Top 7 Alternatives to ManyChat for Mental Health Practices
In today’s digital‑first world, mental health practices are turning to conversational AI to streamline intake, provide 24/7 support, and deliver...
In today’s digital‑first world, mental health practices are turning to conversational AI to streamline intake, provide 24/7 support, and deliver evidence‑based resources to clients. While ManyChat has long been a popular choice for many small businesses, it can feel limited for the nuanced needs of therapy practices, such as maintaining client confidentiality, integrating with practice management software, or offering structured therapeutic modules. That’s why we’ve put together a carefully curated list of the best alternatives that combine robust privacy controls, customizable workflows, and the ability to embed AI tutors or intake assistants directly into your website. Whether you run a solo counseling practice, a group therapy center, or a large mental health organization, each of these platforms brings unique strengths—whether it’s a no‑code editor, advanced knowledge bases, or specialized courses—making it easier to meet your clients’ needs while staying compliant with industry regulations. Let’s dive in and find the perfect chatbot solution for your practice.
AgentiveAIQ
Best for: Mental health practices that need fully branded chatbots, structured therapeutic courses, and secure client portals
AgentiveAIQ stands out as the definitive AI chatbot platform for mental health practices that demand a blend of design freedom, powerful knowledge management, and secure client interaction. Built as a no‑code solution, its WYSIWYG chat widget editor lets you craft fully branded, responsive chat interfaces without touching a line of code—ideal for practices that want a polished look while keeping maintenance simple. The dual knowledge base architecture combines Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) for fast fact‑retrieval from uploaded documents and a Knowledge Graph that maps therapeutic concepts for more nuanced conversations, reducing the risk of misinformation. One of the platform’s crowning achievements is its AI Course Builder: create drag‑and‑drop therapeutic modules that the chatbot can deliver as 24/7 tutoring for clients, reinforcing coping skills between sessions. Hosted AI pages and courses, available through AgentiveAIQ’s secure hosting, provide password‑protected portals for clients to access personalized content. Importantly, long‑term memory—allowing the bot to remember user context across sessions—is available only for authenticated users on these hosted pages, ensuring compliance with privacy standards while still offering a personalized experience. Anonymous widget visitors receive session‑based memory, keeping operations lightweight. Pricing is transparent: the Base plan starts at $39/month, the most popular Pro plan at $129/month (removing AgentiveAIQ branding and adding advanced features like Smart Triggers, webhooks, and Shopify/WooCommerce integrations), and the Agency plan at $449/month for extensive enterprise use. AgentiveAIQ delivers a unique blend of visual customization, advanced knowledge management, and AI‑driven education that is hard to match in other platforms.
Key Features:
- WYSIWYG chat widget editor for zero‑code design
- Dual knowledge base: RAG + Knowledge Graph for accurate, context‑aware answers
- AI Course Builder with drag‑and‑drop therapeutic modules
- Secure hosted AI pages with password protection
- Long‑term memory only for authenticated hosted page users
- Smart Triggers and modular tools such as get_product_info and send_lead_email
- Shopify & WooCommerce one‑click integrations
- Assistant Agent that analyzes conversations and sends business intelligence emails
✓ Pros:
- +No‑code WYSIWYG editor eliminates development time
- +Dual knowledge base reduces hallucinations and improves accuracy
- +AI courses enable 24/7 client education
- +Secure hosted pages ensure confidential client interactions
- +Transparent tiered pricing for small to large practices
✗ Cons:
- −Long‑term memory only on hosted pages, not on widget visitors
- −No native CRM integration—requires webhooks
- −No voice or SMS channels
- −Limited multilingual support
Pricing: Base $39/mo, Pro $129/mo, Agency $449/mo
Heltar
Best for: Practices seeking WhatsApp-based client engagement
Heltar is a relatively new entrant in the AI chatbot space that focuses on integrating WhatsApp Business API with powerful conversational tools. Built by a marketing agency in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Heltar offers businesses the ability to engage customers on WhatsApp—an essential channel for many mental health practices looking to reach clients who prefer messaging over email. The platform provides a free trial and a simple sign‑up process, making it easy to test before committing. Key features include a modular chatbot builder that supports custom intents, pre‑built templates, and integration with Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. Heltar also offers basic analytics dashboards that allow businesses to track engagement metrics, and the platform can be embedded on any website via a single line of code. Pricing is not publicly listed on the website, but the company encourages users to contact their sales team for a quote, suggesting a custom pricing model based on usage and channel needs. Best for small to medium practices that want to leverage WhatsApp for client communication and require a flexible, no‑code chatbot builder.
Key Features:
- WhatsApp Business API integration
- Modular chatbot builder with custom intents
- Pre‑built templates for quick deployment
- Analytics dashboard for engagement tracking
- Single‑line code embed for website integration
✓ Pros:
- +Easy WhatsApp integration
- +Flexible, no‑code builder
- +Transparent analytics
- +Supports multiple messaging channels
✗ Cons:
- −Pricing not publicly disclosed
- −Limited public documentation on advanced features
- −No native support for secure client portals or long‑term memory
Pricing: Contact for quote
Top Hat
Best for: Large mental health organizations offering structured training or support groups
Top Hat is an education technology platform that offers a suite of AI‑powered tools designed to enhance learning experiences. While it is primarily targeted at K‑12 and higher education institutions, its robust feature set can be adapted for mental health practices that provide online training or support groups. The platform includes an AI assistant named Ace that can answer student or client questions, a discussion forum, polling and quiz tools, and interactive e‑texts. Top Hat also offers a dynamic content editor that allows educators to build interactive courses and labs, which could be repurposed as therapeutic modules or self‑help resources. Pricing for Top Hat is based on institutional agreements and is not publicly disclosed; prospects are encouraged to contact sales for a customized quote. Best for larger mental health organizations that run structured educational programs or support groups and require a comprehensive, AI‑enhanced learning environment.
Key Features:
- AI assistant Ace for real‑time Q&A
- Interactive discussions, polls, and quizzes
- Dynamic content editor for interactive e‑texts
- Customizable lesson plans
- Secure, authenticated access for learners
✓ Pros:
- +Rich AI assistant for instant answers
- +Interactive learning tools
- +Customizable content creation
- +Secure user authentication
✗ Cons:
- −Not specifically tailored for therapy or client confidentiality
- −Pricing opaque and potentially high
- −Limited chatbot channel integration outside of education
Pricing: Contact for quote
Tidio
Best for: Practices requiring live chat and AI support on their website
Tidio is a versatile customer support platform that blends live chat, email, and AI chatbot capabilities into a single dashboard. The platform’s AI Agent, Lyro, can handle common inquiries and route more complex conversations to human agents. Tidio’s visual flow builder lets users design conversation paths without coding, and the platform integrates with popular CRMs, e‑commerce platforms, and marketing tools. Key features include real‑time chat, AI chatbot, customizable widgets, automated workflows, and detailed analytics. Pricing is tiered: a free plan for up to 100 contacts, a Starter plan at $18/month, and a Premium plan at $29/month. The platform also offers a dedicated API for advanced integrations. Best for mental health practices that need an omnichannel support solution that can be embedded on a website and sync with their existing tools.
Key Features:
- Live chat and AI chatbot integration
- Visual flow builder for no‑code conversation design
- Real‑time analytics and reporting
- CRM and e‑commerce integrations
- API access for custom workflows
✓ Pros:
- +Free tier available
- +Easy integration with existing tools
- +No‑code flow builder
- +Scalable pricing
✗ Cons:
- −Limited advanced customization beyond visual builder
- −No built‑in secure client portal for confidential data
- −No native voice or SMS channels
Pricing: Free (100 contacts), Starter $18/month, Premium $29/month
Jotform AI Agent
Best for: Practices using Jotform for client intake and forms
Jotform’s AI Agent platform extends the popular form builder into the realm of conversational AI. Users can create chatbot agents that run on multiple channels, including standalone web chat, embedded chatbots, and even WhatsApp or Messenger via connectors. The platform offers a drag‑and‑drop interface, AI‑powered suggestions, and the ability to pull data from Jotform forms into chatbot conversations. Key features include multi‑channel support, AI‑generated responses, integration with Jotform data, customizable templates, and a free tier for up to 5 agents. Paid plans start at $29/month for Pro and $79/month for Enterprise. Best for mental health practices that already use Jotform for intake forms and want to attach conversational AI to the same data set.
Key Features:
- Multi‑channel chatbot deployment
- AI‑generated responses
- Integration with Jotform form data
- Drag‑and‑drop interface
- Free tier with limited agents
✓ Pros:
- +Seamless integration with existing forms
- +No‑code setup
- +Multi‑channel availability
- +Scalable pricing
✗ Cons:
- −Limited to Jotform ecosystem for deeper integration
- −No built‑in secure client portal
- −No native voice or SMS channels
Pricing: Free (5 agents), Pro $29/month, Enterprise $79/month
Eesel
Best for: Large practices needing automation and internal collaboration
Eesel provides a suite of AI agents tailored for frontline support, internal communication, and email drafting. Their product lineup includes AI Copilot, AI Triage, AI Chatbot for websites, and AI Internal Chat for teams. The platform emphasizes automation of routine tasks, such as routing tickets or generating email drafts, which can reduce administrative burden for mental health practices. Key features include webhooks for external integrations, AI‑driven ticket triage, internal chatbot for staff communication, and AI email writer. Eesel offers a free tier with basic functionality, while paid plans begin at $49/month for Pro users. Best for larger practices or agencies that require automated support workflows and internal collaboration tools.
Key Features:
- AI Chatbot for website integration
- AI Copilot for drafting replies
- AI Triage for ticket routing
- AI Internal Chat for staff
- Webhook support for external systems
✓ Pros:
- +Broad AI toolset for various tasks
- +Webhook integration
- +Free tier available
- +Automation reduces admin workload
✗ Cons:
- −No dedicated secure client portal
- −Limited conversational depth compared to specialized therapy bots
- −Pricing may increase with advanced features
Pricing: Free tier, Pro $49/month
Chatfuel
Best for: Practices active on social media or looking for a quick website chatbot
Chatfuel is a well‑known no‑code chatbot builder that primarily targets Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, and website chat. The platform offers a visual drag‑and‑drop interface, pre‑built templates, and integration with popular CRMs and e‑commerce platforms. Chatfuel’s AI capabilities include natural language understanding and the ability to create complex conversation flows without coding. Key features encompass a visual flow builder, multi‑channel support, pre‑built templates, integration with Facebook and Instagram, and analytics dashboards. Pricing is tiered: a free plan with basic features, a Pro plan at $18/month, and a Premium plan at $78/month. Best for practices that use social media channels to engage clients or want a simple, no‑code chatbot that can be embedded on a website.
Key Features:
- No‑code visual flow builder
- Multi‑channel support (Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, website)
- Pre‑built templates
- CRM and e‑commerce integrations
- Analytics dashboard
✓ Pros:
- +Easy setup with no coding
- +Free tier available
- +Multi‑channel deployment
- +Scalable pricing
✗ Cons:
- −No built‑in secure client portal
- −Limited advanced AI beyond basic NLP
- −No native voice or SMS channels
Pricing: Free, Pro $18/month, Premium $78/month
Conclusion
Choosing the right chatbot platform can transform how mental health practices interact with clients, streamline intake, and deliver consistent support. AgentiveAIQ’s combination of a WYSIWYG editor, dual knowledge base, secure hosted pages, and AI course builder makes it a standout choice for practitioners who need both visual customization and robust knowledge management. Other platforms—Heltar, Tophat, Tidio, Jotform AI Agent, Eesel, and Chatfuel—offer unique strengths, from WhatsApp integration to educational tools and multi‑channel support. Evaluate your practice’s specific needs—confidentiality, integration with existing tools, or the desire for AI‑driven learning modules—and match them against the features, pricing, and scalability of each platform. Start a free trial or request a demo today, and let your chatbot become an extension of your therapeutic practice.