Heyy is the best pick when WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger conversations are essentially the whole business — a single AI-powered inbox built specifically around those channels. Chatbase wins when you need a website chatbot first that can also extend to WhatsApp, at a lower entry price. Intercom Fin wins when messaging needs to plug into a broader Intercom support stack you're already running or planning to run. All three automate sales and support conversations with AI — the difference is which channel is the center of gravity.
The three, in one line each
Heyy is an AI conversation platform built around automating sales, marketing, and support specifically across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger, with a single multi-agent inbox for every channel a customer might message from.
Chatbase is a website-first AI chatbot builder that trains on your own content and can extend into channels like WhatsApp, priced on a metered message-credit system that starts cheap and scales with usage.
Intercom Fin is an AI support agent priced per resolution ($0.99 each) built to sit inside — or alongside — the broader Intercom customer-service platform, which matters most for teams already invested in Intercom's helpdesk and seat-based support tools.
Where each one actually wins
Heyy wins for businesses where WhatsApp and Instagram DMs, not a website widget, are where real sales and support conversations happen — common for ecommerce and local businesses selling through social channels in markets where WhatsApp commerce is standard. Chatbase wins for a team that needs a chatbot trained on their own docs and content primarily for the website, with WhatsApp as a secondary channel rather than the primary one. Intercom Fin wins once you're already running (or planning to run) Intercom's broader support suite and want the AI agent layer to plug directly into that existing setup rather than bolting on a separate tool.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Starting price | Core job | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heyy | $41/mo (Hobby) | Multi-channel WhatsApp/IG/Messenger inbox | WhatsApp and Instagram are the main sales channel |
| Chatbase | Free, Hobby from $32/mo | Website chatbot, extends to WhatsApp | Website-first with WhatsApp as a secondary channel |
| Intercom Fin | $49/mo base + $0.99/resolution | AI agent inside the Intercom suite | Already running or adopting Intercom's helpdesk |
Which one should you use?
Choose Heyy if WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger conversations are how your customers actually reach you — it's built around those channels rather than treating them as an add-on. Choose Chatbase if your starting point is a website chatbot and WhatsApp is a secondary, not primary, channel. Choose Intercom Fin if you're already committed to Intercom's broader support platform and want the AI agent layer to live inside that same system.
FAQ
Does Heyy require a business to already have WhatsApp Business API access? Yes, like any serious WhatsApp automation tool, it requires connecting an official WhatsApp Business API number, which involves its own setup and approval process separate from the Heyy subscription itself.
Can Chatbase's WhatsApp extension match Heyy's depth on that specific channel? Chatbase treats WhatsApp as one of several channels a website-trained bot can extend into, while Heyy is purpose-built around WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger specifically — a business whose whole model is social-channel messaging will generally find Heyy's channel-specific features go deeper.
Is Intercom Fin's per-resolution pricing predictable for a growing business? It's outcome-based rather than flat, so cost scales directly with resolution volume — predictable in that you're only paying for successful outcomes, but budgeting requires estimating your actual conversation and resolution volume rather than assuming a flat monthly number.
Which of the three is cheapest for a small business just starting out? Chatbase's free tier and $32/month Hobby plan are the cheapest entry point of the three; Heyy has a free lifetime tier too, though its paid tiers start higher at $41/month once WhatsApp messaging volume requires it.
Related guides
- Part of our complete guide: AI Tools for Customer Support & Success
- Chatbase vs Intercom Fin vs Building Your Own: Best AI Customer Support Agent for SaaS in 2026
- Best AI Customer Support Chatbot for Small Business in 2026
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*Ratings and pricing reviewed monthly. Last updated September 2026.*
Bogdex · Founder & editor, woska
Bogdex builds and curates woska, testing AI tools against real workflows to judge which ones actually save time rather than which have the longest feature list.