Microsoft Bot Framework
What Microsoft Bot Framework is
Microsoft Bot Framework and Azure AI Bot Service provide tools to build, test, deploy, and manage intelligent bots. The modular SDK includes tools and templates for bots that can use speech, understand natural language, and handle questions and answers. Development tools work with a Connector service for exchanging messages and events, alongside Azure deployment and channel configuration. Client libraries are available for C#, JavaScript, Python, and Java. Bots can connect to channels such as Microsoft Teams, Facebook, and Slack through Azure AI Bot Service channels or channel adapters; the listed capabilities also include a visual flow builder, knowledge-base answers, and human handoff. Hosting can be on a developer’s own servers, in Azure, or in another data center, provided the bot exposes a publicly accessible HTTPS endpoint. Bot Service channels require HTTPS and TLS 1.2, and the SDK automates basic bot-to-channel authentication. The Free plan costs nothing and includes unlimited standard-channel messages and 10,000 premium-channel messages per month. Microsoft says the SDK is no longer updated or maintained and recommends the Microsoft 365 Agents SDK for new agent development. It also says support tickets for the Bot Framework SDK will no longer be serviced as of December 31, 2025.
Who it suits
Microsoft Bot Framework suits developers building bots across channels such as Teams, Facebook, and Slack, particularly those who want client libraries in C#, JavaScript, Python, or Java. Its listed hosting options suit teams able to expose a publicly accessible HTTPS endpoint and choose their own server or cloud environment.
What it does well
- Includes tools and templates for speech, natural language, and Q&A bots.
- Provides client libraries for C#, JavaScript, Python, and Java.
- Connects bots to Teams, Facebook, Slack, and other channels.
- Allows hosting on own servers, Azure, or another data center.
- Free plan includes unlimited standard-channel messages.
- Supports identity providers including Microsoft Entra ID and GitHub.
What to know first
- Microsoft says the SDK is no longer updated or maintained.
- Microsoft recommends a different SDK for new agent development.
- Free plan limits premium-channel messages to 10,000 per month.
- Channel adapters may be needed for some channels or features.
Limits
The Free plan includes 10,000 premium-channel messages per month, while standard-channel messages are unlimited. Channel adapters may be needed when Azure AI Bot Service does not provide a desired channel or the required channel features.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Standard channels unlimited messages · Premium channels 10,000 messages/month · Azure resources billed separately | Free |
| S1 | $- per 1,000 messages · Unlimited standard-channel messages · Premium-channel messages charged per 1,000 · Azure resources billed separately | On request |
As dev.botframework.com lists them, read 21 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Bot Framework website.
- Choose the Free plan or S1 plan.
- Build with the SDK tools and a client library for C#, JavaScript, Python, or Java.
- Configure deployment and channels through Azure AI Bot Service, or use channel adapters as needed.
- Host the bot on your own servers, in Azure, or in another data center with a publicly accessible HTTPS endpoint.
Verdict
The Bot Framework may suit developers maintaining bots that need its SDK, channel connections, and hosting flexibility. For new agent development, Microsoft recommends the Microsoft 365 Agents SDK; teams relying on support tickets should also account for the stated end of Bot Framework SDK ticket service.
Questions
Is Microsoft Bot Framework free?
A Free plan is listed as free. It includes unlimited standard-channel messages and 10,000 premium-channel messages per month.
Which programming languages have client libraries?
The Bot Framework provides client libraries for C#, JavaScript, Python, and Java.
Which channels can bots connect to?
Bots can connect to channels such as Microsoft Teams, Facebook, and Slack using Azure AI Bot Service channels or channel adapters.
Where can a bot be hosted?
It can be hosted on the developer’s own servers, in Azure, or in another data center, as long as it exposes a publicly accessible HTTPS endpoint.
Is the Bot Framework SDK maintained?
Microsoft says the SDK is no longer updated or maintained and recommends the Microsoft 365 Agents SDK for new agent development. Microsoft also says Bot Framework SDK support tickets will no longer be serviced as of December 31, 2025.
Facts from Microsoft Bot Framework's own pages
- Archive news
- GitHub marks the main Bot Framework SDK repository as archived by its owner on January 5, 2026. · github.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Authentication
- Azure AI Bot Service supports user authentication with identity providers including Microsoft Entra ID, GitHub, and custom OAuth2 providers. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Azure integrations
- Bots may use Azure AI services and Azure Storage, and can be configured for Microsoft Teams. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Botkit
- Botkit supplies JavaScript bot tooling with hear, ask and say dialog methods plus adapters for Slack, Webex Teams, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, Twilio and Web Chat. · github.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Browser support
- Web Chat supports the latest two versions of Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Firefox; Internet Explorer 11 requires an ES5 bundle and has limited customization support. · github.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Cards
- Channel support for Adaptive, hero, receipt, sign-in, thumbnail, video, audio and animation cards varies substantially; Direct Line technically supports all cards but clients must implement them. · learn.microsoft.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Channel connectivity
- Azure Bot Service connects bots to channels including Teams, Facebook Messenger, Slack, Telegram, LINE, Alexa, Twilio SMS, email, Web Chat and Direct Line. · learn.microsoft.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Channel limits
- Kik and Skype no longer accept new bot development, while telephony is preview-only and not accepting additional customers. · learn.microsoft.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Channels
- Bots can connect to channels such as Microsoft Teams, Facebook, and Slack, using Azure AI Bot Service channels or channel adapters. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Channel translation
- The Bot Connector translates the Bot Framework Activity schema into channel-specific formats when a channel lacks support for some activity features. · learn.microsoft.com, 21 Oct 2026
- CLI
- Bot Framework CLI Tools are open-source, cross-platform command-line tools intended to support end-to-end bot development workflows. · github.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Company founded
- Microsoft states that it was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. · news.microsoft.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- Microsoft Corporation is identified as the company behind the product and is a public company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. · linkedin.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Company size
- Microsoft reports approximately 228,000 full-time employees as of June 30, 2025. · microsoft.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Composer
- Bot Framework Composer is an integrated visual development tool for creating bots and conversational experiences. · github.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Conversation modeling
- The SDK lets developers model sophisticated conversations in C#, JavaScript and Python, with Java support also documented in the ecosystem. · github.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Deployment channels
- multichannel · azure.microsoft.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Documentation
- Microsoft Learn organizes Bot Service documentation around building, testing, deploying and managing chatbots, with language-specific developer options. · learn.microsoft.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Features
- The modular SDK includes tools and templates for creating bots that can use speech, understand natural language, and handle questions and answers. · learn.microsoft.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · azure.microsoft.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Hosting
- Azure Marketplace says bots can be hosted in any environment while using Bot Framework Composer or an SDK. · marketplace.microsoft.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Human handoff
- Yes · azure.microsoft.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Identity support
- User-assigned managed identity and single-tenant apps are supported with the C#, JavaScript and Python SDKs; Composer, Emulator and other SDK languages do not support those app types. · learn.microsoft.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Knowledge-base answers
- Yes · azure.microsoft.com, 21 Sept 2026
Where Microsoft Bot Framework stands on Freedom251
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