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Top 10 Best Live Chat Customer Support Software of 2026

Find the top 10 live chat customer support software to enhance engagement and satisfaction. Explore trusted options today.

Min-ji Park

Min-ji Park

Feb 11, 2026

10 tools comparedExpert reviewed
Independent evaluation · Unbiased commentary · Updated regularly
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Live chat customer support software is a cornerstone of modern customer engagement, enabling real-time connection, quick issue resolution, and enhanced satisfaction. With a range of tools to suit diverse business needs—from small teams to large enterprises—choosing the right platform is key to maximizing support efficacy, and our curated list of top 10 options provides a trusted roadmap for this decision.

Quick Overview

  1. 1#1: Intercom - Customer messaging platform offering live chat, AI bots, and personalized support to scale customer service.
  2. 2#2: Zendesk Chat - Real-time live chat software integrated with Zendesk's ticketing and CRM for comprehensive customer support.
  3. 3#3: LiveChat - Reliable live chat tool for engaging website visitors in real-time to enhance support and sales.
  4. 4#4: Drift - Conversational platform with live chat and AI playbooks for marketing, sales, and customer support.
  5. 5#5: HubSpot Chat - Free live chat integrated with HubSpot CRM for managing customer conversations and support tickets.
  6. 6#6: Freshchat - Modern messaging platform with live chat, AI bots, and omnichannel support for businesses.
  7. 7#7: Tidio - Live chat and chatbot software optimized for eCommerce to boost customer support and conversions.
  8. 8#8: Crisp - Affordable multichannel live chat with unlimited history and shared inbox for team collaboration.
  9. 9#9: Olark - Simple, customizable live chat software for real-time customer engagement and support.
  10. 10#10: JivoChat - Multichannel live chat platform unifying web chat, social media, and email for customer service.

These tools were selected and ranked based on critical factors: robust feature sets (including AI capabilities, multichannel support, and CRM integration), consistent performance, ease of implementation and use, and overall value, ensuring they deliver measurable impact across customer service and sales functions.

Comparison Table

Live chat customer support software is a vital tool for real-time customer engagement, and this comparison table examines top options like Intercom, Zendesk Chat, LiveChat, Drift, HubSpot Chat, and more. It explores features, pricing, and usability to help readers identify the best fit for their business needs.

1Intercom logo9.4/10

Customer messaging platform offering live chat, AI bots, and personalized support to scale customer service.

Features
9.7/10
Ease
8.6/10
Value
8.2/10

Real-time live chat software integrated with Zendesk's ticketing and CRM for comprehensive customer support.

Features
9.5/10
Ease
8.8/10
Value
8.5/10
3LiveChat logo8.9/10

Reliable live chat tool for engaging website visitors in real-time to enhance support and sales.

Features
9.3/10
Ease
9.1/10
Value
8.4/10
4Drift logo8.8/10

Conversational platform with live chat and AI playbooks for marketing, sales, and customer support.

Features
9.2/10
Ease
8.5/10
Value
7.8/10

Free live chat integrated with HubSpot CRM for managing customer conversations and support tickets.

Features
8.8/10
Ease
9.2/10
Value
8.1/10
6Freshchat logo8.7/10

Modern messaging platform with live chat, AI bots, and omnichannel support for businesses.

Features
9.1/10
Ease
8.8/10
Value
8.3/10
7Tidio logo8.3/10

Live chat and chatbot software optimized for eCommerce to boost customer support and conversions.

Features
8.5/10
Ease
9.2/10
Value
8.0/10
8Crisp logo8.6/10

Affordable multichannel live chat with unlimited history and shared inbox for team collaboration.

Features
8.8/10
Ease
9.1/10
Value
9.4/10
9Olark logo7.8/10

Simple, customizable live chat software for real-time customer engagement and support.

Features
7.5/10
Ease
8.5/10
Value
8.0/10
10JivoChat logo8.4/10

Multichannel live chat platform unifying web chat, social media, and email for customer service.

Features
8.5/10
Ease
9.1/10
Value
8.7/10
1
Intercom logo

Intercom

enterprise

Customer messaging platform offering live chat, AI bots, and personalized support to scale customer service.

Overall Rating9.4/10
Features
9.7/10
Ease of Use
8.6/10
Value
8.2/10
Standout Feature

Fin AI agent that learns from conversations to autonomously resolve complex support tickets

Intercom is a leading customer messaging platform designed for live chat support, combining real-time conversations, AI-powered chatbots, and automated workflows to enhance customer engagement. It provides a unified inbox for teams to handle queries across web, mobile, and email, with deep customer data insights for personalization. Businesses use it to resolve issues quickly, proactively engage users, and integrate with CRMs and helpdesks for seamless support operations.

Pros

  • AI-driven Resolution Bot handles up to 50% of queries autonomously
  • Unified customer profiles with behavioral data for personalized chats
  • Extensive integrations with 300+ tools including Salesforce and Slack

Cons

  • Premium pricing scales rapidly with active contacts
  • Steep learning curve for advanced features
  • Limited free tier for testing full capabilities

Best For

Scaling SaaS, e-commerce, and tech companies needing intelligent, data-driven live chat support.

Pricing

Starts at $74/month (Essential, billed annually) for up to 1,000 contacts; higher tiers like Advanced ($139/month) and custom Expert plans scale by contacts and features.

Visit Intercomintercom.com
2
Zendesk Chat logo

Zendesk Chat

enterprise

Real-time live chat software integrated with Zendesk's ticketing and CRM for comprehensive customer support.

Overall Rating9.2/10
Features
9.5/10
Ease of Use
8.8/10
Value
8.5/10
Standout Feature

Effortless chat-to-ticket conversion and deep integration with Zendesk's full support ecosystem

Zendesk Chat is a robust live chat platform that enables real-time customer engagement on websites and apps through customizable widgets and proactive messaging. It integrates seamlessly with the broader Zendesk Suite, allowing chats to transition into tickets, automate responses with bots, and provide agents with visitor insights and productivity tools. Designed for scaling support teams, it offers advanced analytics, mobile apps, and multi-channel unification to enhance customer service efficiency.

Pros

  • Seamless integration with Zendesk ticketing and CRM for unified support
  • Advanced analytics, reporting, and visitor targeting capabilities
  • Customizable chat widgets with mobile apps and AI bots for agents

Cons

  • Pricing can be expensive for small teams or basic needs
  • Steeper learning curve for advanced customization and integrations
  • Limited standalone features without full Zendesk Suite subscription

Best For

Mid-to-large businesses needing scalable live chat integrated with comprehensive customer support tools.

Pricing

Free limited plan; Team at $49/agent/month; Growth at $79/agent/month; Enterprise custom pricing (billed annually).

3
LiveChat logo

LiveChat

specialized

Reliable live chat tool for engaging website visitors in real-time to enhance support and sales.

Overall Rating8.9/10
Features
9.3/10
Ease of Use
9.1/10
Value
8.4/10
Standout Feature

Flow Builder for advanced AI-driven chat automations and proactive visitor targeting

LiveChat is a robust live chat platform that enables real-time customer engagement on websites and mobile apps, helping businesses provide instant support and boost conversions. It offers features like proactive messaging, visitor tracking, canned responses, and seamless integrations with CRMs, helpdesks, and e-commerce tools. Advanced analytics and reporting allow teams to monitor performance and optimize support strategies effectively.

Pros

  • Extensive integrations with 200+ apps including Salesforce and Shopify
  • Intuitive dashboard and mobile apps for on-the-go support
  • Powerful analytics and visitor insights for data-driven decisions

Cons

  • Pricing scales quickly with agents and advanced features
  • No permanent free plan, only 14-day trial
  • Some automation tools have a learning curve for beginners

Best For

Mid-sized e-commerce and SaaS businesses seeking scalable live chat with deep analytics and CRM integrations.

Pricing

Starter at $20/agent/month, Team at $39/agent/month, Business at $59/agent/month (annual billing; 14-day free trial).

Visit LiveChatlivechat.com
4
Drift logo

Drift

enterprise

Conversational platform with live chat and AI playbooks for marketing, sales, and customer support.

Overall Rating8.8/10
Features
9.2/10
Ease of Use
8.5/10
Value
7.8/10
Standout Feature

Conversational Playbooks for guided, data-driven chat responses

Drift is a conversational platform offering live chat software with AI-powered chatbots for real-time visitor engagement, lead qualification, and customer support. It features automated playbooks, deep CRM integrations, and analytics to personalize interactions and drive conversations. While optimized for sales and marketing, it supports customer service through proactive messaging and self-service bots.

Pros

  • Advanced AI chatbots for automated support
  • Robust integrations with CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot
  • Proactive engagement and real-time analytics

Cons

  • Premium pricing limits accessibility for small businesses
  • More sales-oriented than dedicated support tools
  • Advanced setup requires technical expertise

Best For

Mid-market to enterprise teams blending sales, marketing, and customer support in conversational channels.

Pricing

Free basic plan; Pro plans start at ~$2,500/month (annual), with custom Enterprise pricing.

Visit Driftdrift.com
5
HubSpot Chat logo

HubSpot Chat

specialized

Free live chat integrated with HubSpot CRM for managing customer conversations and support tickets.

Overall Rating8.6/10
Features
8.8/10
Ease of Use
9.2/10
Value
8.1/10
Standout Feature

Deep CRM integration that pulls visitor data for hyper-personalized real-time conversations

HubSpot Chat is a live chat tool integrated into the HubSpot CRM ecosystem, allowing businesses to engage visitors in real-time on their websites through proactive messaging and AI-powered chatbots. It routes conversations to the appropriate sales or support reps based on CRM data, automatically logging chats as tickets, contacts, or deals. This solution excels in unifying customer support with marketing and sales workflows, providing a seamless omnichannel experience.

Pros

  • Seamless integration with HubSpot CRM for personalized support
  • Free tier with robust basic features including chatbots
  • Intuitive interface and easy setup for HubSpot users

Cons

  • Advanced features locked behind expensive higher-tier plans
  • Limited customization compared to dedicated chat tools
  • Less ideal for teams not already using the HubSpot ecosystem

Best For

Growing businesses already invested in the HubSpot CRM platform that need integrated live chat for sales and support.

Pricing

Free for basic chat; advanced features start at $20/user/month (Starter) up to $100+/user/month (Professional/Enterprise).

6
Freshchat logo

Freshchat

specialized

Modern messaging platform with live chat, AI bots, and omnichannel support for businesses.

Overall Rating8.7/10
Features
9.1/10
Ease of Use
8.8/10
Value
8.3/10
Standout Feature

Freddy AI chatbots with natural language processing for proactive, intelligent customer interactions

Freshchat is a customer engagement platform from Freshworks that provides live chat software for websites and mobile apps, enabling real-time conversations with AI-powered chatbots and automation. It offers a unified inbox for team collaboration, omnichannel support including WhatsApp and email, and customizable chat widgets. The tool excels in scaling support operations with analytics, bots, and integrations to streamline issue resolution and boost customer satisfaction.

Pros

  • Powerful Freddy AI chatbots for automation and self-service
  • Seamless omnichannel support and extensive integrations with CRMs
  • Intuitive interface with mobile SDKs for app support

Cons

  • Advanced features locked behind higher pricing tiers
  • Reporting and analytics limited in free and basic plans
  • Occasional delays in high-volume chat scenarios

Best For

Mid-sized businesses needing scalable live chat with strong AI automation and omnichannel capabilities.

Pricing

Free plan for up to 10 agents; Growth at $15/agent/mo, Pro at $39/agent/mo, Enterprise custom (billed annually).

Visit Freshchatfreshchat.com
7
Tidio logo

Tidio

specialized

Live chat and chatbot software optimized for eCommerce to boost customer support and conversions.

Overall Rating8.3/10
Features
8.5/10
Ease of Use
9.2/10
Value
8.0/10
Standout Feature

Lyro AI, an autonomous chatbot that handles complex conversations without human intervention

Tidio is a versatile live chat software platform that integrates AI-powered chatbots, real-time messaging, and automation tools to streamline customer support on websites. It enables businesses to engage visitors instantly, automate routine inquiries with chat flows and Lyro AI, and track user behavior for personalized interactions. Primarily targeted at e-commerce and small to medium businesses, Tidio offers seamless integrations with platforms like Shopify, WordPress, and Facebook Messenger.

Pros

  • Intuitive drag-and-drop chatbot builder for quick automation
  • Strong integrations with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce
  • Excellent mobile app for on-the-go agent management

Cons

  • Free plan has limitations on operators and chatbot actions
  • Advanced AI features like Lyro require higher-tier plans
  • Reporting and analytics lack depth compared to enterprise tools

Best For

Small to medium e-commerce businesses seeking affordable AI-driven live chat with easy setup.

Pricing

Free plan available; paid plans start at $29/month (Starter) up to $499/month (Enterprise), billed annually.

Visit Tidiotidio.com
8
Crisp logo

Crisp

specialized

Affordable multichannel live chat with unlimited history and shared inbox for team collaboration.

Overall Rating8.6/10
Features
8.8/10
Ease of Use
9.1/10
Value
9.4/10
Standout Feature

Unified inbox that centralizes live chat, email, social messengers, and phone calls in one interface

Crisp is a customer messaging platform offering live chat, automated chatbots, and a unified inbox for handling support across websites, email, and social channels like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. It enables teams to engage visitors in real-time, automate routine queries, and track interactions to improve customer service efficiency. With mobile apps and extensive integrations, it's built for small to medium businesses seeking affordable multichannel support.

Pros

  • Highly affordable with a robust free plan for up to 2 operators
  • Powerful no-code chatbots and automation for quick setup
  • Unified inbox supporting multiple channels including chat, email, and messengers

Cons

  • Advanced analytics and reporting are somewhat limited
  • Interface can feel cluttered for very large teams
  • Customer support response times vary on lower plans

Best For

Small and medium-sized businesses looking for cost-effective live chat with strong automation and multichannel capabilities.

Pricing

Free plan for up to 2 operators; Turbo plan at €25/month (2 operators); Business at €95/month (unlimited operators); Enterprise custom.

Visit Crispcrisp.chat
9
Olark logo

Olark

specialized

Simple, customizable live chat software for real-time customer engagement and support.

Overall Rating7.8/10
Features
7.5/10
Ease of Use
8.5/10
Value
8.0/10
Standout Feature

Real-time visitor monitoring with behavior-based proactive chat targeting

Olark is a longstanding live chat software that provides real-time customer engagement through customizable chat widgets on websites. It supports features like visitor tracking, chat routing to operator groups, mobile apps for agents, and integrations with CRMs such as Salesforce and HubSpot. Businesses use it for proactive support, sending transcripts via email, and basic analytics to improve response times and customer satisfaction.

Pros

  • Simple installation with a single script embed
  • Strong mobile apps for iOS and Android agents
  • Reliable integrations with popular CRMs and tools

Cons

  • Outdated interface compared to modern competitors
  • Lacks advanced AI chatbots or automation
  • Pricing scales per operator, which can add up for teams

Best For

Small to medium-sized businesses needing straightforward, reliable live chat without complex AI features.

Pricing

Starts at $29/month (billed annually) for Micro plan (1 operator); Pro at $49/month, Business at $79/month, with enterprise custom pricing.

Visit Olarkolark.com
10
JivoChat logo

JivoChat

specialized

Multichannel live chat platform unifying web chat, social media, and email for customer service.

Overall Rating8.4/10
Features
8.5/10
Ease of Use
9.1/10
Value
8.7/10
Standout Feature

Native mobile app for agents enabling on-the-go chat management across all channels

JivoChat is an omnichannel live chat platform that allows businesses to communicate with customers via website widgets, mobile apps, email, and social channels like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram. It provides tools such as proactive chat invitations, chatbots for automation, visitor tracking, and CRM integrations to enhance customer support efficiency. The software supports unlimited chats on its free plan and scales with paid tiers for advanced features like reporting and custom bots.

Pros

  • Strong omnichannel support including WhatsApp and Telegram
  • Intuitive interface with mobile apps for agents
  • Generous free plan for up to 5 agents with unlimited chats

Cons

  • Advanced reporting and custom bots locked behind premium plans
  • Limited customization options for chat widgets
  • Occasional performance lags during high-volume chats

Best For

Small to medium-sized businesses needing affordable, multi-channel live chat without complex setup.

Pricing

Free plan for 5 agents; paid plans from $19/agent/month (Basic) to $59/agent/month (Premium), billed annually.

Visit JivoChatjivochat.com

Conclusion

The review of live chat customer support software highlights tools that each bring unique strengths to the table. Leading the pack is Intercom, excelling with its combined customer messaging, AI bots, and personalized support for scalable service. Close behind, Zendesk Chat stands out for its tight integration with ticketing and CRM systems, ideal for comprehensive support, and LiveChat offers reliable real-time engagement that enhances both support and sales. No matter the business’s specific needs, these top options prove that effective customer communication is within reach, with Intercom emerging as the clear top choice.

Intercom logo
Our Top Pick
Intercom

Take the first step toward better customer connections—try Intercom today. Its robust features and user-friendly design make it a standout for businesses looking to scale and personalize their support, helping turn every interaction into a meaningful connection.