Side by side
Chakra Chat vs Stept
Both stand on chatbot builders. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1
Chakra Chat combines WhatsApp campaign tools, automation, AI features, and team inbox management. Its free and paid tiers differ in message allowances, channels, seats, and API access, so usage limits should guide plan selection.
Visit Chakra Chat Free plan APIExtensionLinux+4
Stept offers a free self-hosted plan alongside cloud tiers with stated prices and resolution allowances. The cloud plans are marked as having pricing coming and are free during early access, so those terms matter when considering them.
Visit SteptThe facts
| Chakra Chat | Stept | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, API, iPhone, Web | API, Extension, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Starter: $12.49 a month | Cloud: $19 per seat a month |
| Plans published | 6 | 3 |
| Maker | Chakra Chat | Not published |
| Website | chakrahq.com | stepped.ai |
| On chatbot builders | #32 of 257 | #28 of 257 |
Chakra Chat: what it does well
- Free plan available
- Shared inbox across WhatsApp numbers
- No-code chatbot flow builder
- Knowledge-base answers and human handoff
- Multiple commerce and CRM integrations
What to know first
- Free plan excludes API and webhook access
- WhatsApp charges are paid to Meta
- Message caps can trigger overage or upgrades
Stept: what it does well
- Self-hosted plan is free forever and MIT-licensed.
- Self-hosted plan includes unlimited seats.
- Supports multichannel deployment and human handoff.
- Cloud plans list monthly AI resolution allowances.
What to know first
- Cloud pricing is also marked as coming.
- Cloud is free during early access.
- Cloud plan details list monthly resolution limits.
Alternatives to Chakra Chat Alternatives to Stept The whole list