Side by side
Microsoft Bot Framework vs Rasa
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.
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.
Visit Microsoft Bot Framework
Choose Rasa if you need a web platform for building multichannel assistants with visual flows, knowledge-base answers, and human handoff. The free edition provides a defined starting point; look elsewhere if you need more than one bot or exceed its monthly conversation caps without moving to another plan.
Visit RasaThe facts
| Microsoft Bot Framework | Rasa | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 4 |
| Maker | Not published | Rasa |
| Website | dev.botframework.com | rasa.com |
| On chatbot builders | #15 of 258 | #39 of 258 |
Microsoft Bot Framework: 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.
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- Microsoft says the SDK is no longer updated or maintained.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.
Rasa: what it does well
- Visual flow builder and AI bot generation are included.
- Assistants can answer from a knowledge base.
- Human handoff supports passing conversations to a person.
- Free edition allows one bot per company.
- Business plan adds SSO and role-based access control.
What to know first
- Free edition is limited to one bot per company.
- Free edition caps external conversations at 1,000 monthly.
- Free edition caps internal conversations at 100 monthly.
- Prices for Rasa Pro, Business, and Enterprise are on request.
Alternatives to Microsoft Bot Framework Alternatives to Rasa The whole list