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✦ Free & open sourceE-commerce

botman

Build cross-platform chat bots for e-commerce using a framework-agnostic PHP library.

Cross-Platform PHP Chatbots

Simplify chatbot development for your online store across multiple messaging platforms using PHP.

Free forever · open source · MIT
✓ Light setup✓ Browser-based✓ Real-time collaboration
6.5
ZEKAI
Flexible PHP chatbot library
Free & open source · E-commerce
Ease of setup6
Usefulness7
Maintenance5.5
Community7.5
★ 6,148
GITHUB
Apr 2026
UPDATED
MIT
LICENSE
🛠 Don't want to self-host? We can set it up →
⚡ Quick answer

BotMan is a framework-agnostic PHP library designed to help you build innovative chat bots for platforms like Facebook Messenger, Telegram, and WeChat. It suits developers managing PHP-based e-commerce systems who want centralized control over conversational customer support agents.

Runs on
Cross-platform
Hosting
Self-host
Languages
PHP
License
MIT

What it is

The library allows you to define bot routing and responses using a clean PHP syntax, handling incoming messages from various messaging services uniformly. You can install it as a standalone package or integrate it directly into Laravel applications using its dedicated service provider.

Who it's for

It suits PHP developers building custom conversational interfaces for online stores. It does not suit teams working outside the PHP ecosystem or those looking for a no-code visual chatbot builder.

Key features

Cross-Platform Messaging Support

Build bots that work across Slack, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, and Microsoft Bot Framework.

Framework Agnostic Core

Use the library as a standalone PHP package or integrate it into Laravel via its official service provider.

Expressive Message Routing

Define clear hear-and-reply patterns using PHP closures to handle user inputs effectively.

How to start

Up and running in 3 steps

1
Require the botman/botman package in your PHP project via Composer
2
Configure your messaging platform credentials and webhook endpoints
3
Define your bot conversational logic using the routing syntax in your PHP code
Real talk

Our honest verdict

What's great

  • Connects your e-commerce store to multiple messaging channels from a single codebase
  • Integrates smoothly into Laravel applications via a dedicated service provider
  • Framework-agnostic design allows use outside of Laravel
  • Open source codebase with active community channels on Slack

Where it falls short

  • Requires custom PHP coding and server infrastructure to host and run
  • Limited to the messaging platforms explicitly supported by the library drivers
  • Documentation requires consulting external web resources
Cost

Pricing & license

BotMan is free and open source under the MIT license. There are no software license fees, and the only cost is running the infrastructure yourself.

Paid work

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867 open remote AI-training roles, updated November 14, 2026; most pay $20–$170 an hour. Zekai lists them free; the application goes to the employer’s platform.

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Questions

FAQ

Can I use BotMan with Laravel?

Yes, BotMan provides standalone configuration options and a service provider specifically for Laravel applications.

Which messaging platforms does BotMan support?

It supports Slack, Telegram, Microsoft Bot Framework, Nexmo, HipChat, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat.

Is BotMan free to use?

Yes, it is distributed under the MIT license, though you are responsible for hosting and server costs.

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