Vaki compared with live chat and answering services
There are three common ways to answer guests: staff on a live chat, a human answering service, or a chatbot. Vaki is a fourth. This page compares kinds of service, not brands.
The four kinds side by side
| Live chat run by your staff | Human answering service | FAQ chatbot | Vaki | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who answers | Your own people | Trained receptionists, often on the phone | Software, from an FAQ you write | Software, from your own information, with a handover to your staff |
| When | Only while someone is online | Depends on the service | Any hour | Any hour |
| Languages | Whatever your staff speak | Depends on the service | Depends on the product | 13, in the language the guest writes in |
| Phone calls | Only if staff pick up | Yes, this is what they are for | Usually not | Not answered. On Large, a missed call becomes a written answer sent to you |
| How the bill grows | Staff time | Many charge by the minute or the call | Many charge by the conversation | A flat monthly price with a reply cap per plan (Starter $89, up to 250 replies) |
| Takes bookings | Your staff can | Depends on the service | Depends on the product | No. It hands the guest to you |
Where the others are better
- People can answer a phone call. Vaki does not answer calls: on Large a missed call becomes a written answer sent to you.
- Your own staff on a live chat can use judgement and warmth that software cannot, and they can take a booking on the spot.
- A human service can handle odd, emotional or urgent situations. Vaki hands those to you.
Where Vaki fits
- Guest messages arrive when nobody is working, in languages you do not all speak.
- The same questions come every day and you already know the answers.
- You want a flat, predictable price, and answers that come from what you told it.
- You are fine with a 14-day free trial first: a card is needed to start, nothing is charged until day 15, there is no setup fee and no contract.
What it costs
Starter is $89 a month for up to 250 guest replies, with chat on your own website. Small is $159 (up to 500 replies), Medium is $289 (up to 2,000 replies, and email, WhatsApp and Telegram as well) and Large, with phone, is $769 (up to 6,000 replies). The first 14 days are free on every plan. You add a card to start, nothing is charged until day 15, and if you cancel before then you pay nothing. You can be invoiced in US dollars or euros (Starter is $89 or EUR 79 a month). There is no setup fee and no contract, and the prices are final, with no VAT added.
We have not tested other products for this page, so we do not compare their prices or features. Check any vendor's own page before you decide.
Questions
Can Vaki replace my staff?
No. It answers the routine questions from your information and hands the rest to your staff with the whole conversation.
Does Vaki answer the phone?
No. On the Large plan a missed call becomes a written answer sent to you.
Can I use Vaki and keep my live chat?
Yes, they do different jobs. Vaki covers the hours and languages your staff cannot.
How is the price different?
Vaki has four fixed monthly plans with a reply cap, starting at $89 for Starter. The first 14 days are free.
Also: Vaki for tour operators · Vaki for hotels · Answering guests in their own language