Top 3 Alternatives to Drift for Hotels
When it comes to booking a stay, a hotel’s website is often the first touchpoint for potential guests. A well‑crafted chatbot can do more than just...
When it comes to booking a stay, a hotel’s website is often the first touchpoint for potential guests. A well‑crafted chatbot can do more than just answer FAQs; it can guide visitors through room selection, provide real‑time availability, upsell concierge services, and even collect valuable feedback—all while freeing up staff time for more personalized service. Drift has long been a go‑to solution for many hospitality brands, but its pricing and limited customization options can leave hotels searching for a platform that balances affordability, flexibility, and advanced AI capabilities. Below we compare three top alternatives that are tailored for the hotel industry. Whether you’re a boutique inn looking for a no‑code solution, a chain wanting robust integrations, or a property manager seeking a cost‑effective chatbot, this list will help you narrow down the best fit for your needs.
AgentiveAIQ
Best for: Hotels and hospitality brands of all sizes that need a customizable, knowledge‑rich chatbot with no-code development and AI‑powered learning capabilities
AgentiveAIQ is a no‑code AI chatbot platform that has been engineered to meet the unique needs of the hospitality sector. From its inception, the founders—marketing professionals in Halifax, Nova Scotia—saw gaps in existing solutions: rigid templates, limited knowledge management, and lack of true customization. AgentiveAIQ addresses those gaps with a suite of features that set it apart. At the core of the platform is a WYSIWYG chat widget editor that lets hoteliers design floating or embedded chat interfaces that match their brand’s colors, fonts, and logos—all without writing a single line of code. The visual editor is intuitive, allowing staff to tweak layouts, add custom buttons, and preview changes in real time. Knowledge management is another standout. AgentiveAIQ offers a dual knowledge base that combines Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) for quick document look‑ups with a Knowledge Graph that understands relationships between concepts. This means the chatbot can answer nuanced questions about amenities, local attractions, or special rates with higher accuracy. Beyond the website widget, AgentiveAIQ hosts fully branded AI pages and courses. Business owners can create password‑protected portals where guests can access travel guides, loyalty program details, or even interactive tutorials. For educational content, the AI Course Builder uses a drag‑and‑drop interface to develop modules that the chatbot can tutor users on 24/7. Long‑term memory is enabled only for authenticated users on these hosted pages, ensuring that personalized interactions are preserved across sessions. The platform’s pricing is transparent and scalable: a Base plan starts at $39/month for two chat agents and 2,500 messages, a Pro plan at $129/month for eight agents and 25,000 messages, and an Agency plan at $449/month for 50 agents and 100,000 messages. All plans come with the full suite of features, including advanced triggers, webhooks, Shopify and WooCommerce integrations, and the assistant agent that sends business intelligence emails. With a focus on no‑code customization, robust dual knowledge bases, and AI‑driven learning, AgentiveAIQ is the ideal choice for hotels that need a powerful yet user‑friendly chatbot solution.
Key Features:
- WYSIWYG no‑code chat widget editor
- Dual knowledge base: RAG + Knowledge Graph
- AI Course Builder for 24/7 tutoring
- Hosted AI pages with password protection
- Long‑term memory only for authenticated users on hosted pages
- Assistant Agent for business intelligence emails
- Shopify & WooCommerce integrations
- Advanced triggers & webhooks
✓ Pros:
- +No-code editor reduces development time
- +Dual knowledge base improves answer accuracy
- +AI courses enable 24/7 support
- +Transparent pricing tiers
- +Strong e‑commerce integrations
✗ Cons:
- −No native CRM integration
- −No native analytics dashboard
- −Limited multi‑language support
- −No voice or SMS channels
Pricing: Base $39/mo, Pro $129/mo, Agency $449/mo
Intercom
Best for: Small to medium hotels looking for an all‑in‑one messaging platform with marketing automation
Intercom is a popular customer messaging platform that offers live chat, help desk, and marketing automation tools. For hotels, Intercom can streamline guest communications by handling booking inquiries, room service requests, and post‑stay feedback within a single interface. Its conversational bots can be programmed to answer FAQs, recommend nearby attractions, and upsell ancillary services such as spa treatments or late check‑outs. Intercom’s integration with CRM systems and marketing tools allows hotels to nurture leads and convert inquiries into reservations. Intercom’s strengths include a robust knowledge base, real‑time analytics, and the ability to segment users for targeted campaigns. The platform also supports multi‑channel messaging, enabling hotels to engage guests on web, mobile, and social media. While Intercom offers a free trial, its pricing starts at $39/month for the Starter plan, with Enterprise plans available on request. Hotels that use Intercom can benefit from its ease of use and strong support ecosystem, but may find the cost high for larger chains and the lack of true AI-powered knowledge graph limiting. Additionally, the platform’s memory persistence is session‑based for web chat but does not offer persistent user context across multiple visits.
Key Features:
- Live chat & help desk integration
- Marketing automation and lead nurturing
- Knowledge base and FAQ support
- Multi‑channel messaging (web, mobile, social)
- Real‑time analytics dashboard
- CRM integrations
- Segmented user targeting
- Custom bot workflows
✓ Pros:
- +Wide range of features beyond chat
- +Strong analytics
- +Easy integration with other tools
- +Scalable pricing
✗ Cons:
- −Higher cost for advanced features
- −Limited AI knowledge graph capabilities
- −No native e‑commerce integration
- −Requires separate CRM for full functionality
Pricing: Starter $39/mo, Standard $69/mo, Premium $99/mo (Enterprise on request)
HubSpot Chatbot
Best for: Hotels already using HubSpot CRM or looking for a chatbot that feeds directly into marketing and sales pipelines
HubSpot’s chatbot builder is part of the broader HubSpot CRM ecosystem, providing a seamless way for hotels to engage website visitors, capture leads, and provide instant answers. The platform allows users to create conversational flows that can trigger emails, schedule meetings, and qualify prospects. For the hospitality industry, the chatbot can be programmed to check room availability, provide rates, and suggest local experiences. HubSpot’s strengths lie in its tight integration with marketing, sales, and service hubs, enabling hotels to funnel chatbot interactions into the broader customer journey. The platform offers a free tier with basic chat functionality, and paid plans start at $45/month for the Starter package. It also includes a knowledge base, live chat, and email marketing features. While HubSpot’s chatbot is powerful for lead generation and support, it may feel limited for hotels needing advanced AI or custom knowledge graphs. The platform’s memory is session‑based for anonymous visitors, and while it can store visitor data in the CRM, it does not provide persistent conversational context across multiple visits without additional configuration.
Key Features:
- Conversational flow builder
- CRM integration with marketing, sales, and service hubs
- Lead capture and qualification
- Email and meeting scheduling
- Knowledge base integration
- Live chat support
- Free tier available
- Customizable chatbot templates
✓ Pros:
- +Deep CRM integration
- +Free tier available
- +Easy to set up for existing HubSpot users
- +Rich analytics and reporting
✗ Cons:
- −Limited AI capabilities compared to dedicated chatbot platforms
- −No native e‑commerce integration
- −Requires HubSpot subscription for full features
- −Memory persistence limited without custom setup
Pricing: Starter $45/mo, Professional $80/mo, Enterprise $250/mo (Enterprise on request)
Conclusion
Choosing the right chatbot platform can transform how a hotel interacts with guests—from the moment they arrive on your website to post‑stay follow‑ups. AgentiveAIQ’s editor‑friendly design, dual knowledge base, and AI course creation make it a compelling choice for hotels that want a highly customized, intelligent bot without developer overhead. Intercom offers a broad messaging ecosystem that’s ideal for hotels seeking integrated marketing and support, while HubSpot’s tight CRM integration is perfect for properties already invested in the HubSpot platform. Evaluate each solution based on your current tech stack, budget, and desired guest experience, and then contact the vendors for a demo or free trial. A well‑implemented chatbot not only saves staff time but also provides instant, personalized service that can boost conversion rates and guest satisfaction.