What is Api.ai and what are its top alternatives?
Api.ai is a conversational interface platform that allows developers to build and integrate natural language processing into their applications. Its key features include speech recognition, text-to-speech capabilities, and pre-built conversation modules for different use cases. However, some limitations of Api.ai include its pricing model, limited customization options, and potential privacy concerns.
- Dialogflow: Formerly known as Api.ai, Dialogflow is a powerful natural language understanding platform owned by Google. Key features include speech recognition, chatbot development, multi-language support, and integration with various messaging platforms. Pros include Google's cloud infrastructure and robust AI capabilities, while cons may include possible limitations in customization options compared to other tools.
- IBM Watson Assistant: IBM Watson Assistant offers AI-powered chatbot development tools with capabilities such as natural language understanding, machine learning, and integration with various systems. Pros include IBM's reputation in AI research and enterprise-grade security, while cons may include potentially higher pricing for enterprise features.
- Microsoft Bot Framework: Microsoft Bot Framework allows developers to build, connect, deploy, and manage intelligent bots that interact naturally with users. Key features include support for multiple messaging channels, AI capabilities, and tools for creating conversational experiences. Pros include integration with Microsoft Azure services and developer toolkits, while cons may include potential limitations in advanced AI functionality.
- Wit.ai: Wit.ai is a natural language processing platform that enables developers to build conversational experiences for their applications. Key features include speech recognition, language understanding, and integration with messaging platforms. Pros include a user-friendly interface and support for multiple languages, while cons may include potential limitations in complex conversational scenarios.
- Rasa: Rasa is an open-source conversational AI platform that offers tools for building and deploying intelligent chatbots and virtual assistants. Key features include natural language understanding, dialogue management, and customization options for developers. Pros include open-source flexibility and control over data, while cons may include a steeper learning curve compared to other tools.
- Chatfuel: Chatfuel is a popular chatbot development platform that allows users to create AI-powered bots for Facebook Messenger and other messaging platforms. Key features include a visual bot-building interface, integrations with various services, and analytics tools for monitoring bot performance. Pros include ease of use for non-technical users, while cons may include limitations in advanced AI capabilities.
- Botpress: Botpress is an open-source conversational AI platform that enables developers to create intelligent chatbots and virtual assistants. Key features include natural language understanding, dialogue management, and modular design for customizations. Pros include open-source flexibility and community support, while cons may include potential limitations in advanced AI functionality compared to proprietary platforms.
- Pandorabots: Pandorabots offers a platform for building and deploying chatbots with natural language understanding capabilities. Key features include customizable chatbot personalities, analytics tools, and integration with messaging platforms. Pros include a variety of templates for quick bot creation, while cons may include potential limitations in advanced AI functionality for complex use cases.
- Flow.ai: Flow.ai is a conversational AI platform that enables developers to build AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants for various use cases. Key features include visual bot-building tools, natural language understanding, and integration with messaging channels. Pros include a user-friendly interface and deployment options for web and mobile platforms, while cons may include potential limitations in customization compared to other tools.
- Sap Conversational AI: SAP Conversational AI is a platform that allows businesses to build AI-powered chatbots for customer service, sales, and other applications. Key features include natural language understanding, integration with SAP systems, and tools for creating conversational flows. Pros include integration with SAP's enterprise solutions and support for industry-specific use cases, while cons may include potential limitations in customization for non-SAP users.
Top Alternatives to Api.ai
- Recast.AI
Our artificial intelligence is agile: just create a few inputs and it will learn to detect the common meaning behind new sentences. Leverage the community to quickly build your bot with ready to use building blocks. ...
- Wit.ai
Iti is an API that makes it very easy for developers to create applications or devices that you can talk to. Any app, or any device, like a smart watch, Google Glass, Nest, even a car, can stream audio to the Wit API, and get actionable data in return. We turn speech into actions. Think Twilio for Natural Language, with Stripe-level developer friendliness. ...
- Kore.ai
It is the only chatbot platform built with the enterprise in mind. Build NLP ready chatbots that use machine language and AI to complete all types of tasks. ...
- Amazon Lex
Lex provides the advanced deep learning functionalities of automatic speech recognition (ASR) for converting speech to text, and natural language understanding (NLU) to recognize the intent of the text, to enable you to build applications with highly engaging user experiences and lifelike conversational interactions. ...
- Dialogflow
Give users new ways to interact with your product by building engaging voice and text-based conversational apps. ...
- Microsoft Bot Framework
The Microsoft Bot Framework provides just what you need to build and connect intelligent bots that interact naturally wherever your users are talking, from text/sms to Skype, Slack, Office 365 mail and other popular services. ...
- IFTTT
It helps you connect all of your different apps and devices. You can enable your apps and devices to work together to do specific things they couldn't do otherwise. ...
- Twilio
Twilio offers developers a powerful API for phone services to make and receive phone calls, and send and receive text messages. Their product allows programmers to more easily integrate various communication methods into their software and programs. ...
Api.ai alternatives & related posts
related Recast.AI posts
- The interface to train is really easy4
- It´s free3
related Wit.ai posts
related Kore.ai posts
Amazon Lex
- Easy console9
- Built in chat to test your model6
- Great voice2
- Easy integration2
- Pay-as-you-go1
- English only6
related Amazon Lex posts





For our Compute services, we decided to use AWS Lambda as it is perfect for quick executions (perfect for a bot), is serverless, and is required by Amazon Lex, which we will use as the framework for our bot. We chose Amazon Lex as it integrates well with other #AWS services and uses the same technology as Alexa. This will give customers the ability to purchase licenses through their Alexa device. We chose Amazon DynamoDB to store customer information as it is a noSQL database, has high performance, and highly available. If we decide to train our own models for license recommendation we will either use Amazon SageMaker or Amazon EC2 with AWS Elastic Load Balancing (ELB) and AWS ASG as they are ideal for model training and inference.
Dialogflow
- Built-in conversational agents18
- Custom Webhooks7
- Great interface5
- Multi Lingual5
- OOTB integrations4
- Knowledge base2
- Quick display1
- Multi lingual9
- Can’t be self-hosted2
related Dialogflow posts
Microsoft Bot Framework
- Well documented, easy to use18
- Sending Proactive messages for the Different channels3
- Teams0
- LUIS feature adds multilingual capabilities2
related Microsoft Bot Framework posts
Dear All,
We are considering Chat BOT implementation. However, we are not sure which tool gives what features and when we need to choose. (listing, comparison of Microsoft Bot Framework Vs Power Virtual Agents) Can you please provide the same?
- Lots of integrations21
- Free17
- Automates manual tasks12
- Life automation11
- Internet of things7
- Good User Experiance2
- Mobile Application2
related IFTTT posts
- Powerful, simple, and well documented api148
- RESTful API88
- Clear pricing66
- Great sms services61
- Low cost of entry58
- Global SMS Gateway29
- Good value14
- Cloud IVR12
- Simple11
- Extremely simple to integrate with rails11
- Great for startups6
- SMS5
- Great developer program3
- Hassle free3
- Text me the app pages2
- New Features constantly rolling out1
- Many deployment options, from build from scratch to buy1
- Easy integration1
- Two factor authentication1
- Predictable pricing4
- Expensive2
related Twilio posts
Hi, We are looking to implement 2FA - so that users would be sent a Verification code over their Email and SMS to their phone.
We faced some limitations with Amazon SNS where we could either send the verification code to email OR to the phone number, while we want to send it to both.
We also are looking to make the 2FA more flexible by adding any other options later on.
What are the best alternatives to SNS for this use case and purpose? Looked at Twilio but want to explore other options before making a decision.
Would be great to know what the experience with Twilio has been, especially the limitations/issues with Twilio...
Appreciate any input from users of Twilio and others who have had similar use cases.
Searching for options for SMS that integrates with SiteLink and will allow personalization of text and tracking of both incoming/outgoing messages with reporting (Time, date, call#, etc) Have been looking at Twilio, and seems most leaning toward this. Are there any other options known that integrate into SiteLink? Also looked at Clickatell.