Comparisons
A Trengo alternative for WhatsApp
Trengo is a team inbox for WhatsApp, email, live chat and social channels, priced in euros from 10 users, with AI conversations charged one by one. Ariko is an AI bot that answers customers on WhatsApp and your website from your business's own information, books into Google Calendar inside the chat, and includes Meta's message charges.
Updated: · The facts about Trengo were checked on its official pages on 27 October 2026 (sources at the end).
Trengo in brief
Trengo is a customer-engagement inbox founded in Utrecht, the Netherlands. It brings WhatsApp, email, Instagram, Facebook, live chat, SMS and voice into one place, with an AI agent called HelpMate. Prices are in euros: the Boost plan starts at €299 a month billed annually (€349 month to month) for 10 users, and Pro at €499 a month on an annual contract for 20 users.
For AI in particular: Trengo charges €0.30 per AI conversation (€0.25 on annual billing). On WhatsApp, Trengo says the first 1,000 messages per number each month are free, and Meta applies a charge per message beyond that.
Where Ariko differs
| What we compare | Trengo | Ariko |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A team inbox across channels, with an AI agent (HelpMate) | An AI bot that answers your customers from your business's information |
| How you build it | Configure the inbox, rules and the AI agent | You fill in the business's information and rules; there is no flow to build and maintain |
| Booking | We found no built-in calendar booking on Trengo's pages | Built in: checks Google Calendar, books, cancels and reschedules in the chat |
| Channels | WhatsApp, email, Instagram, Facebook, live chat, SMS, voice | WhatsApp and a chat on the business's website, from the same information |
| AI pricing | €0.30 per AI conversation (€0.25 on annual billing) | Included in the plan's message allowance |
| Team size on the entry plan | 10 users (Boost) | Up to 2 users (Start), up to 15 (Max) |
| Pricing | In euros; Boost from €299 a month billed annually | Free $0 test chat (No WhatsApp connection); WhatsApp from the Start plan, $99 a month (charged in shekels: ₪299 a month) |
Why businesses choose Ariko
- Answers from your business, not from a script. Write once what the business does — hours, services, prices, policies — and Ariko answers from it, including questions nobody built a path for.
- In your customer's language. An account opened in English replies in English, and Ariko can be set to answer each customer in the language they wrote in — or only in languages you allow.
- Booking inside the conversation. Checks Google Calendar for free times, books, cancels and reschedules.
- WhatsApp and website, from the same information. Ariko also answers in a chat on the business's website.
- Your team stays in control. A shared inbox: see every conversation and step in by hand at any moment.
- Meta's message charges included. No separate WhatsApp bill to top up: the charges Meta makes per message are part of the subscription.
A question nobody planned for
An illustration: a made-up gym, not a real customer. Nobody built a path for this question — Ariko answers from what the gym wrote, and offers to pass what isn't there to the team.
Frequently asked questions
How is Trengo priced?
In euros, per plan with a set number of users: Boost from €299 a month billed annually for 10 users, Pro from €499 for 20. AI conversations cost €0.30 per AI conversation (€0.25 on annual billing).
Does Trengo book appointments?
We found no built-in calendar booking on Trengo's pages. Ariko checks Google Calendar and books, cancels and reschedules from the conversation.
Is Ariko a team inbox too?
Yes. Every conversation lands in a shared inbox, and anyone on the team can step in and reply by hand at any moment. The plans include 2 to 15 users.
Can Ariko answer in my customers' language?
Yes. An account opened in English replies in English, and you can set it to answer each customer in the language they wrote in — or only in languages you allow.
How much does Ariko cost?
You build and test at $0 — No WhatsApp connection on the free plan. WhatsApp starts with the Start plan, $99 a month (charged in shekels: ₪299 a month) with 1,000 messages, and Meta's message charges are included. Full pricing.
What happens when Ariko doesn't know the answer?
It never makes one up. It tells the customer a member of the team can answer and offers to pass the question on; you see it in the inbox and can take over the chat at any moment.
Sources (checked 27 October 2026)
- Trengo — Pricing (plans in euros, users, AI conversation surcharge, Meta's message charges)
- Trengo — About us (founded in Utrecht, the Netherlands)
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