AI chatbots are transforming how businesses interact with customers, offering 24/7 support without requiring human input. Thanks to no-code platforms like Adalo, creating chatbots is now accessible to anyone - even without programming skills. Here's how you can build one:
- Why Chatbots Matter: Automate tasks like answering FAQs, qualifying leads, and providing instant support, saving teams around 5 hours per week.
- No-Code Tools: Platforms like Adalo let you design chatbots visually and integrate AI (e.g., ChatGPT) using simple API keys, cutting development time by up to 90%.
- Step-by-Step Process:
- Create an Adalo account and secure an OpenAI API key.
- Design your chatbot's interface with drag-and-drop tools.
- Connect AI using Adalo's "Ask ChatGPT" action to handle user queries.
- Test and publish your chatbot to web, iOS, and Android - all from one build.
Adalo stands out by allowing you to deploy a single app across multiple platforms without rebuilding. With this guide, you can launch a functional chatbot in days, not months.
4-Step Process to Build AI Chatbots Without Code Using Adalo
How to Build Your Own AI Chatbot | 100% NoCode
Step 1: Set Up Your Tools
To get started with building your AI chatbot, you’ll need two things: an Adalo account and an OpenAI API key. Don’t worry - no coding is required for this setup.
Create an Adalo Account
Head over to Adalo’s website and sign up for a free account. The free plan allows you to build and test your chatbot on the web without any upfront costs. Once you’ve signed up, click on "Create New App" and choose a responsive web app for the quickest setup.
The free plan is perfect for experimenting with the platform and designing your chatbot’s interface. However, if you want to integrate AI features, you’ll need to upgrade to Adalo's Professional plan ($60/month), which unlocks Custom Actions for connecting with external APIs.
Once your Adalo account is ready, the next step is to secure your OpenAI API key.
Get Your OpenAI API Key
Your OpenAI API key is what enables Adalo to connect with ChatGPT and generate responses for your chatbot. To get it, sign up at platform.openai.com. Navigate to the API keys section, create a new "Secret Key", and copy it. Make sure to store it securely, like in a password manager, as you won’t be able to view it again after closing the page.
OpenAI uses a token-based pricing model. For example, the gpt-3.5-turbo model - used by Adalo by default - costs roughly $0.002 per 1,000 tokens. For most small to medium-sized chatbots managing customer inquiries, this usually amounts to just a few dollars per month.
Once you’ve got your API key, open your Adalo app, click on the Settings icon, and paste the key into the Connect APIs section. This setup applies to all apps within your Adalo organization, so you’ll only need to do it once.
With your Adalo account and OpenAI API key ready, you’re now equipped to start building your chatbot interface.
Step 2: Design the Chatbot Interface
It's time to shape your chatbot's visual interface. With Adalo's Building Canvas, you can easily arrange screens using drag-and-drop components, creating a seamless user experience.
Build the Chat Layout
Start by clicking the "+" icon in the Add Panel to access Adalo's component library. Create a dedicated screen for your chatbot and add three key components: a List to display the conversation history, a Text Input for user queries, and a Button or Icon next to the input field to send messages. To make the chat visually intuitive, use rectangles and icons to create message bubbles, helping users distinguish between their messages and the AI's responses.
Adalo's Magic Text feature is a game-changer here - it allows you to pull dynamic data directly from your database. For example, you can automatically display the sender's name or the timestamp of each message, all without needing to write a single line of code.
Customize Your App's Appearance
To ensure your chatbot aligns with your brand, click the Branding icon in the left toolbar. Here, you can set your app's color scheme and fonts, which will apply globally across all components. Choose primary and secondary colors that match your brand, and pick fonts that reflect your company’s personality and style.
When you're done, use the View App or Staging Preview button in the top ribbon to see how your chatbot looks on different devices, whether it's an iPhone, Android, or a web browser. This preview feature helps you spot any design hiccups early, ensuring your chatbot is responsive and polished across all platforms.
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Step 3: Connect AI to Your Chatbot
With your chatbot interface ready, it’s time to breathe life into it by integrating AI. This step involves connecting your app to OpenAI's ChatGPT, turning your design into a fully functional conversational assistant. Here's how to set up the custom action to seamlessly integrate ChatGPT into your chatbot.
Setting Up the ChatGPT Custom Action
Adalo simplifies the integration process with its pre-configured "Ask ChatGPT" Custom Action. To get started, make sure your OpenAI Secret Key is already added to your Adalo settings. Then, follow these steps:
- Select the send button in your app.
- Navigate to Actions and choose Ask ChatGPT from the menu.
- Use the prompt field to craft your AI's response instructions. With Magic Text, you can include real-time data from your text input component. For instance, you could set the prompt to: "You are a helpful customer service agent. Answer: [User's Message]."
Once the AI generates a response, add a "Create Record" action to save the ChatGPT reply in your database. This ensures the response is displayed in your chat list and stored for reference.
Pro Tip: If your chatbot tends to include unnecessary phrases like "Sure! Here is your answer", tweak the prompt to instruct the AI to provide direct answers without extra commentary. This keeps the conversation clean and to the point.
Keeping Track of Conversation History
To maintain context during conversations, set up a dedicated database collection for messages. Include fields for the message content, sender (user or bot), and timestamps. Save every user message and AI response as a new record in this collection.
Adalo’s "Ask ChatGPT" action also features a History field, allowing you to feed previous conversation context back to the AI. For example, you can store all session messages in a single record that updates with each interaction. Then, reference this record in the History field to provide continuity. However, use this feature sparingly - too much context can quickly consume tokens, increasing costs. OpenAI charges approximately $0.002 per 1,000 tokens. To manage expenses and ensure focused responses, consider clearing the history periodically.
Plan Requirements and Growing AI Adoption
Keep in mind that Custom Actions, like the "Ask ChatGPT" feature, require Adalo’s Professional plan, which costs $60/month (billed annually). With AI becoming a core feature in about 70% of new apps and 28% of OpenAI API usage coming from no-code platforms, you’re tapping into a growing trend that’s making AI tools more accessible than ever.
Step 4: Test and Publish Your Chatbot
After successfully integrating AI into your app, the next step is ensuring your chatbot is ready to handle real-world interactions. This means testing its performance thoroughly before deploying it across platforms. Adalo simplifies both testing and publishing, making it easy to transition from preview mode to live deployment.
Preview and Test Your Chatbot
Use the "Preview" or "View App" options to test your chatbot’s conversation flow and database functionality. This initial step helps you verify that everything works as intended.
For a deeper dive, try the Staging Preview feature, which allows you to simulate the chatbot experience on both desktop and mobile devices. This is particularly helpful for spotting layout issues that could disrupt the user experience.
To gather real feedback, start with a small beta testing group of about 10–20 people. You can easily share the app with testers using the "Share" button, which generates a link accessible even to those without Adalo accounts. Pay close attention to how the chatbot handles unexpected or unusual inputs - these edge cases often highlight areas where your prompts might need improvement. If the chatbot’s responses seem off, adjust your Custom Action prompts to enhance accuracy.
Once testing confirms everything is running smoothly, you’re ready to move on to publishing.
Publish to Web, iOS, and Android
After testing confirms that your chatbot performs well, it’s time to make it available to users. Adalo’s single-build system makes deployment across platforms straightforward.
For web publishing, go to the "Settings" tab to configure your domain. You can choose either an Adalo subdomain or use your own custom domain. Then, head to the "Publish" panel on the left toolbar, select "Web App", and follow the steps to set your app’s live URL.
For mobile apps, you’ll need developer accounts. An Apple Developer account costs $99 annually, while a Google Play Console account requires a one-time $25 fee. Before submission, ensure you’ve prepared all required assets according to the guidelines of the respective app stores. Use beta testing tools like Apple TestFlight or Google’s app-testing program to catch any last-minute issues. Keep in mind that Apple’s approval process usually takes 24–48 hours, while Google Play’s can range from a few hours to several days.
Once your chatbot is live, use the Analytics tab to monitor its performance. Pay attention to high-traffic screens and any points where users tend to drop off. This data can help you fine-tune the chatbot’s functionality and user experience. With Adalo apps boasting over 99% average uptime, your chatbot will be ready to deliver reliable, real-time conversations.
Next Steps
What You've Learned
You now have everything you need to launch your AI chatbot. From setting up the basics to deploying it, you've configured a database to store conversation history and linked the "Ask ChatGPT" Custom Action to bring AI functionality into your app. After thorough testing, you’ve successfully published your chatbot to the web, iOS, and Android - all from a single build.
This entire process, from start to finish, can be done in just days or weeks, a far cry from the months that traditional development often demands. With your chatbot now live and a solid framework in place, you’re ready to explore ways to take its functionality to the next level.
Add More Features to Your Chatbot
With your chatbot up and running, it’s time to enhance its capabilities. Start by integrating External Collections to connect your app to real-time data sources like Xano, Airtable, or Google Sheets. Want to enable payments? Add the Stripe payment component to your app.
You can also expand the AI’s capabilities. The "Ask ChatGPT" Custom Action isn’t limited to basic Q&A - it can perform sentiment analysis, content moderation, or even real-time language translation. Use Magic Text to personalize responses by dynamically including user-specific details, like names or past interactions. If you’re dealing with sensitive information, make sure your app complies with GDPR or CCPA by regularly auditing the data your chatbot collects and stores.
For teams working on internal tools, check out Adalo Blue (blue.adalo.com). It offers enterprise-level features like SSO, advanced permissions, and support for legacy systems - even those without APIs, thanks to the DreamFactory connector. Whether you’re adding geolocation, user authentication, or connecting to thousands of apps via Zapier, the platform is designed to grow with your needs.
FAQs
How does using OpenAI's API affect the cost of building a chatbot?
The cost of using OpenAI's API depends on several factors, including the number of API calls, the chatbot's complexity, and the pricing tier you select. OpenAI charges based on usage, measured in tokens - essentially the text your chatbot processes as input and output. So, the more interactions your chatbot handles, the higher your costs might climb.
Keeping expenses in check means paying close attention to your chatbot's activity. By optimizing its design, you can reduce unnecessary API calls and make it more efficient. Tools like Adalo and other no-code platforms can simplify this process, helping you streamline your chatbot's functionality while keeping costs manageable.
What are the advantages of using Adalo's no-code platform to create AI chatbots?
Adalo's no-code platform simplifies the process of creating AI-powered chatbots, even if you have zero programming experience. Thanks to its straightforward visual interface, you can design, configure, and launch chatbots with ease and speed.
Adalo also provides built-in tools for smooth database management, user authentication, and effortless integration with data sources like Google Sheets and Airtable. These features enable you to craft high-quality chatbots that function seamlessly on both mobile and web platforms, helping you save time and cut down on expenses.
How can I make sure my chatbot matches my brand's style?
Customizing your chatbot’s design is key to ensuring it mirrors your brand’s identity. With no-code platforms, you can easily tweak visual elements like colors, fonts, icons, and layouts to create a seamless and consistent user experience.
Take platforms like Adalo, for example. They offer drag-and-drop tools and an intuitive interface, making it simple to adjust your chatbot’s appearance without needing any coding skills. This way, your chatbot doesn’t just perform well - it also looks polished and perfectly aligned with your brand.
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