# AI Chatbot Pricing in South Africa > Lekker AI plans start at R999/month for 500 messages. Professional R2,499/month for 3,000 messages. Business R4,999/month for 15,000 messages. Setup, hosting and support included. 14-day free trial. **How much does an AI chatbot cost in South Africa?** Lekker AI starts at R999/month and includes setup, hosting, the website widget and the WhatsApp handoff button. No hidden fees, no per-conversation surprise bills, no setup charges. All plans come with a 14-day free trial. --- ## Key benefits ### Starter, R999/month 500 AI messages, one website widget, lead capture, bookings, FAQ answering, WhatsApp handoff button. Best for sole traders and small storefronts. ### Professional, R2,499/month 3,000 messages, live human handoff, after-hours mode, multi-language support, custom branding. Best for restaurants, hotels and growing service businesses. ### Business, R4,999/month 15,000 messages, priority support, complaints workflow, advanced analytics. Best for established practices, multi-location businesses and high-traffic sites. ## What it handles **Sole trader or single-location storefront** Starter at R999/month covers most independent businesses. 500 messages a month is typically 100 to 200 customer conversations. **Restaurant, salon or guesthouse** Professional at R2,499/month is the sweet spot. Live handoff means a real person can take over when a customer needs them. **Medical practice or law firm** Business at R4,999/month covers high message volume and gives you priority support so a regulated business never has a chat outage. **High-traffic e-commerce site** Business plan. If you exceed 15,000 messages we discuss a custom tier rather than charging overage fees, so your bill never surprises you. **Try before you commit** Every plan has a 14-day free trial with full features. No credit card required to start. You only pay if you keep the agent live after day 14. ## Frequently asked questions **How much does an AI chatbot cost in South Africa?** Lekker AI starts at R999/month for 500 messages. Professional is R2,499/month for 3,000 messages. Business is R4,999/month for 15,000 messages. Every plan includes setup, hosting and email support, no setup fees. **Are there setup fees?** No. Setup is included on every plan. You configure your agent in the dashboard wizard yourself, or our team helps you for free during the 14-day trial. **What happens if I exceed my message limit?** We send you a notification at 80% and 100% of your monthly allowance. If you regularly exceed it, we move you to the next tier rather than charging surprise overage fees. **Is there a free trial?** Yes. 14 days, full features, no credit card required. You only pay if you choose to keep your agent live after the trial ends. **Can I cancel any time?** Yes. Plans are month-to-month with no contract. Cancel from your dashboard and the agent stays live until the end of your paid period. **How does Lekker AI compare to hiring a receptionist?** A part-time SA receptionist costs roughly R8,000 to R15,000 per month plus benefits. Lekker AI handles after-hours, weekends, public holidays and multiple languages for R999 to R4,999 per month, and never takes a sick day. --- *Source: [https://www.lekkerai.co.za/ai-chatbot-pricing-south-africa](https://www.lekkerai.co.za/ai-chatbot-pricing-south-africa)* *Lekker AI — AI chat agents for South African businesses. Plans start at R999/month. 14-day free trial. POPIA compliant. [Start free →](https://www.lekkerai.co.za/signup)*