Create a project
A project is the top-level container in Chatonio. It represents a product, brand, or team that you want to provide support for.
- Log in to your Chatonio dashboard
- Navigate to Admin → Projects
- Click Create Project
- Enter a name and choose a default language
- Click Save
You'll be automatically added as an admin of the project.
Add a channel
Channels are how customers reach you. Each project can have multiple channels. Go to your project's Channels page and create one:
- Web Chat — an embeddable widget for your website
- Telegram — connect a Telegram bot for 1:1 direct-message support
- Telegram Groups — one bot serving many group chats; each group's conversations are automatically organized into per-topic threads
- Email — receive and respond to email conversations
- Helpdesk — a full helpdesk portal on a subdomain
Available channel types and the number of channels per project depend on your plan — the Free plan includes one web chat widget; Telegram and Email channels are available on paid plans, and the Helpdesk portal on Pro and above. See the pricing page for current limits.
Configure AI
Each project has default AI settings (model, system prompt, escalation rules) that all channels inherit. You can override these per channel if needed.
Once your channel is set up and your project's AI balance is funded, the AI will start responding to incoming messages. AI usage is pay-per-use: top up your project's balance from your wallet at Billing → Top-up. If the balance is empty, customers receive a fallback notice instead of an AI reply.