guilds.run (site) is an open-source Grok Bot alternative. The self-hosted version is free; a hosted version is coming with plans starting at $19/month, plus separate model usage billing when using platform keys. If you don't need the hosted convenience, there are free, self-hosted bot frameworks that cover similar ground.
Comparison
| Product | Free tier | Starts at | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Errbot | Yes | Not stated | Python developers building chatbots across many backends |
| Bottr | Yes | Not stated | Node.js developers wanting a lightweight bot framework |
| Multivac | Yes | Not stated | Slack-focused ChatOps teams who bring their own API keys |
| guilds.run | Yes (self-hosted) | $19/mo (hosted) | Teams wanting a hosted, managed option |
Errbot
Errbot (site) is a Pythonic library for building chatbots that can plug into chat platforms like Slack, Telegram, and others. It suits developers comfortable with Python who want to write custom bot logic and plugins rather than configure a hosted service. It's free software under the GPL-3 license, with no pricing page or commercial offering. One limitation: being a library rather than a managed platform, you're responsible for hosting, updates, and maintenance yourself.
Bottr
Bottr (site) is a bot framework for Node.js aimed at developers who want to build chatbots in a JavaScript environment. It's a good fit for teams already working in Node who prefer writing bot logic in JavaScript over Python. It's free and open-source, with no pricing information published. A limitation worth noting: with no stated pricing or commercial support tier, there's no clear path for paid help or hosted infrastructure if the project needs it later.
Multivac
Multivac (site) is an extensible ChatOps bot framework built specifically for Slack. It suits teams running Slack-based operations workflows who want to extend their Slack bot without recurring subscription fees. It's a free desktop application, requires no account, and users bring their own API keys, paying providers directly at cost with no markup. One limitation: it's Slack-specific, so it won't help if your chatbot needs to run on other platforms.
How to choose
If you only need a Slack ChatOps bot and want to avoid any middleman billing, Multivac is the simplest free option since you just bring your own API key. If you're building in Node.js and want a general-purpose framework, Bottr fits that stack. If you want more flexibility across platforms and are comfortable with Python, Errbot gives you a mature library to build on. If you'd rather not self-host at all and are fine paying $19/month once it's available, guilds.run's hosted tier is the only option here with managed infrastructure.
FAQ
Is guilds.run free? The self-hosted version is free; the hosted version starts at $19/month plus separate model usage billing.
Are the three alternatives really free? Yes, all three are described as free with no pricing page or commercial tier stated.
Which alternative needs the least technical setup? Multivac is a desktop app with no account required, making it the most straightforward to start with, though it's limited to Slack.