Chatbot ROI calculator for website support.

How the calculation works

The model is deliberately simple, so every step can be checked. It assumes that each conversation the chatbot fully resolves removes the average handling time you entered, and nothing else.

Worked example

With the prefilled assumptions: 1,000 conversations a month, 6 minutes each, 25% fully resolved, $32 an hour, 12 review hours, $150 a month in software and $1,500 to set up.

• 1,000 × 25% × 6 ÷ 60 = 25 h gross hours released.
• 25 h − 12 review hours = 13 h net.
• 13 h × $32 = $416 of modeled capacity a month.
• $416 − $150 software = $266 a month.
• 12 × $266 − $1,500 setup = $1,692 in the first year, with setup recovered in 5.7 months.

At the lower assumption of 15%, the same inputs give 3 h net and −$54 a month after software: a loss. That is the point of showing three cases. A small change in the resolution rate can decide whether chat pays for itself.

What the model leaves out

• Partly handled conversations. A chatbot that collects details before handing over can shorten a person’s work. The model counts only conversations that end without a person.
• Longer or shorter escalations. A good handoff with context can speed up the reply. A poor one can make it slower.
• Changes in demand. Easier chat can bring more conversations, including ones that would never have been emails.
• Revenue and satisfaction. Answering a pre-sales question at 10 p.m. may be worth more than the time it saves. The model doesn’t try to price that.
• Staffing reality. Hours released are capacity. They only become savings if schedules, hiring or overtime actually change.

What a chatbot costs

The calculator uses the costs you enter. It doesn’t guess them, because prices change and depend on volume. The usual parts are:

Software subscription

Charged per seat, per workspace or per plan tier. Check whether the plan you’re pricing includes AI answers.

Usage-based AI charges

Many tools bill AI replies or resolutions separately, through credits or per-conversation fees. Add an estimate to the monthly software cost.

Setup

Writing or cleaning up help content, configuring the widget and handoff rules, and testing. Usually the largest one-time cost for a small team.

Ongoing upkeep

Reviewing answers and updating knowledge when policies change. Enter this as review and maintenance hours, because it recurs every month.

Integrations

Order lookups, bookings or account changes need access to your systems. Custom integration work can cost more than the chatbot itself.

If you’re pricing a custom-built chatbot rather than a chat product, this calculator won’t tell you the build cost. Get quotes, then enter them as setup and monthly costs. For Conecto’s current plans, see Conecto’s pricing page.

How to choose your assumptions

Monthly conversations

Use your help desk, inbox or chat reports. Count the conversations that could reasonably come through website chat.

Average handling time

Include the work after the reply: notes, follow-ups and lookups.

Resolution rate

List your most common questions and check how many have a clear written answer. That gives an upper bound. A pilot on real conversations gives a measured rate. Start with the lower figure.

Hourly support cost

Use the loaded cost: pay plus taxes, benefits, software and overhead.

Review and maintenance

Budget time every month to read transcripts and fix gaps in the knowledge. It is easy to forget and it never goes away.

Formulas and guidance last reviewed on September 23, 2026. Your inputs stay in your browser: nothing is stored or sent.