Chatbase Alternative: Chatref
Turn your documents into an AI chatbot that answers customers, captures leads, and supports your team - with custom actions and advanced bot settings.
Why people look for Chatbase alternatives
If you're searching for a Chatbase alternative, you're usually trying to solve one (or more) of these:
- You want more control over how your chatbot behaves
- You want the bot to do things (actions/workflows), not only answer
- You want a simpler setup that still feels "production-ready"
- You want a tool that matches your use case without extra complexity
Chatref is built for teams who want fast time-to-value and clean control - without needing to wire up a developer-heavy stack.
Chatref vs Chatbase
Here's the straightforward comparison. No fluff.
| Feature | Chatref | Chatbase |
|---|---|---|
| Train from docs + website | ||
| Website embed | ||
| Custom bot settings (behavior, tone, rules) | varies | |
| Custom actions | varies | |
| Model selection | Fixed (optimized default) | Often offers model choices |
| Slack / WhatsApp channels | ||
| API access | ||
| Best fit | SMBs, startups, agencies | Teams needing integrations |
Train from docs + website
Chatref
Chatbase
Website embed
Chatref
Chatbase
Custom bot settings (behavior, tone, rules)
Chatref
Chatbase
variesCustom actions
Chatref
Chatbase
variesModel selection
Chatref
Fixed (optimized default)Chatbase
Often offers model choicesSlack / WhatsApp channels
Chatref
Chatbase
API access
Chatref
Chatbase
Best fit
Chatref
SMBs, startups, agenciesChatbase
Teams needing integrationsWhen Chatref is the better Chatbase alternative
Chatref is a great fit if you care most about:
Custom bot control
Use detailed bot settings to shape how the assistant responds - tone, boundaries, priorities, and brand voice.
Custom actions
Go beyond Q&A. Trigger workflows and guided steps inside the chat experience (within what Chatref supports today).
A cleaner setup
If your goal is to get a helpful chatbot live quickly and iterate, Chatref keeps the workflow lightweight.
When Chatbase is the better choice
Chatbase may be better if you:
- Need WhatsApp/Slack support right now
- Need API access or developer-first integrations
- Want to pick and switch models manually
- Need highly advanced analytics (depending on what you require)
This honest section helps you decide fast: if you need omnichannel or API today, start with Chatbase. If you want control + simplicity, try Chatref.
Switching from Chatbase to Chatref
Most teams can switch fast. Here's what you'll typically do:
Gather your source content
Collect the docs, FAQs, and URLs you used in Chatbase
Add sources to Chatref
Upload the same content into your new Chatref bot
Configure settings + actions
Set up bot behavior, tone, and any custom actions you need
Replace the embed code
Swap out the Chatbase widget with the Chatref embed on your site
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about switching to Chatref
The best Chatbase alternative depends on what you need. If you want a chatbot trained on your docs with custom actions and strong bot settings, Chatref is built for that. If you need WhatsApp/Slack/API today, you may prefer a platform with deeper integrations.
Chatref offers a free trial with 100 messages per month. No credit card required. After that, choose a plan that fits your usage starting at just $10/month.
Not yet. Today Chatref is focused on website-based chatbots. If WhatsApp/Slack is critical, Chatbase or other omnichannel platforms may fit better.
Not yet. If you require API-based workflows, Chatbase may be a better match for now.
Yes. Chatref supports custom bot settings so you can control tone, boundaries, and how the bot behaves with your users.
Yes — custom actions are available. You can trigger workflows, collect leads via forms, guide users through multi-step processes, and connect to external APIs.