# LangBot vs Botpress

Source: https://langbot.app/en/compare/langbot-vs-botpress · Last reviewed: 2026-11-11

Compare LangBot, an open-source AI bot platform you can self-host, with Botpress Cloud, a hosted bot builder: deployment, channels, Chinese IM support, AI back ends and licensing.

## In short

Botpress Cloud is a hosted bot builder with a visual studio and a hub of integrations. LangBot is open source and self-hostable (or managed through LangBot Cloud), connects to Chinese and global chat apps, and can use Dify, n8n, Coze or Langflow apps as the bot's brain as well as its built-in Agent.

| | LangBot | Botpress |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Natural-language control | Tell the Workspace Assistant or an authorized agent what to change: routing, pipelines, replies, group actions; every write is confirmed or permission-gated | Edit flows in Botpress Studio |
| Try it | cloud.langbot.app free plan, or self-host for free | Botpress Cloud account |
| Models | LangBot Models built in, no API key needed; or any OpenAI/Anthropic-compatible API | LLM integrations from the Botpress Hub (OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq and others) |
| Set-up help | Workspace Assistant: describe what you need and confirm the proposed changes | Visual flows in Botpress Studio |
| Extensions | Python plugins with 7 component types, a permissioned Workspace API and a marketplace with Certified Plugins | Integrations and plugins built with the Botpress SDK and CLI |
| Deployment | Self-host (Docker, Kubernetes, uvx) or LangBot Cloud | Botpress Cloud (the older on-premise v12 is a separate project) |
| Licence | Apache 2.0 | Open-source integrations, SDK and CLI; the platform is a hosted service |
| Chat platforms | WeCom, Lark, DingTalk, QQ, WeChat, Telegram, Discord, Slack, LINE, KOOK, Mattermost and more | Integrations such as Telegram, Slack, Teams, WhatsApp, Messenger, LINE, WeChat and web chat |
| AI back ends | Built-in Agent with any OpenAI/Anthropic-compatible model, plus Dify, n8n, Coze, Langflow runners | Botpress's own agent studio and LLM integrations |
| Building the bot | Configure pipelines, or reuse an existing Dify/n8n/Coze app | Design the bot in Botpress Studio |

## What LangBot gives you out of the box

### No deployment: cloud.langbot.app

Sign up at [cloud.langbot.app](https://cloud.langbot.app) and build a bot in the browser with a setup wizard. There is a free plan, the public HTTPS URL webhook platforms need is included, and a Dedicated environment is available for production. Self-hosting stays free and unlimited.

### Official model service: LangBot Models

Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen, GLM, Kimi, Grok and more, plus embedding, rerank and speech models, with no model API key to obtain. Cloud plans include monthly credits; self-hosted instances signed in with a LangBot Space account get the models added automatically with a free starter quota. Your own API keys keep working alongside.

### Control your bots in natural language

Agents, a unified API and standard platform events and APIs work together. Every Workspace operation (bots, routing, pipelines, models, knowledge bases, monitoring) is one catalog shared by the HTTP API, the MCP server, the Workspace Assistant and plugins, and adapters expose standard platform APIs such as send, reply, edit and recall messages, query groups and members, and, where the platform allows, mute or remove members. So you can change how a bot behaves by telling the Workspace Assistant, or let an authorized agent act on the platform from a chat instruction. Writes need your confirmation or an explicit permission grant.

### Workspace Assistant

Describe what you want in plain language. The assistant inspects your existing models, knowledge bases and pipelines, proposes a configuration and applies it only after you confirm each change.

### Rich APIs and flexible tools

An HTTP Service API with API keys, LangBot's own MCP server, the `lbctl` CLI and outgoing event webhooks for your systems. Agents can use MCP tools (stdio and HTTP), Skills, a code sandbox (Docker, nsjail or E2B), knowledge bases with rerank, and platform events such as member joins, reactions and card clicks.

### Rich, stable plugin interfaces

Plugins run in a separate Plugin Runtime process and are hot-pluggable. The Python SDK offers Runner, Tool, Command, EventListener, KnowledgeEngine, Parser and Page components, and a Workspace API whose operations a plugin must declare and a member must grant. The [LangBot Space marketplace](https://space.langbot.app/market) lists plugins, MCP servers and Skills, with reviewed Certified Plugins.

### Open source, with official backing

Apache 2.0 with free commercial use, an official managed service, and optional Enterprise Support with contracts and invoices.

## Choose Botpress when

You want a hosted visual builder, your channels are covered by the Botpress Hub, and you are fine with a cloud service.

## Choose LangBot when

- You need to self-host, or keep data on your own servers.
- Your users are on WeCom, Lark, DingTalk or QQ.
- You already built the AI app in Dify, n8n, Coze or Langflow and just need it in chat apps.

## FAQ

### Can I self-host LangBot for free?

Yes. LangBot is open source under Apache 2.0 with no feature limits for self-hosting.

## Further reading

- [Botpress](https://botpress.com)
- [Botpress integrations](https://github.com/botpress/botpress/tree/master/integrations)