Building chatbots has become a significant trend with the rise of conversational interfaces. Various platforms and libraries have emerged to assist developers in building chatbots more efficiently. Here are the top 10 ways to build chatbots, with brief descriptions, code/API references, and advantages:

Rasa

• Description: An open-source machine learning framework for building contextual AI assistants and chatbots.
• Code/API: Written in Python. Use Rasa NLU for understanding messages and Rasa Core for dialogue management.

• Advantages: Highly customizable, no vendor lock-in, supports multiple languages, and integrates easily with other services.

Dialogflow (by Google)

• Description: A cloud-based service that offers a visual interface to design and integrate chatbots into various platforms.
• Code/API: Integrates with many platforms using its SDKs and APIs.
• Advantages: Supports multiple languages, offers an easy-to-use interface, integrates with many platforms, and is powered by Google’s natural language processing.

Microsoft Bot Framework

• Description: A comprehensive framework that integrates with Azure services to build, test, and deploy chatbots.
• Code/API: Uses the Bot Framework SDK. Supports .NET, JavaScript, Python, and Java.

• Advantages: Highly scalable, integrates well with Microsoft services, and offers a wide range of tools and extensions.

Wit.ai (by Facebook)

• Description: A natural language processing API to convert speech or text into structured data.
• Code/API: Offers HTTP API for integration. Can be trained via the web interface.

• Advantages: Free to use, supports multiple languages, and integrates easily with Messenger and other platforms.

Chatfuel

• Description: A platform specifically for designing Facebook Messenger bots without coding.
• Code/API: Uses a visual interface. Integrations are achieved via plugins.

• Advantages: Easy to use, no coding required, and optimized for Facebook Messenger

Telegram Bot API

• Description: Allows you to build bots for the Telegram messaging app.
• Code/API: Uses Telegram’s BotFather to create bots. Bots interact with the Telegram API using HTTP requests

• Advantages: Free to use, supports multiple languages, and offers a straightforward integration with Telegram.

Slack API

• Description: Build bots for the Slack platform, typically used for automations and notifications within teams.
• Code/API: Uses the Slack Bot Token for authentication. Bots interact using real-time messaging (RTM) API or incoming webhooks.

• Advantages: Integrates seamlessly with Slack, supports interactive messages, and has a large user base.

ChatterBot

• Description: A Python library to create conversational chatbots.
• Code/API: Written in Python. Trains on provided datasets or custom datasets.

• Advantages: Easy to use, supports multiple languages, and is customizable.

TARS

• Description: A chatbot builder platform that uses a drag-and-drop interface.
• Code/API: No coding required. Integrations are achieved via webhook URLs.

• Advantages: Easy to use, supports a wide range of integrations, and offers templates.

ManyChat

• Description: A visual chatbot builder for Facebook Messenger and SMS.
• Code/API: Uses a drag-and-drop interface. Integrations achieved via the platform’s API or built-in tools.

• Advantages: Designed for marketing and sales, easy to use, and offers analytics.

IBM Watson Assistant

• Description: A service by IBM that allows developers to build conversational interfaces into applications, devices, and channels.
• Code/API: Uses the IBM Cloud SDKs in multiple languages. The Watson API provides endpoints for message handling.

• Advantages: Robust NLU capabilities, easy integration with other IBM services, supports multiple channels, and offers a visual dialog builder.

Botsify

• Description: A platform for building chatbots for websites and multiple platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.
• Code/API: Primarily a drag-and-drop interface but offers API integration for advanced features.

• Advantages: Template-driven approach, easy integrations, and supports human takeover of chat sessions.

Botpress

• Description: An open-source bot creation tool written in JavaScript. It is often termed as the “WordPress of chatbots”.
• Code/API: Built on JavaScript (Node.js). Offers a modular structure with custom plugins.

• Advantages: High customizability, active community, and integrates with major messaging platforms.

Pandorabots

• Description: One of the oldest and largest chatbot hosting services, which uses its proprietary AI language called AIML (Artificial Intelligence Markup Language).
• Code/API: Uses AIML for bot scripting. Offers API for integration and deployment.

• Advantages: Mature platform, supports rich AIML scripting, and provides free sandbox hosting.

Mobile Monkey

• Description: A platform for building chatbots on Facebook Messenger, SMS, and web chat.
• Code/API: Uses a visual interface with drag-and-drop functionality. API available for integrations.
• Advantages: Omni-channel capabilities, template-driven approach, and supports chat marketing tools.

Gupshup

• Description: A messaging platform offering tools to build, test, and deploy bots across multiple channels.
• Code/API: Provides both a visual builder and a coding platform. Offers APIs for various integrations.

• Advantages: Multi-channel support, includes analytics, and offers a library of pre-built templates.

Flow XO

• Description: A platform for building chatbots for the web, Facebook Messenger, Slack, and more.
• Code/API: Uses a visual flow editor. Integrations are achieved via built-in tools or webhooks.

• Advantages: No coding required, supports over 100 integrations, and offers a wide range of pre-built templates.

Drift

• Description: Primarily a marketing platform, Drift offers tools to build chatbots for sales and customer support on websites.
• Code/API: Uses a visual builder. API integrations available for advanced functionalities.

• Advantages: Designed for lead generation, integrates with CRM tools, and supports live chat handoff.

Octane AI

• Description: Focuses on e-commerce chatbots, helping businesses engage, convert, and retain customers.
• Code/API: Primarily visual with drag-and-drop. APIs available for platform integrations.

• Advantages: E-commerce focused, integrates with major e-commerce platforms, and supports quizzes, polls, and more.

SnatchBot

• Description: A platform for building chatbots for websites, SMS, and multiple messaging platforms.
• Code/API: Uses a visual builder. Offers API and webhooks for integrations.

• Advantages: Multi-channel support, supports NLP, and offers a bot store for pre-built chatbot templates.

OpenAI GPT-based Bots

• Description: Utilizing models like GPT-3 or GPT-4 by OpenAI to create conversational agents.
• Code/API: OpenAI provides an API to integrate GPT models.

• Advantages: Highly advanced natural language understanding, can handle diverse topics, and can be fine-tuned for specific applications.

Tars Chatbots

• Description: A platform to build chatbots primarily for lead generation on websites.
• Code/API: Drag-and-drop interface with webhook integrations.
• Advantages: Easy to use, integrates with major marketing platforms, and offers analytics.

Twilio Autopilot

• Description: A platform for building voice and messaging bots, integrating with the broader Twilio platform.
• Code/API: Uses a JSON-based schema and offers SDKs in multiple languages.

• Advantages: Robust support for voice bots, integrates seamlessly with other Twilio services, and multi-channel support.

Blip.ai

• Description: A platform to build, test, and deploy chatbots on multiple channels.
• Code/API: Visual interface with custom coding options. Supports SDK and API integrations.

• Advantages: Multi-channel deployment, built-in analytics, and AI model integrations.

Landbot.io

• Description: A no-code chatbot builder for websites, focusing on converting visitors.
• Code/API: Drag-and-drop interface with API support for integrations.

• Advantages: User-friendly, integrates with popular marketing tools, and offers pre-built templates.

Botstar

• Description: A platform for designing, prototyping, and deploying chatbots on websites and messaging platforms.
• Code/API: Visual editor with advanced coding options. Provides API for integrations.

• Advantages: Supports multi-platform deployment, visual flow designer, and built-in analytics.

Aivo

• Description: A platform offering AI-driven chatbots for customer support and sales.
• Code/API: Primarily visual interface with integration options.

• Advantages: Multilingual support, AI-powered understanding, and integration with major CRM platforms.

Imperson

• Description: Develop enterprise chatbots using AI and NLP, focusing on customer engagement.
• Code/API: Custom solutions, so integration details might vary.

• Advantages: Deep NLP capabilities, multi-turn conversations, and support video and voice bots.

Meya.ai

• Description: A bot platform with a focus on integrations, allowing bots to orchestrate and automate across services.
• Code/API: Code-driven with a Python SDK. API-first approach to integrations.

• Advantages: Powerful integrations, built on Python, and supports multi-platform deployment.

Clare.AI

• Description: Offers AI chatbots tailored for the banking industry.
• Code/API: Custom solutions, so integration details might vary.

• Advantages: Tailored for financial services, multilingual, and integrated with banking systems.

The choice among these platforms should be based on the target use case, the intended audience, and specific feature requirements. While some platforms are geared towards quick deployments with no-code solutions, others offer deeper customization and are more code-centric. Some platforms also have industry-specific advantages, such as Clare.AI for banking.