The 5 Best AI Tools to Create Chatbots for SMEs 2026
Customer communication has fundamentally shifted. AI isn’t just making chatbots smarter – it’s enabling SMEs to build sophisticated conversational agents without writing code, deploy them across multiple channels in hours instead of months, and automate support, sales, and internal processes that previously required dedicated teams.
For small and medium businesses, this represents a transformative opportunity. The traditional choice between « hire expensive developers to build custom bots » or « settle for rigid, template-based chatbots » has given way to intelligent platforms that combine visual builders with generative AI, allowing non-technical teams to create agents that understand context, access company data, and execute real business tasks.
These aren’t pre-built chatbot solutions like Intercom or Zendesk – they’re builder platforms where you design, train, and deploy your own custom AI agents. Some integrate deeply with enterprise ecosystems like Microsoft 365 or Google Cloud. Others prioritize speed and simplicity, letting you launch support agents in minutes. All of them eliminate the traditional barriers of cost, complexity, and technical expertise.
We’ve reviewed five platforms that represent the current state of AI chatbot creation tools. Each excels in different contexts – from enterprise-grade security and compliance to rapid deployment for startups to deep integration with existing business systems. They’re presented in no particular ranking, as the « best » tool depends entirely on your technical environment, use case, and customization requirements.
| Rang | Outil | Score | Visiter |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |
 Copilot Studio Review
Solution hautement recommandée pour les PME souhaitant adopter l'IA conversationnelle d'entreprise de manière sécurisée et sans coder.
|
4.5 | |
| #2 |
 OpenAI Review
Le Chat Builder intégré à l'outil que tout le monde connaît facilite le processus et offre une expérience intuitive, avec des étapes guidées et des options visuelles.
|
4.3 | |
| #3 |
 StackAI Review
Stack AI is a no-code, enterprise-oriented platform for creating and deploying AI agents using a drag-and-drop visual editor.
|
4.3 | |
| #4 |
 Noem AI Review
Noem AI est une plateforme permettant de créer des agents IA multicanaux qui servent les clients, génèrent du contenu et automatisent les tâches dans les ventes, le support et le marketing.
|
4.1 | |
| #5 |
 Vertex AI Review
Vertex AI Agent Builder is a Google Cloud platform designed to create chatbots and artificial intelligence agents, combining guided conversational flows and generative reasoning powered by Gemini 2.5, Google's most advanced language model.
|
3.4 |
Microsoft Copilot Studio
What it is: A low-code/no-code platform within the Microsoft ecosystem that enables companies to build custom AI agents (« copilots ») with visual drag-and-drop tools, powered by Azure OpenAI Service.
The AI approach: Copilot Studio combines generative AI with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to create agents that understand natural language and respond based on your company’s data. The platform uses Azure OpenAI models for natural language understanding and connects to Microsoft Graph and Azure Cognitive Search to ground responses in verified business information. Agents can execute automated workflows through Power Automate – creating records in Dynamics 365, sending emails via Outlook, or querying databases – all without code.
Best for: SMEs already operating within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem (Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, Dynamics 365), companies requiring enterprise-grade security and compliance for customer-facing or internal agents, and organizations wanting to automate IT support, HR queries, or customer service without hiring developers.
Key differentiator: Native integration throughout Microsoft 365 eliminates implementation friction. Deploy agents directly in Teams conversations, SharePoint pages, or as standalone web apps. The platform inherits Azure’s enterprise security – data encryption, role-based access control through Azure Active Directory, multi-factor authentication, and compliance with GDPR, ISO 27001, and SOC 2. Agents can access company data through Microsoft Graph while maintaining strict governance controls. The visual builder uses drag-and-drop logic, making it accessible to business users while offering Power Automate integration for complex workflows.
Pricing: Subscription-based with monthly or annual options, capacity-based pricing that scales with usage. Free trial available. Microsoft 365 Copilot users get certain integrations included. Plans range up to $200/month for enterprise deployments.
AgentAya rating: 4.5/5 – Highly recommended solution for SMEs seeking enterprise conversational AI within the Microsoft ecosystem, combining security with accessibility.
OpenAI
What it is: Custom GPTs within ChatGPT, allowing anyone to create specialized conversational assistants by providing instructions, uploading knowledge files, and connecting external APIs – all without coding.
The AI approach: GPTs leverage OpenAI’s GPT-4 and GPT-4o models with customization through natural language instructions. You define your agent’s personality, expertise, and behavior by describing what you want it to do. Upload proprietary documents (PDFs, spreadsheets, manuals) and the GPT performs contextual search to answer questions based on your data. Connect external APIs through « Actions » to enable your GPT to query databases, create support tickets, or integrate with CRMs. The platform also includes web browsing (for current information), DALL-E image generation, and advanced data analysis capabilities.
Best for: Entrepreneurs and SMEs seeking rapid deployment of customer support or internal knowledge agents, teams wanting to prototype AI assistants before investing in enterprise platforms, and businesses needing flexible, customizable agents that can operate across ChatGPT’s web and mobile interfaces.
Key differentiator: Fastest time-to-value among chatbot builders. Create a functioning agent in minutes by conversing with ChatGPT about what you need. The familiar ChatGPT interface means zero learning curve for end users. GPTs work seamlessly across web and mobile (iOS/Android) with conversation history syncing between devices. Business and Enterprise plans offer SOC 2 Type 2 certification, data processing agreements that exclude training on your data, and integrations with Google Drive, SharePoint, GitHub, and Notion for enterprise knowledge retrieval. The GPT Store allows publishing agents publicly or sharing privately via links.
Pricing: Plans start from $20/month (Plus) which includes GPT creation, advanced models, and higher usage limits. Pro plan ($200/month) offers unlimited usage. Business plans available for teams requiring administrative controls, SSO, and enterprise data handling.
AgentAya rating: 4.3/5 – Solid balance between ease of use, power, and ecosystem maturity, ideal for SMEs prioritizing deployment speed.
StackAI
What it is: A no-code platform for building and deploying enterprise AI agents focused on document automation, support workflows, and back-office processes with strong security compliance.
The AI approach: StackAI combines advanced language models with document processing capabilities (OCR for scanned files, PDF analysis) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to create agents that work with your business data. The visual builder uses connected blocks – you drag and drop components to define conversation flows, document analysis steps, and automated actions. Agents can read contracts, classify support tickets, extract information from forms, and generate responses based on company knowledge bases. Pre-built templates accelerate deployment for common use cases like contract review, customer assistance, and request management.
Best for: SMEs in regulated sectors (finance, healthcare, legal) requiring SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, and GDPR compliance, support and operations teams handling high volumes of documents and tickets, and companies needing private deployment options (VPC or on-premises) for sensitive data.
Key differentiator: Enterprise-grade security with certification compliance that rivals platforms costing 10x more. Offers deployment in private cloud environments or on-premises servers – rare among no-code tools. The document intelligence capabilities (OCR, automated reading, classification) make it particularly strong for back-office automation. Direct connections with enterprise systems like Salesforce and Snowflake enable end-to-end workflow automation. Users retain full data ownership with encryption in transit and at rest, plus data processing agreements with AI model providers.
Pricing: Contact sales for pricing. Free trial available. Enterprise plans scale based on usage and deployment requirements (cloud vs. private hosting).
AgentAya rating: 4.3/5 – Solid, accessible tool for SMEs seeking to automate tasks securely without technical knowledge, particularly strong for document-heavy workflows.
Noem AI
What it is: A multichannel platform for creating AI agents that automate customer support, sales conversations, and marketing content generation across web, WhatsApp, and social channels.
The AI approach: Noem AI combines conversational AI with content generation and sentiment analysis. Agents don’t just chat – they analyze customer emotions, classify inquiry topics, generate product recommendations, and create marketing content (blogs, social posts, product descriptions) automatically. The platform includes specialized agent types: support agents for 24/7 customer service, sales agents that guide purchases and close conversions, and content agents that produce written and visual marketing materials. Weekly executive reports provide sentiment analysis, conversation trends, and growth opportunities based on customer interactions.
Best for: Startups and SMEs requiring 24/7 customer support without expanding headcount, marketing and content teams needing automated blog posts and social media content, and Shopify or WordPress stores wanting integrated chatbots that handle both support and sales.
Key differentiator: Goes beyond conversation into content automation and business intelligence. The « Personal Concierge » feature recommends products and personalizes shopping experiences. « Growth Strategist » analyzes conversations to identify business opportunities and generate expansion strategies. Automatic knowledge updates sync with your website and documents, preventing outdated responses. The « Done-for-You » service has Noem’s team configure, train, and deploy your complete agent according to your business objectives – removing all technical barriers for non-technical founders.
Pricing: Free plan available to start. Paid plans based on token usage and features (Individual, Professional, Enterprise). Flexible monthly billing with no long-term contracts.
AgentAya rating: 4.1/5 – Practical and cost-effective option for SMEs seeking automation without technical complexity, particularly strong for e-commerce and content-driven businesses.
Vertex AI
What it is: Google Cloud’s enterprise platform for building AI agents that combine guided conversation flows (Dialogflow CX) with generative reasoning powered by Gemini models, designed for companies already operating in Google Cloud.
The AI approach: Vertex AI merges two powerful paradigms: deterministic flows (you design exact conversation paths with branches and conditions) and generative AI (Gemini models that reason contextually and generate dynamic responses). This hybrid approach means your agent can follow precise business logic when needed while flexibly handling unexpected questions. Vertex AI Search and RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) allow agents to consult internal documents and databases before responding, providing verifiable, sourced answers. Model Garden gives access to Google’s models, third-party options, and open-source alternatives in one environment.
Best for: SMEs with enterprise data in Google Cloud (BigQuery, Firebase, Cloud Functions), technical teams needing to combine structured flows with AI reasoning, companies operating multilingually across global markets, and organizations requiring agents that integrate with internal APIs and execute complex business processes.
Key differentiator: Unmatched integration with Google Cloud’s ecosystem – BigQuery for data, Apigee for APIs, Firebase for mobile backends, Cloud Functions for custom logic. The Agent-to-Agent protocol enables multiple specialized agents to collaborate within the same environment. Enterprise-grade MLOps tools (Vertex AI Pipelines, Model Registry, Feature Store, Evaluation) provide production-ready infrastructure that scales. Compliance with ISO/IEC 27001, 27017, 27018, SOC 1/2, GDPR, and CCPA. Gemini models support 95+ languages with excellent multilingual understanding, making it ideal for global operations.
Pricing: Usage-based pricing through Google Cloud. No standalone free plan, but new Google Cloud customers receive initial credits. Use the Vertex AI calculator to estimate costs before deployment.
AgentAya rating: 3.4/5 – Powerful platform for companies with medium to advanced technical requirements, though steeper learning curve and variable costs make it less accessible for very small businesses.
Choosing Your AI Chatbot Builder
The right platform depends on your specific requirements:
For Microsoft ecosystem integration:
- Copilot Studio → Native functionality across Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, and Dynamics 365
For rapid deployment and ease of use:
- OpenAI GPTs → Create functioning agents in minutes within familiar ChatGPT interface
- Noem AI → Launch 24/7 support and content automation quickly with templates
For enterprise security and compliance:
- StackAI → SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, GDPR with private deployment options
- Copilot Studio → Azure-grade security with Microsoft’s compliance certifications
For document-heavy workflows:
- StackAI → OCR, automated reading, contract analysis, and classification
For content generation alongside support:
- Noem AI → Automated blogs, social posts, and marketing materials
For Google Cloud infrastructure:
- Vertex AI → Deep integration with BigQuery, Firebase, and Google’s AI ecosystem
For flexible API connections:
- OpenAI GPTs → Custom Actions connect to any external system
- StackAI → Enterprise integrations with Salesforce, Snowflake, and business platforms
The AI chatbot revolution isn’t about replacing human customer service – it’s about scaling your team’s capacity so SMEs can provide 24/7 support, automate repetitive tasks, and maintain consistent quality across thousands of conversations, all without the traditional costs of hiring, training, and managing large support teams.
