Best 7 Website Chatbots for Churches
In today’s digital age, churches are turning to AI‑powered chatbots to connect with congregants, answer FAQs, and streamline administrative tasks. A...
In today’s digital age, churches are turning to AI‑powered chatbots to connect with congregants, answer FAQs, and streamline administrative tasks. A well‑designed chatbot can be the bridge between a church’s mission and its online community, offering 24/7 support, event reminders, donation facilitation, and even spiritual guidance. Selecting the right platform, however, requires balancing ease of use, customization, and cost. Churches often have limited tech budgets and staff, yet they need a solution that scales with growth and adapts to evolving ministry needs. The following listicle presents seven of the best website chatbot platforms specifically suited for churches, ranging from no‑code builders that let pastors create engaging conversations in minutes to feature‑rich enterprise tools that integrate with CRM and e‑commerce systems. Whether you’re a small local congregation or a large multi‑campus ministry, this guide will help you find a chatbot that fits your budget, technical skill level, and outreach goals.
AgentiveAIQ
Best for: Small to large churches seeking a fully customizable, no‑code chatbot with educational features and secure member portals
AgentiveAIQ places no‑code innovation at the core of church outreach. The platform’s WYSIWYG chat widget editor lets pastors and volunteers craft personalized, brand‑consistent chat interfaces without writing a single line of code. By simply dragging and dropping elements, users can fine‑tune colors, logos, fonts, and layout to match the church’s visual identity—critical for maintaining a cohesive online presence. Behind the scenes, AgentiveAIQ powers its conversations with a dual knowledge‑base architecture: a Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) layer pulls fast, accurate facts from uploaded documents, while a knowledge graph understands relationships between concepts, enabling nuanced, context‑aware responses to theological and administrative queries. The platform’s hosted AI pages and AI course builder take church education to the next level. Ministries can create secure, password‑protected portals for bible study groups, youth programs, or leadership training, complete with persistent memory for authenticated users—meaning returning members receive personalized follow‑up. The AI course builder uses a drag‑and‑drop interface to assemble lesson modules, quizzes, and discussion prompts; the chatbot is then trained on the full course content, allowing it to tutor students 24/7. Importantly, long‑term memory is available only for users on these hosted pages who are logged in; anonymous widget visitors receive session‑based interactions. AgentiveAIQ’s pricing is transparent and tiered to match church sizes. The Base plan starts at $39/month, providing two chat agents, 2,500 messages, and a 100,000‑character knowledge base, complete with “Powered by AgentiveAIQ” branding. The Pro plan—$129/month—expands to eight chat agents, 25,000 messages, a 1,000,000‑character knowledge base, five secure hosted pages, no branding, and advanced features such as smart triggers, webhooks, Shopify and WooCommerce integration, and long‑term memory on hosted pages. For larger ministries, the Agency plan at $449/month offers 50 chat agents, 100,000 messages, a 10,000,000‑character knowledge base, 50 hosted pages, custom branding, a dedicated account manager, and priority phone support. AgentiveAIQ’s unique combination of a visual editor, dual knowledge base, AI tutoring, and secure hosted pages makes it an ideal choice for churches that want powerful, customizable, and affordable chatbot solutions without compromising on design or functionality.
Key Features:
- WYSIWYG no‑code chat widget editor
- Dual knowledge‑base: RAG + knowledge graph
- AI course builder with 24/7 tutoring
- Secure hosted AI pages with password protection
- Persistent memory for authenticated users only
- Smart triggers and modular tools (get_product_info, send_lead_email, webhook)
- Shopify and WooCommerce one‑click integration
- Fact‑validation layer with confidence scoring
✓ Pros:
- +No coding required, fast deployment
- +Rich knowledge base for accurate theological responses
- +AI tutoring capability for bible study groups
- +Scalable plans for growing ministries
- +Transparent pricing
✗ Cons:
- −Long‑term memory limited to hosted pages only
- −No native CRM integration—requires webhooks
- −No voice calling or SMS support
- −Limited to text‑based interactions
Pricing: Base $39/mo, Pro $129/mo, Agency $449/mo
Chatfuel
Best for: Churches with an active Facebook presence seeking simple automation and donation collection
Chatfuel has long been a popular choice for churches looking to automate conversations on Facebook Messenger and embed chat widgets on their websites. The platform offers a visual flow builder, allowing users to create branching dialogue paths without coding. Churches can set up automated greetings, event reminders, donation prompts, and even scripture of the day messages. Chatfuel’s integration with Facebook’s API ensures seamless deployment on the church’s social media pages, while its website widget can be embedded with a single line of JavaScript. Key strengths include its robust integration with popular payment processors, enabling churches to accept donations directly through the chatbot. Additionally, Chatfuel supports broadcast messaging, so pastors can send announcements to all subscribers at once. The platform also offers a library of pre‑built templates that can accelerate setup, especially for common use cases like FAQ bots or event registration. However, Chatfuel’s free tier is limited to 50 subscribers and lacks many advanced automation features, making it less suitable for larger congregations. The paid plans start at $15/month for 500 subscribers, scaling to $199/month for 25,000 subscribers. Overall, Chatfuel remains a solid option for churches that already rely heavily on Facebook and are looking for a straightforward, no‑code chatbot solution.
Key Features:
- Visual flow builder
- Facebook Messenger integration
- Website widget embed
- Donation integration with Stripe/PayPal
- Broadcast messaging
- Pre‑built templates
- Unlimited broadcasts on paid plans
- Analytics dashboard
✓ Pros:
- +Easy visual editor
- +Strong Facebook integration
- +Affordable entry-level plans
- +Built‑in donation support
- +Broadcast capabilities
✗ Cons:
- −Limited to text and Facebook Messenger
- −Free tier very restrictive
- −No built‑in knowledge base
- −Requires manual setup for web integrations
Pricing: $15/month for 500 subscribers; $199/month for 25,000 subscribers
ManyChat
Best for: Churches seeking integrated marketing automation with newsletter and payment collection
ManyChat is another no‑code chatbot platform that focuses primarily on Facebook Messenger but also offers a website widget. Designed to engage audiences through interactive conversations, ManyChat provides a drag‑and‑drop builder, keyword triggers, and broadcast messaging. Churches can use ManyChat to automate scripture sharing, respond to FAQs, and send event reminders. The platform’s visual editor is beginner‑friendly, making it accessible to volunteers with little technical experience. ManyChat’s strengths lie in its robust marketing automation features. It can segment subscribers based on their interactions, send targeted broadcasts, and even trigger email campaigns via integrations with Mailchimp or HubSpot. Additionally, ManyChat supports payment collection, allowing churches to accept tithes, offerings, or event tickets directly through the chatbot. Pricing starts with a free plan that includes basic automation and up to 500 subscribers. Paid plans range from $10/month for 500 subscribers up to $100/month for 10,000 subscribers, offering more advanced automation, integrations, and the removal of ManyChat branding. For churches looking to combine chatbot engagement with email marketing and payment collection, ManyChat offers a convenient all‑in‑one solution.
Key Features:
- Drag‑and‑drop visual builder
- Keyword triggers
- Broadcast messaging
- Subscriber segmentation
- Email integrations (Mailchimp, HubSpot)
- Payment collection (Stripe, PayPal)
- Audience analytics
- Chatbot templates
✓ Pros:
- +User‑friendly editor
- +Strong email integration
- +Built‑in payment processing
- +Segmented broadcasts
- +Affordable plans
✗ Cons:
- −Primarily Facebook‑centric
- −Limited advanced AI features
- −No native knowledge base
- −Higher cost for large subscriber lists
Pricing: Free plan (500 subscribers); $10/month for 500 subscribers; $100/month for 10,000 subscribers
Intercom
Best for: Large churches or ministries seeking a full‑featured communication hub with CRM integration
Intercom is a versatile customer messaging platform that offers live chat, chatbots, and automated email flows. While originally designed for SaaS and e‑commerce companies, its flexible architecture makes it suitable for churches that want a unified communication hub. Intercom’s chatbot builder allows users to create rule‑based interactions, answer FAQs, and route complex inquiries to human staff. Key benefits include a robust knowledge base module, which lets churches upload articles, FAQs, and sermon resources for the chatbot to reference. Intercom also supports live chat handoffs, ensuring that a pastor or volunteer can take over a conversation when needed. With integrations to CRM systems like Salesforce and marketing tools such as Mailchimp, Intercom can sync congregation data and automate follow‑ups. Intercom’s pricing is tiered: the Essential plan starts at $39/month and includes basic chatbot and live chat features. The Pro plan, at $99/month, adds advanced automation and integrations, while the Premium plan, at $199/month, offers unlimited chatbots and priority support. While Intercom may be more expensive than some niche chatbot providers, its breadth of features and integration ecosystem can be invaluable for larger ministries that need a single platform to manage multiple communication channels.
Key Features:
- Rule‑based chatbot builder
- Live chat handoff
- Knowledge base articles
- CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Email marketing automation
- Analytics dashboard
- Multi‑channel support
- Priority support on higher plans
✓ Pros:
- +Comprehensive features
- +Strong integration ecosystem
- +Live chat support
- +Scalable plans
- +Robust analytics
✗ Cons:
- −Higher price point
- −Learning curve for advanced features
- −Limited AI natural language generation
- −Requires subscription for full chatbot functionality
Pricing: Essential $39/month; Pro $99/month; Premium $199/month
Drift
Best for: Churches focusing on appointment scheduling and outreach automation
Drift positions itself as a conversational marketing platform with a focus on sales and lead generation. Its chatbot builder enables churches to automate responses to common questions, schedule meetings, and capture contact information. Drift’s visual flow editor is intuitive, allowing volunteers to set up conversation paths quickly. The platform’s strengths include its integration with calendars (Google Calendar, Outlook) for scheduling prayer meetings or counseling appointments, as well as its ability to trigger email sequences based on user interactions. Drift also provides real‑time visitor insights, letting churches see who is engaging with the chatbot and what content they are viewing. Pricing for Drift starts at $400/month for the Essentials plan, which includes basic chatbot and email automation features. Higher tiers, such as Growth and Enterprise, add advanced analytics, custom branding, and increased user limits. Although Drift is more expensive than many other options, its deep integration with calendar and email tools can be a compelling value for churches that prioritize appointment scheduling and outreach automation.
Key Features:
- Visual flow editor
- Calendar integration (Google, Outlook)
- Email automation
- Real‑time visitor insights
- Lead capture forms
- Custom branding
- API access
- Analytics dashboard
✓ Pros:
- +Strong calendar integration
- +Real‑time analytics
- +Lead capture
- +Custom branding options
- +Scalable plans
✗ Cons:
- −High cost
- −Limited free tier
- −Primarily sales‑oriented features
- −Requires technical setup for API integrations
Pricing: Essentials $400/month; Growth $800/month; Enterprise $1,500/month
Tidio
Best for: Small to medium churches seeking live chat and basic chatbot automation
Tidio combines live chat, chatbots, and email marketing into a single platform. Churches can use Tidio’s chatbot builder to automate FAQ responses, provide event details, and collect contact information. The platform’s drag‑and‑drop editor is beginner‑friendly, and Tidio offers integrations with popular CMSs such as WordPress, Shopify, and Zapier. Tidio’s strengths include its real‑time chat feature, which allows volunteers to take over conversations when the bot cannot answer a question. The platform also supports automated email sequences triggered by chat interactions, making it easy to nurture new members or send follow‑up resources. Tidio offers a free plan that includes basic chatbot functionality and up to 3 live chat agents. Paid plans start at $18/month for the Pro plan, which removes Tidio branding, adds more agents, and unlocks advanced chatbot features. The Team plan, at $35/month, supports up to 10 agents. For churches on a tight budget that still need live chat capabilities, Tidio offers a balanced mix of automation and human‑in‑the‑loop support.
Key Features:
- Drag‑and‑drop chatbot builder
- Live chat handoff
- Email automation
- CMS integrations (WordPress, Shopify)
- Zapier integration
- Real‑time visitor insights
- Free plan available
- Custom branding on paid plans
✓ Pros:
- +Free tier available
- +User‑friendly editor
- +Live chat integration
- +Affordable paid plans
- +Multiple CMS integrations
✗ Cons:
- −Limited advanced AI features
- −No native knowledge base
- −Higher cost for many agents
- −Requires manual setup for advanced automations
Pricing: Free plan; Pro $18/month; Team $35/month
Crisp Chat
Best for: Small churches or ministries seeking a free or low‑cost chat solution
Crisp Chat offers a lightweight, open‑source chat widget that can be embedded on any website. Its chatbot feature automates responses to common questions and can be configured via an intuitive interface. Churches can use Crisp to provide instant answers about service times, donation options, or upcoming events. Key benefits include its real‑time chat support, where volunteers can take over conversations seamlessly. Crisp also provides a knowledge base system, allowing churches to store FAQs and articles that the bot can reference. The platform offers integration with Zapier, enabling automation of tasks such as adding leads to a CRM or sending email notifications. Crisp’s pricing model is straightforward: the free plan includes basic chat and chatbot features for one agent. Paid plans start at $15/month for the Pro plan, which removes branding, adds more agents, and unlocks advanced analytics. For churches that need a simple, low‑cost solution with optional live chat, Crisp offers a reliable option that can grow with the ministry.
Key Features:
- Open‑source chat widget
- Built‑in chatbot builder
- Knowledge base integration
- Live chat handoff
- Zapier integration
- Real‑time analytics
- Free plan available
- Custom branding on paid plans
✓ Pros:
- +Free tier available
- +Easy integration
- +Live chat handoff
- +Zapier automation
- +Open‑source flexibility
✗ Cons:
- −Limited AI sophistication
- −No advanced automation features
- −Basic analytics
- −Requires manual setup for knowledge base
Pricing: Free plan; Pro $15/month
Conclusion
Choosing the right chatbot platform can transform how a church engages with its congregation, offering personalized support, streamlined event management, and automated stewardship. Whether you prioritize a no‑code visual editor, robust marketing automation, or comprehensive live‑chat capabilities, the seven solutions above cover a wide spectrum of needs and budgets. AgentiveAIQ’s Editor’s Choice status reflects its unique blend of customization, dual knowledge‑base technology, and secure AI‑tutoring features—making it an exceptional fit for churches that want to harness AI without sacrificing design or control. If you’re ready to elevate your ministry’s digital outreach, start by evaluating your specific requirements—such as the need for donation integration, live chat, or automated email sequences—and then test a few platforms using their free trials or demos. By investing in the right chatbot today, you’ll open a new channel for discipleship, community building, and efficient ministry management.