Quick Overview
- 1#1: Intercom - Customer messaging platform offering live chat, bots, and targeted messaging to engage prospects and support customers.
- 2#2: Zendesk - Comprehensive customer service platform with live chat, ticketing, AI bots, and analytics for scalable support.
- 3#3: LiveChat - Professional live chat software providing real-time messaging, visitor tracking, and team collaboration tools.
- 4#4: Drift - Conversational marketing platform with live chat, AI qualification, and playbooks for sales and support.
- 5#5: HubSpot - Free CRM-integrated live chat tool for capturing leads, routing conversations, and team handoffs.
- 6#6: Freshchat - Modern messaging app with live chat, AI bots, and rich media for engaging customers across channels.
- 7#7: Tidio - Live chat software with chatbots, automation, and eCommerce integrations for websites.
- 8#8: Crisp - Multichannel live chat platform combining chat, email, phone, and social messaging with unlimited history.
- 9#9: Olark - Reliable live chat service with operator groups, transcripts, and mobile apps for small teams.
- 10#10: JivoChat - Multi-device live chat tool supporting websites, social media, and messengers for customer support.
These tools were ranked based on functionality, user-friendliness, performance reliability, and overall value, ensuring they deliver exceptional results across key metrics like engagement, scalability, and seamless integration with existing workflows.
Comparison Table
Navigating live chat software options can be challenging, with tools ranging from conversational platforms to comprehensive support hubs. This comparison table breaks down top tools like Intercom, Zendesk, LiveChat, Drift, HubSpot, and more, highlighting features, integration, and user experiences to help readers find the best fit for their needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intercom Customer messaging platform offering live chat, bots, and targeted messaging to engage prospects and support customers. | enterprise | 9.4/10 | 9.8/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 2 | Zendesk Comprehensive customer service platform with live chat, ticketing, AI bots, and analytics for scalable support. | enterprise | 8.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 3 | LiveChat Professional live chat software providing real-time messaging, visitor tracking, and team collaboration tools. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.9/10 | 8.6/10 |
| 4 | Drift Conversational marketing platform with live chat, AI qualification, and playbooks for sales and support. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 5 | HubSpot Free CRM-integrated live chat tool for capturing leads, routing conversations, and team handoffs. | other | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 6 | Freshchat Modern messaging app with live chat, AI bots, and rich media for engaging customers across channels. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 7 | Tidio Live chat software with chatbots, automation, and eCommerce integrations for websites. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 8 | Crisp Multichannel live chat platform combining chat, email, phone, and social messaging with unlimited history. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 9 | Olark Reliable live chat service with operator groups, transcripts, and mobile apps for small teams. | other | 8.0/10 | 7.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 10 | JivoChat Multi-device live chat tool supporting websites, social media, and messengers for customer support. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.2/10 |
Customer messaging platform offering live chat, bots, and targeted messaging to engage prospects and support customers.
Comprehensive customer service platform with live chat, ticketing, AI bots, and analytics for scalable support.
Professional live chat software providing real-time messaging, visitor tracking, and team collaboration tools.
Conversational marketing platform with live chat, AI qualification, and playbooks for sales and support.
Free CRM-integrated live chat tool for capturing leads, routing conversations, and team handoffs.
Modern messaging app with live chat, AI bots, and rich media for engaging customers across channels.
Live chat software with chatbots, automation, and eCommerce integrations for websites.
Multichannel live chat platform combining chat, email, phone, and social messaging with unlimited history.
Reliable live chat service with operator groups, transcripts, and mobile apps for small teams.
Multi-device live chat tool supporting websites, social media, and messengers for customer support.
Intercom
enterpriseCustomer messaging platform offering live chat, bots, and targeted messaging to engage prospects and support customers.
Fin AI agent for autonomous customer resolution and proactive outreach using behavioral data
Intercom is a comprehensive customer messaging platform that excels in live chat, enabling real-time conversations with website visitors, automated bots for 24/7 support, and targeted messaging campaigns. It integrates customer data to deliver personalized experiences, helping teams handle support, sales, and marketing from a single inbox. Beyond basic chat, it offers analytics, workflows, and AI-driven features to scale customer engagement efficiently.
Pros
- Exceptional automation with AI bots and proactive messaging
- Deep customer data integration for personalization
- Robust analytics and 100+ integrations
Cons
- High pricing that scales quickly with usage
- Steep learning curve for advanced features
- Overkill for very small teams needing only basic chat
Best For
Scaling SaaS companies and e-commerce businesses seeking advanced, data-driven customer engagement.
Pricing
Starts at $74/month (Starter plan, billed annually) for basic features; Advanced ($139/month) and Expert (custom) plans scale based on active users and capabilities.
Zendesk
enterpriseComprehensive customer service platform with live chat, ticketing, AI bots, and analytics for scalable support.
Omnichannel unification that converts live chats into tickets and syncs across email, social, and voice channels
Zendesk is a robust customer service platform with integrated live chat capabilities, enabling real-time visitor engagement on websites and apps. It combines live chat with AI-powered bots, proactive messaging, and seamless ticketing to streamline support workflows. The tool excels in multi-channel support, routing chats to agents efficiently while capturing visitor data for personalized interactions.
Pros
- Seamless integration with Zendesk's full ticketing and CRM suite
- Advanced AI chatbots and automation for handling high volumes
- Comprehensive analytics and reporting for chat performance
Cons
- Higher cost compared to standalone live chat tools
- Steeper learning curve due to extensive feature set
- Overkill for businesses needing only basic live chat
Best For
Mid-sized to enterprise businesses seeking an all-in-one omnichannel support platform with powerful live chat.
Pricing
Starts at $55/agent/month (billed annually) for Suite Professional; scales to $115+/agent/month for Enterprise with add-ons.
LiveChat
specializedProfessional live chat software providing real-time messaging, visitor tracking, and team collaboration tools.
Proactive chat invitations triggered by real-time visitor behavior and page activity
LiveChat is a robust live chat software platform that enables real-time customer communication on websites through customizable chat widgets. It supports proactive engagement, automation rules, ticketing integration, and detailed visitor tracking to streamline support workflows. With strong mobile apps and extensive third-party integrations, it's ideal for scaling customer service operations across teams.
Pros
- Extensive integrations with CRMs, e-commerce platforms, and helpdesks
- Advanced automation and chat routing for efficient team handling
- Comprehensive analytics and real-time visitor monitoring
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with more agents and features
- No perpetual free plan, only a 14-day trial
- Steeper learning curve for advanced customization
Best For
Mid-sized e-commerce businesses and support teams needing scalable, feature-rich live chat with strong analytics.
Pricing
Starts at $20/agent/month (Team plan, billed annually); Business at $39/agent/month; Enterprise custom pricing.
Drift
specializedConversational marketing platform with live chat, AI qualification, and playbooks for sales and support.
AI-powered Playbooks that dynamically guide reps through personalized, context-aware customer interactions
Drift is a conversational marketing platform that combines live chat, AI-powered chatbots, and automated playbooks to engage website visitors in real-time and drive revenue. It excels in lead qualification, meeting scheduling, and personalized sales conversations, integrating deeply with CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot. Primarily targeted at sales and marketing teams, Drift transforms websites into revenue-generating channels beyond traditional support chat.
Pros
- Powerful AI playbooks for guided sales conversations
- Robust integrations with sales and marketing tools
- Strong lead qualification and meeting booking capabilities
Cons
- High pricing unsuitable for small businesses
- Steeper learning curve for advanced automations
- Limited customization in the free tier
Best For
Mid-to-large sales and marketing teams seeking to accelerate revenue through conversational experiences on their websites.
Pricing
Free starter plan; paid Premium plans start at around $2,500/month (10K conversations), with Advanced and Enterprise tiers at custom pricing.
HubSpot
otherFree CRM-integrated live chat tool for capturing leads, routing conversations, and team handoffs.
Seamless CRM integration that automatically logs chats to visitor records and triggers workflows without manual data entry
HubSpot provides live chat functionality through its Conversations tool within the free CRM platform, allowing businesses to engage website visitors in real-time. It includes customizable chat widgets, AI-powered chatbots for lead qualification, and seamless integration with CRM data for personalized interactions. The unified inbox consolidates chats, emails, and other messages, making it a strong choice for inbound sales and support teams already in the HubSpot ecosystem.
Pros
- Deep integration with HubSpot CRM for visitor tracking and lead nurturing
- Free live chat with unlimited users and conversations on the basic plan
- Powerful chatbot builder and multi-channel unified inbox
Cons
- Pricing escalates quickly for advanced features and higher contact volumes
- Steeper learning curve for users not familiar with HubSpot's ecosystem
- Less specialized customization options compared to dedicated live chat tools
Best For
Sales and marketing teams using HubSpot CRM who need integrated live chat for lead generation and customer support.
Pricing
Free plan with basic live chat; paid plans start at $20/month (Starter) and scale to $800+/month (Professional/Enterprise) based on contacts and features.
Freshchat
enterpriseModern messaging app with live chat, AI bots, and rich media for engaging customers across channels.
Freddy AI-powered chatbots for intelligent, context-aware automation and self-service
Freshchat is a customer messaging platform by Freshworks that provides live chat for websites and mobile apps, enabling real-time engagement with AI-powered chatbots and automation. It supports omnichannel conversations across chat, email, social media, and more, with features like team collaboration, self-service FAQs, and detailed analytics. Designed for support teams, it integrates seamlessly with the Freshworks ecosystem for a unified CRM experience.
Pros
- Powerful AI chatbot (Freddy) for automation and 24/7 support
- Strong omnichannel capabilities including mobile SDKs
- Intuitive interface with easy team collaboration tools
Cons
- Pricing increases significantly with more agents and features
- Limited customization in lower-tier plans
- Free plan lacks advanced analytics and integrations
Best For
Mid-sized businesses and support teams seeking scalable live chat with mobile app support and AI automation.
Pricing
Free plan for basics; Growth at $15/agent/month, Pro at $49/agent/month (billed annually), Enterprise custom.
Tidio
specializedLive chat software with chatbots, automation, and eCommerce integrations for websites.
Lyro AI, a fully autonomous conversational AI agent that resolves up to 70% of queries without human intervention
Tidio is a versatile live chat software platform designed for websites, offering real-time chat, AI-powered chatbots, and automation tools to boost customer engagement and support. It includes features like visitor tracking, canned responses, and integrations with e-commerce platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce. The platform emphasizes ease of use with a no-code chatbot builder, making it suitable for businesses aiming to scale customer service efficiently.
Pros
- Highly intuitive drag-and-drop interface for quick setup
- Robust AI chatbots including the autonomous Lyro agent
- Generous free plan with essential live chat features
Cons
- Free plan limits conversations to 50 per month
- Advanced analytics and omnichannel features locked behind higher tiers
- Scalability challenges for very large teams without enterprise plan
Best For
Small to medium-sized e-commerce businesses and websites seeking an affordable, user-friendly live chat tool with strong automation capabilities.
Pricing
Free plan (50 conversations/month); paid plans start at $29/month for 300 conversations, scaling to $499/month for unlimited advanced features.
Crisp
specializedMultichannel live chat platform combining chat, email, phone, and social messaging with unlimited history.
Real-time multilingual translation and operator collaboration in chats
Crisp is a customer messaging platform that provides live chat widgets for websites and mobile apps, enabling real-time conversations with visitors. It features automated chatbots, a unified shared inbox for team collaboration, and support for multiple channels including email and social messengers. Crisp emphasizes multilingual capabilities and seamless integrations, making it a solid choice for scaling customer support without complexity.
Pros
- Generous free plan with core features included
- Intuitive mobile apps for agents on iOS and Android
- Built-in no-code chatbots and automation tools
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics
- Widget customization options are somewhat basic
- Fewer enterprise-level integrations than competitors
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses and startups needing affordable live chat with chatbot automation and team collaboration.
Pricing
Free plan available; Pro at $25/month, Business at $95/month, Enterprise custom (billed annually).
Olark
otherReliable live chat service with operator groups, transcripts, and mobile apps for small teams.
Highly customizable proactive chat targeting based on visitor behavior, pages viewed, and referral sources
Olark is a veteran live chat software that provides real-time messaging between website visitors and customer support teams to boost engagement and sales. It features customizable chat widgets, visitor behavior tracking, proactive chat invites, and mobile apps for agents. The platform emphasizes simplicity with transcript storage, integrations, and offline messaging for seamless communication.
Pros
- Quick and easy setup with minimal coding required
- Strong mobile apps for on-the-go agent support
- Effective visitor targeting and proactive chat triggers
Cons
- Dated user interface compared to modern competitors
- Limited advanced AI or automation features
- Per-operator pricing can get expensive for larger teams
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses seeking straightforward, reliable live chat without complex enterprise features.
Pricing
Starts at $29/operator/month (Micro plan), with Pro at $49/operator/month and Business at $79/operator/month; free 12-day trial available.
JivoChat
specializedMulti-device live chat tool supporting websites, social media, and messengers for customer support.
Branded mobile messenger app that delivers a native chat experience like WhatsApp across iOS and Android
JivoChat is a versatile live chat software that provides real-time customer communication across websites, mobile apps, and social channels like Facebook Messenger and Telegram. It includes features such as proactive chat invitations, visitor tracking, AI-powered chatbots, co-browsing, and mobile apps for agents. Designed for seamless omnichannel support, it helps businesses improve response times and customer satisfaction with tools for collaboration and automation.
Pros
- Strong omnichannel integration including social media and mobile SDK
- Intuitive interface with dedicated mobile apps for agents and customers
- Affordable entry-level plans with robust automation via chatbots
Cons
- Advanced reporting and analytics limited to higher tiers
- Free plan has restrictions on agents and history storage
- Customization options can feel basic compared to enterprise competitors
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses needing affordable multi-channel live chat with mobile support.
Pricing
Free plan available; paid plans start at $19/agent/month (billed annually) for Basic, up to $99 for Enterprise.
Conclusion
Evaluating the best live chat solutions reveals Intercom as the top choice, offering a robust mix of customer messaging, bots, and targeted engagement. Zendesk follows with its comprehensive platform and scalable analytics, while LiveChat stands out for real-time tracking and team collaboration. Each tool caters to distinct needs, from sales to small-team support, ensuring there’s a fitting option for most businesses. Intercom leads, but Zendesk and LiveChat are strong alternatives depending on specific goals.
Take the first step to elevate your customer connections—try Intercom today and unlock seamless engagement with prospects and customers alike.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison