--- title: "Skolbot vs Gecko: which student engagement chatbot for your school?" description: "Student engagement platform with AI chatbot" url: "https://www.skolbot.ai/en-IE/comparison/skolbot-vs-gecko" language: "en" dateModified: "2026-11-09" --- # Skolbot vs Gecko: which student engagement chatbot for your school? Updated on November 9, 2026 Gecko is a student engagement platform for universities: a website chatbot, SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram, its own CRM, events and calling. Its published references are mostly in the UK and the US. Skolbot is built only for higher-education recruitment. The comparison covers the needs of a French-speaking school, the CRM and the scope of deployment. ## The differences that matter ### What a French-speaking school needs Gecko states 50+ languages, French included, and Skolbot answers in the applicant's language: both answer in French. Gecko's published references are English-speaking universities. Skolbot is built only for higher-education recruitment, hosts data in the EU and signs a DPA with each school. ### A new CRM or your current one Gecko offers its own CRM, with contacts, conversations, events and calling, or two-way sync with Slate, Salesforce and Ellucian. Skolbot connects to HubSpot, Salesforce, OSCAR Campus, Slate, Zoho and Odoo, or to another CRM by API or webhook. When an applicant leaves their details and gives consent, their record arrives with level, programme, campus, a hot, warm or cold score and a call brief. ### The scope of deployment Gecko deploys a full engagement platform and supports the setup: chatbot configuration, connection to your systems, training. Skolbot deploys four agents on three channels. Our team builds the knowledge base from your sources, has you settle contradictions, connects your CRM and configures the agents, including WhatsApp Activate, which follows up a cohort from your CRM toward one action. ## Criterion by criterion | Criterion | Skolbot | Gecko | | --- | --- | --- | | Dedicated higher-education offer | Documented. Built for student recruitment in higher education ([source](https://www.skolbot.ai/en-IE/solutions), 2026-08-13) | Documented. Built for admissions offices; answers applicant questions ([source](https://www.geckoengage.com/our-technology/chatbot/), 2026-08-13) | | Set up by the vendor's team | Documented. Our team builds the knowledge base, connects the CRM and configures the agents ([source](https://www.skolbot.ai/en-IE/onboarding), 2026-10-27) | Documented. Gecko sets the chatbot up with your content and preferred tone ([source](https://geckoengage.com/platform/chatbot), 2026-10-27) | | Multilingual (6+ languages) | Documented. Answers in the candidate's language ([source](https://www.skolbot.ai/en-IE/solutions), 2026-08-13) | Documented. 50+ languages, including French, Spanish, German and Arabic ([source](https://geckoengage.com/platform/chatbot), 2026-11-09) | | EU data residency | Documented. Data hosted in the EU, DPA signed with each school ([source](https://www.skolbot.ai/en-IE/security), 2026-08-13) | Conditional or unspecified. Hosting location not named; transfers outside the UK or EEA possible ([source](https://www.geckoengage.com/privacy-policy/), 2026-08-13) | | CRM handoff or sync | Documented. HubSpot, Salesforce, OSCAR Campus, Slate, Zoho, Odoo; others by API or webhook ([source](https://www.skolbot.ai/en-IE/integrations), 2026-08-13) | Documented. Gecko's own CRM, or two-way sync with Slate, Salesforce and Ellucian ([source](https://geckoengage.com/), 2026-11-09) | | After-hours responses | Documented. Answers day and night, from the knowledge base ([source](https://www.skolbot.ai/en-IE/solutions/web-agent), 2026-08-13) | Documented. Answers even outside office hours ([source](https://www.geckoengage.com/our-technology/chatbot/), 2026-08-13) | | WhatsApp channel | Documented. Answers inbound messages (Capture) and re-engages CRM cohorts (Activate) ([source](https://www.skolbot.ai/en-IE/solutions/whatsapp-capture), 2026-08-13) | Documented. Answers enquiries on WhatsApp; outbound follow-up not stated on this page ([source](https://geckoengage.com/platform/chatbot), 2026-11-09) | | Instagram channel | Documented. Answers Instagram direct messages, day and night ([source](https://www.skolbot.ai/en-IE/solutions/instagram-answer), 2026-10-27) | Documented. Answers enquiries on Instagram and Facebook Messenger ([source](https://geckoengage.com/platform/chatbot), 2026-10-27) | | Lead qualification | Documented. Study level, programme, campus; hot, warm or cold lead ([source](https://www.skolbot.ai/en-IE/solutions/web-agent), 2026-08-13) | Conditional or unspecified. Hands over to the right department with context and history; no score described ([source](https://www.geckoengage.com/our-technology/chatbot/), 2026-08-13) | ## Verdict Gecko fits a university that wants one platform for its chatbot, CRM, events and calling. For a French-speaking school that wants to capture and follow up applicants on its website, WhatsApp and Instagram, with the setup handled, its current CRM and data hosted in the EU under a DPA, Skolbot is the one to choose. **Choose Skolbot if**: You recruit students and want the setup handled for you: our team builds the knowledge base from your sources, connects your CRM and configures the agents. Your team provides access, settles contradictions and approves before go-live. Four agents answer on three channels: the website, WhatsApp and Instagram. When an applicant leaves their details and gives consent, their record reaches your CRM with the information collected and a score based on your qualification rules. **Choose Gecko if**: You want one platform that combines chatbot, CRM, events and calling, or you already work with Slate, Salesforce or Ellucian. ## What Gecko does well - Answers on the website, by SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram - 50+ languages, French included - Gecko's own CRM (contacts, conversations, events, calling) or two-way sync with Slate, Salesforce and Ellucian - Supported setup: Gecko sets the chatbot up with your content and tone, connects your systems and trains your teams - Answers day and night and hands over to the right department with context and history - Published references: University of East London, Queen's University Belfast, Ulster University, El Camino College ## Check before you choose - Pricing not published: custom quote required - Hosting location not stated; the privacy policy allows transfers outside the UK or the EEA - No lead score described on the pages reviewed - No French or continental-European institution among the published references ## Frequently asked questions ### Gecko or Skolbot: which one should you choose? For a French-speaking school that wants to capture and follow up applicants on its website, WhatsApp and Instagram while keeping its current CRM, Skolbot is the one to choose, because it is built only for recruitment and our team handles the setup. For a university that wants one platform for its chatbot, CRM, events and calling, Gecko covers that scope. ### Does Gecko answer in French? Yes. Gecko states 50+ languages, French included. Skolbot also answers in the applicant's language. For a French-speaking school that also wants data hosted in the EU under a DPA and a direct link to HubSpot, Salesforce, OSCAR Campus, Slate, Zoho or Odoo, Skolbot is the one to choose. ### Does Gecko answer on WhatsApp or Instagram? Yes. Gecko answers enquiries on the website, by SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram. For a school that also wants to follow up applicants on WhatsApp, Skolbot has three dedicated agents: WhatsApp Capture for applicants who write, voice notes included, WhatsApp Activate to follow up a cohort from your CRM toward one action, and Instagram Answer for direct messages. ### Who sets up Gecko and Skolbot? Both vendors support the setup. Gecko sets the chatbot up with your content and tone, connects your systems and trains your teams. At Skolbot, our team builds the knowledge base from your sources, shows you the contradictions so you decide, connects your CRM and configures the agents. Your team provides the sources and access, then tests and approves before go-live. ### How much do Gecko and Skolbot cost? Gecko does not publish its pricing: a custom quote is required. Skolbot is on quote, depending on the size of the school and the package. To compare, ask each for a written quote with the channels, volumes and setup included. ### Where is the data hosted, with Gecko and with Skolbot? Gecko's reviewed pages do not state the hosting location, and its privacy policy allows transfers outside the UK or the EEA. For a school that wants to keep applicant data in the EU, Skolbot is the one to choose: it hosts data in the EU, does not train on conversations and signs a DPA with each school.