Bring your own AI key
Starter
A one-time setup for budget-minded owners. You pay your AI provider directly for usage.
$149one-time · no monthly fee from us
- Chatbot trained on up to 100 pages
- Brand colors, logo & welcome message
- Lead capture with email alerts
- 50+ languages, mobile-ready
- Install guide, or we install it
- Works with your Anthropic or OpenAI key
- 30 days of tuning support
Most popular · no API key
Managed
We host, run and improve your chatbot. AI usage is included, so there is nothing technical for you to manage.
$29/mo+ $49 one-time setup · cancel anytime
- Everything in Starter
- AI usage included: 1,000 conversations/mo
- Weekly website re-sync
- Leads to email, Slack or Google Sheets
- Human handoff: booking link, phone, WhatsApp
- Monthly conversation report
- Ongoing answer tuning
For busy sites & teams
Pro
More conversations, more sites and deeper integrations for clinics, agencies and online stores.
$99/mono setup fee · cancel anytime
- Everything in Managed
- 5,000 conversations/mo
- Up to 3 websites or brands
- Extra knowledge: PDFs, docs, product catalogs
- HubSpot, Zapier & webhook integrations
- Appointment booking flow
- Monthly strategy call
Secure checkout by Stripe · Live in about 24 hours · Prices in USD
Not sure yet? Get a free demo chatbot trained on your website
Which plan is right for you?
| If you… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Want the lowest total cost and are comfortable creating an API key | Starter |
| Want it to just work, with no API key, no surprise bills and ongoing improvements | Managed |
| Get lots of traffic, run several sites or need CRM and booking integrations | Pro |
What does “bring your own API key” mean?
AI chatbots run on large language models from providers like Anthropic (Claude) or OpenAI. On the Starter plan you create an account with one of them, add a payment method, and give us an API key. The provider bills you directly based on usage. For a typical small business site with a few hundred conversations a month, that’s usually a few dollars to a few tens of dollars a month depending on the model, but you control the account and the spending limit.
On Managed and Pro you skip all of that: AI usage is included in your monthly price up to your plan’s conversation limit.
What counts as a conversation?
A conversation is one visitor’s chat session, however many messages it contains. A visitor who asks five questions in a row is one conversation. If you regularly go over your plan’s limit, we’ll suggest an upgrade. We never cut your chatbot off mid-month without warning.
How our pricing compares
| Factor | StartupLime AI Chatbot | DIY chatbot platforms | Receptionist / live chat staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who builds it | We do, done for you | You build and train it | You hire and train them |
| Time to go live | ~24 hours | Days to weeks of setup | Weeks to hire |
| Typical cost | $149 one-time or $29/mo | $40–$500+/mo plus your time | $2,500+/mo per person |
| Available 24/7 | Yes | Yes | Business hours |
| Matches your brand | Designed by our brand team | Basic color options | Yes |
| Lead capture & email alerts | Included | Often on higher plans | Manual |
| Languages | 50+, automatic | Varies by plan | Who you hire |
| Ongoing tuning | We review and improve it | Your job | Training time |
| Technical skill needed | None | Some | None |
DIY platform prices reflect typical self-serve plans in 2026; staffing cost is a typical US part-time to full-time range. Check each provider for current pricing.
Is it worth it? Do the math
Plug in your own traffic and deal size. Even one extra customer a month usually covers the cost many times over.
Estimated every month
- 90conversations
- 18new leads
- $1,440potential new revenue
- 6hours of questions handled
Return on a Managed plan: 50x
An estimate, not a promise: results depend on your traffic, offer and follow-up speed. Adjust the numbers to match your business.
Pricing FAQ
Are there any setup fees?
Starter is a single one-time payment. Managed has a one-time $49 setup fee. Pro has no setup fee.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Managed and Pro are month-to-month. Cancel before your next billing date and you won’t be charged again.
Can I switch plans later?
Yes. You can move from Starter to Managed, or between Managed and Pro, at any time. Contact us and we’ll switch you over.
Do you charge per user or per seat?
No. Unlike many chatbot platforms, there are no per-seat fees. Send leads to as many team members as you like.
Do you offer refunds?
Our refund policy is in the Terms of Service. If you’re unsure whether a chatbot fits your business, request a free demo first so you can try it on your own content before paying.
Can I add a chatbot to a Brand Box website?
Ask us. If you’re getting a new website with the Brand Box, we can set up the chatbot as part of your launch.
