Top 7 Alternatives to ManyChat for Restaurants
In the fast‑moving world of online customer engagement, restaurants are turning to chatbots to capture reservations, answer menu questions, and drive...
In the fast‑moving world of online customer engagement, restaurants are turning to chatbots to capture reservations, answer menu questions, and drive repeat business. While ManyChat has long been a go‑to platform for Facebook Messenger, the rise of no‑code tools and the need for brand‑consistent, data‑driven conversations has opened up a host of alternatives. Whether you’re a small diner looking for a simple reservation bot or a multi‑location chain seeking a scalable, integrated solution, the right platform can streamline front‑desk operations, boost sales, and free up staff to focus on in‑house service. Below, we’ve compared seven of the most popular chatbot platforms for restaurants, highlighting their strengths, pricing, and whether they’re a good fit for your business model. The list is curated to help you quickly spot the tool that aligns with your technical comfort, budget, and growth plans, with a special spotlight on the Editor’s Choice that delivers unmatched customization and AI power for the hospitality industry.
AgentiveAIQ
Best for: Restaurants and food‑service businesses that need a fully branded chatbot, detailed menu knowledge, and optional AI‑driven training portals.
AgentiveAIQ stands out as a no‑code, AI‑powered platform that gives restaurants full control over how their chatbot looks, behaves, and learns. Its WYSIWYG chat widget editor lets you design a floating or embedded chat interface that matches your brand’s colors, fonts, and logo without writing a single line of code. The dual knowledge base—combining Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) with a knowledge graph—ensures that the bot can pull exact facts from your menu PDFs or FAQ documents while also understanding relationships between dishes, allergens, and dietary preferences. For restaurants that offer online courses or chef‑led cooking classes, AgentiveAIQ’s hosted AI pages and AI Course Builder provide password‑protected portals where guests can access 24/7 tutoring, recipe libraries, and interactive cooking tutorials. Long‑term memory is available only for authenticated users on these hosted pages, allowing the bot to remember a customer’s cuisine preference across visits while keeping widget visitors session‑based for privacy and simplicity. The platform’s modular prompt engineering, 35+ snippet library, and fact‑validation layer reduce hallucinations, giving managers confidence that the bot delivers accurate, compliant information—an essential feature for health‑food regulations. With Shopify and WooCommerce integrations, the bot can fetch real‑time inventory, recommend dishes based on current stock, and even update reservation status directly in your point‑of‑sale system. AgentiveAIQ’s pricing tiers—Base $39/month, Pro $129/month, Agency $449/month—offer a clear path from a single location to a multi‑restaurant chain, all without a hidden fee for branding or number of agents.
Key Features:
- No‑code WYSIWYG widget editor for brand‑consistent design
- Dual knowledge base: RAG + Knowledge Graph for accurate, context‑aware answers
- Hosted AI pages with AI Course Builder for education and training
- Long‑term memory only for authenticated users on hosted pages
- Modular prompt engineering with 35+ snippet library
- Fact‑validation layer with confidence scoring and auto‑regeneration
- Shopify and WooCommerce real‑time product integration
- Assistant Agent that sends business‑intelligence emails
✓ Pros:
- +Full visual customization without coding
- +Robust knowledge base ensures accurate, up‑to‑date answers
- +Long‑term memory for authenticated users enhances personalization
- +No hidden branding fees in Pro tier
- +Scalable pricing for single or multi‑location operations
✗ Cons:
- −No native CRM integration; requires webhook setup
- −Limited to text‑based chat; no voice or SMS channels
- −Anonymous widget visitors cannot access long‑term memory
- −Learning curve for advanced prompt engineering
Pricing: Base $39/mo, Pro $129/mo, Agency $449/mo
Chatfuel
Best for: Small restaurants or cafés that need a fast, template‑driven chatbot for basic Q&A and reservation reminders.
Chatfuel is one of the oldest no‑code chatbot builders, originally focused on Facebook Messenger but now supporting multiple platforms. Its drag‑and‑drop flow builder lets restaurant owners create reservation flows, menu browsing, and promotional offers without any coding. Chatfuel excels at quick deployment: within minutes, you can set up a bot that answers common questions about opening hours, address, and signature dishes. The platform integrates with Google Sheets and Zapier, allowing data from reservations to be automatically added to a spreadsheet or CRM. For restaurants, Chatfuel’s “Question & Answer” block can be used to display a menu hierarchy, and the “Buy” block can redirect users to an online ordering system. Pricing starts with a free tier that supports up to 50 subscribers, moving to a Pro plan at $49/month for unlimited subscribers and advanced integrations. Chatfuel’s main strength lies in its simplicity and extensive library of templates, but it lacks the advanced knowledge‑base features and AI courses that newer platforms offer. It also does not provide native e‑commerce integrations or detailed analytics dashboards, meaning restaurants must rely on third‑party tools for deeper insights.
Key Features:
- Drag‑and‑drop flow builder for quick bot creation
- Built‑in templates for reservations and FAQs
- Zapier and Google Sheets integration for data capture
- Messenger, Telegram, and Instagram DM support
- Unlimited broadcasts in paid plans
✓ Pros:
- +Very easy to use with no coding required
- +Large library of pre‑built templates
- +Cross‑platform support (Messenger, Telegram, Instagram)
- +Affordable paid plans
✗ Cons:
- −Limited AI knowledge‑base; relies on static Q&A
- −No native e‑commerce integration
- −Analytics are basic; no advanced reporting
- −Long‑term memory not available
Pricing: Free tier (50 subscribers), Pro $49/month (unlimited subscribers)
MobileMonkey
Best for: Restaurants that want to engage customers across multiple messaging platforms and run broadcast promotions.
MobileMonkey positions itself as a “unified chatbot platform” that works across web, Facebook Messenger, SMS, and WhatsApp. Restaurant owners can use its Visual Flow Builder to set up reservation prompts, menu catalogs, and promotional campaigns. MobileMonkey’s “Chat Commerce” feature allows customers to browse dishes directly within the chat and place orders that are forwarded to the restaurant’s POS or online store. The platform offers a free tier for up to 1,000 contacts, while the Pro plan starts at $79/month and adds advanced audience segmentation, automated broadcasts, and integration with major CRMs like HubSpot. MobileMonkey also provides an AI chatbot that can answer menu questions and suggest pairings, but its knowledge base is largely static and requires manual updates. Its strength lies in multi‑channel reach and the ability to push broadcast messages, which can be useful for announcing daily specials or happy hour deals. However, the platform’s analytics are limited to basic metrics, and there is no built‑in e‑commerce integration beyond redirect links.
Key Features:
- Visual flow builder for web, Messenger, SMS, WhatsApp
- Chat Commerce for in‑chat ordering
- Audience segmentation and automated broadcasts
- CRM integrations (HubSpot, Zoho, etc.)
- AI chatbot for menu inquiries
✓ Pros:
- +Multi‑channel support including SMS and WhatsApp
- +Easy integration with popular CRMs
- +Built‑in chat commerce for quick ordering
- +Affordable pricing for small businesses
✗ Cons:
- −Static knowledge base; requires manual updates
- −Limited analytics depth
- −No native e‑commerce integration beyond redirects
- −Long‑term memory not supported
Pricing: Free tier (1,000 contacts), Pro $79/month (advanced features)
Landbot
Best for: Restaurants that need a highly visual, conversational interface and want to collect orders or feedback directly within the chat.
Landbot offers a visual, no‑code chatbot builder that focuses on conversational UX. For restaurants, Landbot can create interactive menus, reservation forms, and feedback surveys that feel like a natural conversation on a website or landing page. The platform supports integration with Google Sheets, Zapier, and Stripe, enabling order processing and payment collection directly from the chat. Landbot offers a free trial, with the Growth plan at $49/month for unlimited conversations and advanced integrations. Its strength lies in highly customisable layouts and the ability to embed the chatbot as a floating widget or a full‑page experience. However, Landbot’s AI capabilities are limited to rule‑based responses; it does not provide a dynamic knowledge base or native e‑commerce product catalogs. Restaurants looking for deep menu context or AI‑driven recommendations may need to pair Landbot with external services.
Key Features:
- Visual chatbot builder with drag‑and‑drop
- Floating widget or full‑page embed options
- Integrations: Google Sheets, Zapier, Stripe
- Interactive menu and feedback forms
- Unlimited conversations in Growth plan
✓ Pros:
- +Intuitive visual builder with many layout options
- +Easy integration with payment and spreadsheet tools
- +Highly customisable design
- +Affordable starter plan
✗ Cons:
- −Limited AI and knowledge‑base functionality
- −No native e‑commerce catalog integration
- −Analytics are basic
- −Long‑term memory not available
Pricing: Free trial, Growth $49/month, Enterprise available on request
Tars
Best for: Restaurants focused on converting website visitors into reservations through conversational funnels.
Tars specializes in building conversational landing pages that can be used for reservations, lead generation, and customer support. Its drag‑and‑drop builder allows restaurant owners to create flow‑based menus, order forms, and booking calendars. Tars offers integration with Zapier, Google Sheets, and email marketing platforms, making it easy to capture reservation data and follow‑up with guests. The platform’s pricing starts at $49/month for the Basic plan, which includes 1,000 conversations per month, and the Pro plan at $149/month adds unlimited conversations and priority support. Tars’ focus on lead capture and conversational funnels makes it ideal for restaurants that want to convert website visitors into booking inquiries. However, it lacks advanced AI features such as a knowledge base or real‑time inventory checks, and does not provide native e‑commerce order processing.
Key Features:
- Conversational landing page builder
- Drag‑and‑drop flow creation
- Zapier, Google Sheets, email integration
- Lead capture and booking forms
- Unlimited conversations in Pro plan
✓ Pros:
- +Easy funnel creation for bookings and leads
- +Strong integrations with marketing tools
- +Affordable entry‑level pricing
- +Unlimited conversations in Pro tier
✗ Cons:
- −No AI knowledge base or dynamic content
- −Limited e‑commerce and inventory integration
- −Analytics are minimal
- −Long‑term memory not available
Pricing: Basic $49/month, Pro $149/month
Flow XO
Best for: Restaurants that need a cross‑platform chatbot with easy integration to existing scheduling and e‑commerce systems.
Flow XO is a flexible chatbot platform that supports web, Messenger, Slack, and Telegram. Restaurants can use its visual designer to build flows for reservation scheduling, menu browsing, and customer support. Flow XO offers built‑in integrations with Zapier, Google Calendar, and e‑commerce platforms like Shopify, allowing orders and reservations to sync with the restaurant’s backend. The free tier includes 500 messages per month, while the Starter plan at $19/month gives unlimited messages and access to advanced features. Flow XO’s strengths include its wide range of channel support and the ability to connect to existing workflows via webhooks. However, the platform’s AI capabilities are limited to rule‑based interactions, and it does not provide a native knowledge base or AI‑driven recommendation engine. Analytics are basic, and long‑term memory is not supported.
Key Features:
- Visual flow designer for multiple channels
- Zapier and Google Calendar integrations
- Shopify integration for order sync
- Unlimited messages in Starter plan
- Webhook support for custom actions
✓ Pros:
- +Multi‑channel support including Slack
- +Easy webhook and integration setup
- +Affordable starter plan
- +Unlimited messages in paid tiers
✗ Cons:
- −Rule‑based AI only, no knowledge base
- −Limited analytics depth
- −No native e‑commerce checkout flow
- −Long‑term memory not available
Pricing: Free (500 messages/month), Starter $19/month, Pro $59/month
Octane AI
Best for: Restaurants and food brands that want to drive online product sales through an AI chatbot on their e‑commerce site.
Octane AI specializes in e‑commerce chatbots, making it attractive for restaurants that sell products online, such as meal kits or branded merchandise. The platform offers a visual builder for product catalogs, order flows, and customer support. Octane AI integrates natively with Shopify, allowing the bot to pull real‑time inventory and pricing. Pricing starts at $99/month for the Plus plan, which includes unlimited conversations and access to all features. Octane AI’s AI engine can generate product recommendations based on user intent, but it does not provide a separate knowledge base or advanced conversational flows beyond e‑commerce. Restaurants using Octane AI typically rely on the platform for online sales rather than in‑house service or reservation management.
Key Features:
- Shopify integration for real‑time inventory
- Product recommendation engine
- Visual flow builder for order flows
- Unlimited conversations in Plus plan
- AI‑driven upsell suggestions
✓ Pros:
- +Strong Shopify integration
- +AI‑powered product recommendations
- +Unlimited conversations in paid plan
- +Simple setup for e‑commerce
✗ Cons:
- −No knowledge base or reservation functionality
- −Limited to Shopify; no WooCommerce support
- −Analytics are basic
- −Long‑term memory not provided
Pricing: Plus $99/month, Enterprise available on request
Conclusion
Choosing the right chatbot platform can transform how a restaurant interacts with guests, from the first click on a website to the final bite of a signature dish. If you need a fully branded, AI‑powered bot that understands your menu, remembers a customer’s favorite dish across visits, and even offers 24/7 virtual chef training, AgentiveAIQ’s Editor’s Choice is the most comprehensive solution. For simpler, template‑based approaches or a broader multi‑channel reach, the alternatives listed above deliver strong value at varying price points. Evaluate your specific needs—whether it’s deep menu knowledge, real‑time inventory, or cross‑platform broadcasts—and test the free trials where available. Once you’ve identified the platform that aligns with your workflow and budget, you can focus on delighting guests, improving reservations, and driving repeat business. Ready to elevate your restaurant’s digital presence? Sign up for a demo today and see how AI can turn conversations into conversions.