Crisp Chat has made its mark as a reliable messaging platform, but let’s be honest – it’s not the perfect fit for everyone. Maybe the features feel a bit limited, the pricing isn’t quite right for your business model, or you’ve run into frustrations with customization options.
Whatever the reason, you’re here because you want something better – or at least something that works better for you.
The good news? There are plenty of amazing options on the market.
In this article, we’ve made the ultimate list of the six best Crisp Chat alternatives so you can find the perfect solution for your business in no time.
What Is Crisp Chat?
Crisp is an all-in-one business messaging platform that integrates various channels into a single dashboard. It offers tools for sales, marketing, and support to keep everything organized in one place.
Key features
- Live chat: Offer real-time communication through a customizable chat widget.
- Shared inbox: Centralize conversations from multiple channels, including email, Messenger, and Telegram.
- Chatbot builder: Automate responses and guide customers using AI-powered chatbots.
- Knowledge base: Create and manage help articles to assist customers in finding answers independently.
- Co-browsing & screen sharing: Assist customers by viewing and interacting with their browsing session.
- LiveTranslate: Instantly translate messages into over 50 languages.
Pricing
- Free Plan: Basic features suitable for personal websites.
- Pro Plan: $25 per month per workspace, including 4 seats and features like unlimited history, triggers, and integrations.
- Unlimited Plan: $95 per month per workspace, offering unlimited seats and advanced features such as a knowledge base, chatbots, and analytics.
Best for
Crisp is ideal for startups and small to medium-sized businesses that want an affordable tool to simplify customer communication. It’s especially great for teams that need a mix of live chat, automation, and marketing tools in one platform.
Why Consider a Crisp Alternative?
Crisp offers a range of features for customer communication, but it’s not perfect.
Here are three common reasons you might want to consider a Crisp Chat alternative:
Limited customization options
Crisp gets the job done, but when it comes to really making the live chat widget your own, some users feel it falls short.
If your business thrives on brand identity and you want every customer interaction to feel 100% you, Crisp’s customization options might leave you wanting more. Other platforms let you tweak things down to the smallest detail – colors, fonts, layouts – while Crisp does not.
Expensive for larger and scaling teams
Crisp’s pricing model charges per workspace instead of per agent. On paper, that sounds great – no extra costs as your team grows.
But here’s the catch: each workspace has a limit on how many people can actually use the platform. For example, the Pro Plan gives you just four seats.
If you need more users (which happens as your business scales), you either need to jump to the Unlimited Plan at $95/month or set up multiple workspaces, which gets clunky and expensive fast.
Steep learning curve
Some users find that Crisp’s interface is tricky to navigate at first.
Not everyone has the time (or patience) to sit through tutorials just to figure out how to use their chat platform.
If you’re after something simpler and user-friendly – especially for teams without a tech background – there are alternatives that are way easier to pick up and use from the get-go.
The 6 Best Crisp Chat Alternatives
Looking for a Crisp Chat alternative that better fits your needs? Here are six of the best options to consider:
1. Social Intents
Social Intents is a messaging platform best known for its no-code chatbots and live chat tools that are designed to integrate seamlessly with websites and apps. It’s perfect for businesses looking for a quick, easy setup without technical headaches.
Key features
- No-code chatbot builder: Easily create AI chatbots to automate customer interactions without coding.
- Live chat integrations: Seamlessly connect with internal tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack to manage chats.
- Customizable chat widgets: Match the chat interface to your brand for a cohesive look and feel.
- Multi-channel messaging: Engage customers through multiple platforms, including websites and messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, and SMS.
Pricing
- Free Trial: Try Social Intents’ features for free here.
- Starter Plan: $39/month (billed annually) for 1 chat widget, 1 website domain, and up to 3 agents.
- Basic Plan: $69/month (billed annually) for 2 chat widgets, 2 website domains, and unlimited live chat agents.
- Pro Plan: $99/month (billed annually) for 5 chat widgets, 5 website domains, and additional features like cross-team chat transfers.
- Business Plan: $199/month (billed annually) for 10 chat widgets, 10 website domains, and advanced functionalities such as real-time auto-translation.
Best for
Small to medium-sized businesses looking for simple, affordable tools to improve customer communication and automate responses without needing a developer. It’s especially a good fit for those already using team collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams or Slack.
2. Drift
Drift is a conversational marketing tool that offers AI chatbots and live chat to engage customers and speed up the sales process. It’s designed to help businesses capture leads, qualify them quickly, and close deals faster.
Key features
- AI chatbots: Automate conversations, qualify leads, and even schedule meetings without human intervention.
- Live chat: Connect with website visitors in real-time to offer support or gather insights.
- Email integration: Handle follow-ups and email campaigns directly within the platform.
- Analytics dashboard: Get detailed reports to track customer interactions and team performance.
Pricing
Drift offers custom pricing based on different needs. Its pricing is known to be on the higher end, with plans starting at $2,500 per month.
Best for
Drift works best for large enterprises that need an all-in-one marketing platform with powerful AI features. However, its high pricing can be a huge drawback for small to medium-sized businesses, especially when compared to more affordable options.
3. Olark
Olark is a live chat tool known for its user-friendly interface and advanced customization options. It helps businesses connect with website visitors in real-time to drive sales, provide customer support, and improve the overall customer experience.
Key features
- Customizable chatbox: Tailor the chat interface to match your brand’s look and feel.
- Automated messages: Set up triggers to send messages based on visitor behavior.
- Detailed reporting: Access insights into chat volume, customer satisfaction, and agent performance.
- Integrations: Connect with various CRM and help desk systems to streamline workflows.
Pricing
Olark offers a straightforward pricing model at $29 per agent per month, with optional add-ons (PowerUps) ranging from $29 to $99 per month.
Best for
Olark is a great fit for small businesses that need a simple live chat solution with essential features. However, its reliance on paid add-ons for advanced features can make it less appealing for businesses looking for an all-in-one package.
4. HelpCrunch
HelpCrunch is a comprehensive customer communication platform that combines live chat, email marketing, and a knowledge base to streamline support and engagement.
Key features
- Live chat: Engage with website visitors in real-time through a customizable chat widget.
- Email marketing: Automate email campaigns to nurture leads and retain customers.
- Knowledge base: Create and manage help articles to assist customers in finding answers independently.
- In-app messaging: Communicate with users directly within your app to provide timely support and updates.
Pricing
Paid plans start at $15 per user per month for the Basic live chat plan, which includes 1 chat widget and basic features.
Best for
HelpCrunch is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses that want an all-in-one tool for live chat, email marketing, and knowledge base management. However, it lacks native integration with collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams or Slack, which may be a drawback for teams relying on these platforms.
5. Zendesk
Zendesk is a customer service platform known for its robust ticketing system and omnichannel support. It’s designed to help businesses manage customer inquiries across email, chat, phone, and even social media – all from one place.
Key features
- Ticketing system: Manage and track customer inquiries from multiple channels in one unified interface.
- Live chat and messaging: Engage with customers in real-time through web chat and social messaging platforms.
- Help center and knowledge base: Create self-service resources to empower customers to find answers independently.
- Analytics and reporting: Access detailed insights into customer interactions and support team performance.
Pricing
Zendesk doesn’t offer a free plan, and its paid plans start at $55/agent per month for basic tools. More advanced options, with features like automation and analytics, go up to $115/agent per month.
Best for
Zendesk is great for medium to large businesses that need a scalable platform with advanced customer service tools. However, the per-agent pricing can add up quickly, making it less budget-friendly for smaller teams or startups.
6. Help Scout
Help Scout is a customer support platform known for its shared inbox, knowledge base, and live chat capabilities.
Key features
- Shared team inbox: Centralize customer emails and collaborate with teammates on responses using private notes and assignments.
- Knowledge base (Docs): Build a branded self-service portal with FAQs and guides to help customers find answers on their own.
- Beacon live chat: Offer live chat with built-in features like proactive messages and customer context for personalized support.
- Automation: Save time with workflows that automate repetitive tasks like tagging, assigning, or sending auto-replies.
Pricing
Paid plans start at $55/per month for basic support features, with more advanced options priced at $83/per month, depending on your needs.
Best for
Help Scout is great for small to medium-sized businesses that need a simple yet effective platform for managing customer support. However, it doesn’t include a no-code chatbot builder for automating responses, which can limit scalability.
Ready to Choose Your Crisp Chat Alternative?
So, why look for a Crisp alternative? Maybe it’s the limited customization, the tricky pricing as your team grows, or the fact that some tools just don’t have the features you need.
Whatever the reason, there are plenty of great options out there – each bringing something unique to the table.
But if you’re after a tool that’s easy to set up, works seamlessly with platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack, and lets you automate customer interactions coding-free, Social Intents is the way to go.
It combines AI chatbots with powerful integrations to make managing customer conversations a breeze.
Ready to see for yourself? Sign up for a 14-day free trial today.