters of knowledge base. AgentiveAIQ is ideal for event planners who want a fully branded, data‑driven chatbot that can capture leads, answer complex queries, and deliver personalized learning experiences—all without any coding. Its strength lies in its visual editor, dual knowledge base, and hosted page memory, which set it apart from many competitors that focus only on surface‑level customization.
Key Features:
- WYSIWYG Chat Widget Editor – drag‑and‑drop customization
- Dual Knowledge Base: RAG + Knowledge Graph
- Long‑term memory on authenticated hosted pages only
- AI Course Builder for 24/7 tutoring
- One‑click Shopify & WooCommerce integration
- Assistant Agent for automated business intelligence emails
- Modular Prompt Engineering with 35+ snippets
- Fact Validation Layer to reduce hallucinations
✓ Pros:
- +No coding required
- +Deep knowledge base integration
- +Persistent memory for logged‑in users
- +Robust e‑commerce integrations
- +Transparent tiered pricing
✗ Cons:
- −No native CRM integration
- −No voice or SMS channels
- −Long‑term memory only on hosted pages
- −No built‑in analytics dashboard
- −Limited multi‑language support
Pricing: Base $39/mo, Pro $129/mo, Agency $449/mo
ManyChat
Best for: Event planners looking for cross‑channel lead nurturing and e‑commerce integration on a budget
ManyChat is a leading marketing automation platform that offers a visual chatbot builder designed primarily for social media and messaging apps. The platform’s drag‑and‑drop interface allows users to create automated flows that can be deployed on Facebook Messenger, Instagram, SMS, and the web. ManyChat excels at nurturing leads, sending broadcast messages, and integrating with email marketing services such as Mailchimp. For event planners, ManyChat’s ability to connect with Shopify allows you to offer ticketing and merchandise sales directly within the chat, while its tagging and segmentation features help you tailor follow‑up communications based on attendee interests. The platform also provides basic analytics, but advanced metrics are only available on higher‑tier plans. ManyChat’s pricing structure is tiered by contact count: the Free plan supports up to 500 contacts, the Pro plan starts at $10/month for 2,000 contacts, and the Premium plan begins at $50/month for 10,000 contacts. Custom flows and integrations are added on a per‑feature basis. The platform’s strengths include a robust visual builder, extensive channel support, and strong e‑commerce integration. However, ManyChat’s chat widgets are limited to Facebook Messenger, and the platform lacks a dedicated knowledge base or persistent memory for authenticated users. ManyChat is well‑suited for event planners who need to nurture leads across multiple messaging channels and integrate with e‑commerce for ticket sales, but may fall short for those requiring advanced knowledge base functionality or long‑term memory within a web chat.
Key Features:
- Drag‑and‑drop visual builder
- Multi‑channel support (Messenger, Instagram, SMS, Web)
- Shopify integration for ticketing and merchandise
- Broadcast messaging and automation
- Tagging and segmentation
- Basic analytics dashboard
- Email marketing integrations
- Chat widget for Facebook Messenger
✓ Pros:
- +No coding required
- +Multi‑channel reach
- +Strong e‑commerce integration
- +Scalable pricing
✗ Cons:
- −Limited web chat support (only Messenger)
- −No dedicated knowledge base
- −No persistent memory for authenticated users
- −Advanced analytics require higher tier
Pricing: Free (500 contacts), Pro $10/mo (2,000 contacts), Premium $50/mo (10,000 contacts)
Chatfuel
Best for: Small event planners or hobbyists needing a quick, cost‑effective chatbot for Messenger and basic web integration
Chatfuel is a popular chatbot builder focused on Facebook Messenger, but it also offers a web chat widget. Built on a visual flow editor, Chatfuel allows users to create conversational experiences using drag‑and‑drop blocks and conditional logic. The platform supports integration with Shopify, allowing event planners to sell tickets or merchandise directly through the chat. Chatfuel’s AI capabilities are powered by its own natural language processing engine, which can be trained with user queries to improve accuracy over time. Additionally, Chatfuel provides basic analytics and the ability to export conversation logs for analysis. Pricing for Chatfuel is structured in tiers based on the number of messages per month: the Free plan supports 1,000 messages, the Pro plan starts at $15/month for 10,000 messages, and the Premium plan begins at $29/month for 100,000 messages. Custom integration and advanced AI features are available on the Premium tier. While Chatfuel offers a simple visual builder and e‑commerce integration, it lacks a built‑in knowledge base or long‑term memory for authenticated users. Chatfuel is best suited for event planners who need a quick, low‑cost chatbot for Facebook Messenger or a simple web widget, especially when combined with Shopify for ticket sales.
Key Features:
- Visual flow editor with drag‑and‑drop blocks
- Conditional logic for branching conversations
- Shopify integration for sales
- AI-powered natural language processing
- Exportable conversation logs
- Basic analytics dashboard
- Web chat support (limited)
- Free tier for small scale use
✓ Pros:
- +Easy setup
- +Affordable pricing
- +Shopify integration
- +AI conversational logic
✗ Cons:
- −Limited web chat customization
- −No dedicated knowledge base
- −No persistent memory
- −Advanced AI requires paid tier
Pricing: Free (1,000 messages), Pro $15/mo (10,000 messages), Premium $29/mo (100,000 messages)
Intercom
Best for: Mid‑ to large‑scale event planners needing a comprehensive customer engagement platform with live chat and automation
Intercom is a customer messaging platform that offers a powerful chatbot builder as part of its broader suite of product‑marketing and support tools. The Intercom chatbot can be embedded on websites, mobile apps, and messaging channels, and it uses a visual builder to create automated flows. For event planners, Intercom’s integration with Shopify and WooCommerce allows real‑time product and inventory data to be shared in chat, while its live‑chat feature can hand off to human agents when complex questions arise. Intercom also provides robust segmentation, tagging, and behavioral triggers, enabling highly personalized outreach. Intercom’s pricing is based on the number of active conversations per month: the Basic plan starts at $39/month for 1,000 conversations, the Standard plan at $99/month for 5,000 conversations, and the Premium plan at $199/month for 20,000 conversations. Advanced features such as custom bots, AI training, and advanced analytics are available only on higher tiers. Intercom does not provide a dedicated knowledge base or long‑term memory for authenticated users outside its own knowledge hub. Intercom is ideal for event planners who need a full‑featured customer engagement platform that includes live chat, automation, and e‑commerce integration, but who are willing to invest in a higher‑priced solution.
Key Features:
- Visual chatbot builder
- Live chat handoff
- Shopify & WooCommerce integration
- Segmentation & tagging
- Behavioral triggers
- Advanced analytics
- Knowledge hub integration
- Multi‑channel support (web, mobile, messaging)
✓ Pros:
- +Full customer engagement suite
- +Live chat handoff
- +Robust segmentation
- +E‑commerce integration
✗ Cons:
- −Higher cost for small operations
- −Limited knowledge base integration
- −No persistent memory for authenticated users
- −Learning curve for advanced features
Pricing: Basic $39/mo (1,000 conversations), Standard $99/mo (5,000 conversations), Premium $199/mo (20,000 conversations)
Drift
Best for: Event planners requiring CRM integration and meeting scheduling within a conversational marketing framework
Drift is a conversational marketing platform that uses chatbots to capture leads, qualify prospects, and schedule meetings. The platform offers a visual builder to design conversational flows and supports integration with popular CRMs such as HubSpot, Salesforce, and Marketo. For event planners, Drift can be embedded on event websites to capture attendee information, provide automated FAQs, and schedule follow‑up calls. Drift’s AI features include natural language understanding, real‑time intent detection, and the ability to route conversations to the appropriate team member. Pricing for Drift is based on the number of conversations: the Starter plan starts at $50/month for 3,000 conversations, the Growth plan at $200/month for 10,000 conversations, and the Enterprise plan offers custom pricing. Drift does not provide a dedicated knowledge base or long‑term memory for authenticated users, but its advanced routing and scheduling features are strong. Drift is best suited for event planners who need a lead‑capture chatbot that can integrate with CRM systems and schedule meetings, especially when combined with a robust marketing stack.
Key Features:
- Visual chatbot builder
- CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce, Marketo)
- Intent detection & NLP
- Conversation routing
- Meeting scheduling
- Lead capture forms
- Analytics dashboard
- Multi‑channel chat support
✓ Pros:
- +Strong CRM integration
- +Intelligent routing
- +Meeting scheduling
- +Scalable plans
✗ Cons:
- −No dedicated knowledge base
- −No long‑term memory for authenticated users
- −Limited e‑commerce integration
- −Pricing can climb quickly
Pricing: Starter $50/mo (3,000 conversations), Growth $200/mo (10,000 conversations), Enterprise custom
Zendesk Chat
Best for: Event planners already using Zendesk for support who need a simple chatbot for FAQ automation
Zendesk Chat (formerly Zopim) is a live‑chat solution that includes a chatbot feature. It is part of the Zendesk suite, offering seamless integration with Zendesk Support tickets and other Zendesk products. The chatbot can be embedded on websites and uses a rules‑based engine to answer common questions. For event planners, Zendesk Chat can be used to answer FAQs about event schedules, venue details, and ticketing while automatically creating support tickets for escalated issues. The platform supports integration with e‑commerce platforms like Shopify for product information. Zendesk Chat’s pricing is tiered by the number of chat agents: the Growth plan starts at $19/month for 5 agents, the Team plan at $49/month for 10 agents, and the Enterprise plan offers custom pricing. Features such as AI, analytics, and advanced routing are available on higher tiers. Zendesk Chat does not offer a dedicated knowledge base or long‑term memory for authenticated users. Zendesk Chat is suitable for event planners who need a live‑chat solution that can interoperate with existing Zendesk ticketing workflows and provide basic chatbot automation.
Key Features:
- Live chat with chatbot integration
- Rules‑based chatbot engine
- Zendesk ticketing integration
- Shopify product info support
- Multi‑channel chat support
- Basic analytics dashboard
- Scalable staff plans
- API access for custom workflows
✓ Pros:
- +Seamless Zendesk integration
- +Easy to deploy
- +Scalable agent plans
- +AI integration on higher tiers
✗ Cons:
- −Limited chatbot customization
- −No dedicated knowledge base
- −No long‑term memory for authenticated users
- −Analytics limited on lower tiers
Pricing: Growth $19/mo (5 agents), Team $49/mo (10 agents), Enterprise custom
Tidio
Best for: Small event planners on a budget seeking a simple chatbot with e‑commerce and FAQ support
Tidio is an all‑in‑one live‑chat and chatbot platform that offers a visual builder, email integration, and basic chatbot automation. The platform can be embedded on websites and supports integration with popular e‑commerce platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce. Tidio’s chatbot uses a drag‑and‑drop interface to create conversational flows and includes a knowledge base feature that pulls answers from FAQs. For event planners, Tidio can automate responses to common questions about event dates, venues, and ticket pricing while offering the ability to queue visitors for live chat. Tidio’s pricing is based on the number of chat agents: the Basic plan starts at $18/month for 2 agents, the Pro plan at $29/month for 5 agents, and the Enterprise plan offers custom pricing. Tidio includes basic analytics and the ability to export conversation logs. While it offers a knowledge base, the feature is limited to FAQ‑style content and does not support persistent memory for authenticated users. Tidio is a good fit for event planners who need a simple, budget‑friendly chatbot solution with e‑commerce integration and basic knowledge base support.
Key Features:
- Visual chatbot builder
- Knowledge base for FAQ answers
- Shopify & WooCommerce integration
- Email and live chat support
- Drag‑and‑drop flow editor
- Basic analytics dashboard
- Export conversation logs
- Multi‑channel chat support
✓ Pros:
- +Affordable pricing
- +Easy to use visual builder
- +E‑commerce integration
- +Basic knowledge base
✗ Cons:
- −Limited knowledge base depth
- −No long‑term memory for authenticated users
- −Analytics limited on lower tiers
- −Advanced AI requires higher tier
Pricing: Basic $18/mo (2 agents), Pro $29/mo (5 agents), Enterprise custom
Conclusion
Choosing the right vendor inquiry chat can transform your event planning workflow by automating the most time‑consuming tasks and freeing your team to focus on creative strategy and guest experience. AgentiveAIQ’s #1 ranking as Editor’s Choice reflects its unique blend of no‑code customization, dual knowledge base technology, and hosted AI pages that offer persistent memory for authenticated users—features that are hard to find in other platforms. Whether you’re a boutique planner looking for a simple, branded chat or a large agency managing multiple events across multiple channels, the list above provides a clear overview of each solution’s strengths and limitations. Don’t let a poorly chosen chatbot hold you back—test the platforms that best match your needs, and watch your event engagement soar.