LiveChat might be one of the first tools that comes to mind when you want to implement live chat in your business – but is it really the best platform for what you need?
Maybe the per-agent pricing seems too restrictive. Or perhaps, you need smarter integrations to fit your workflow. Whatever the reason, there are better alternatives that offer more features, fewer limitations, and pricing that makes sense.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through ten of the best LiveChat alternatives. We’ll break down their key features, pricing, and why they might be a better choice for you.
What Is LiveChat?
LiveChat is a customer communication platform that helps businesses chat with website visitors in real time. It’s primarily known for its live chat capabilities, but it also offers ticketing, chatbots, and analytics to help businesses streamline their support and sales processes.
Key features
- Real-time chat: Engage with website visitors instantly to address queries and provide support.
- Ticketing system: Manage customer inquiries efficiently, so no question goes unanswered.
- Analytics dashboard: Monitor chat performance and customer satisfaction to continually improve service quality.
- Customization options: Tailor the chat widget to align with your brand’s aesthetics and tone.
- Multi-channel integration: Connect with customers across various platforms, including email and social media.
Pricing
- Starter Plan: $20 per agent per month (billed annually) – Includes essential features like a 60-day chat history and basic customization.
- Team Plan: $41 per agent per month (billed annually) – Adds unlimited chat history, full customization, and advanced reporting.
- Business Plan: $59 per agent per month (billed annually) – Offers additional features such as agent groups and multiple brandings.
Best for
LiveChat is best suited for mid to large-sized businesses that need a scalable, real-time chat solution for customer support, sales, and lead generation. But if you’re a smaller business or startup on a budget, the per-agent pricing can add up fast. And if you’re looking for built-in AI automation, you might be better off with an alternative that comes with chatbots right out of the box.
Why Consider a Livechat Alternative?
LiveChat is a great tool, but it’s not without its flaws. Here’s what users are saying about its limitations:
Pricing that adds up fast
LiveChat’s pricing can add up quickly, especially as your team grows. At $20/month per agent (and that’s on the starter plan), costs can spiral if you’re scaling up. A small team can quickly rack up hundreds of dollars per month.
Some businesses find the pricing model restrictive compared to alternatives that offer unlimited agents or flat-rate pricing. For companies with fluctuating support needs or seasonal spikes, this can make scaling up expensive and frustrating.
Customization isn’t as flexible as it seems
One of the biggest complaints from LiveChat users is that customizing the chat widget to match their website can be tricky.
While you can adjust colors and basic elements, it’s not always as seamless as you’d expect. Some users mention that fonts, sizes, or placement options feel a little restrictive, which can be a dealbreaker for businesses that care about creating a completely branded, polished experience.
Some features require expensive add-ons
Want features like AI-powered chatbots or in-depth analytics? Be prepared to pay extra.
LiveChat has a marketplace of integrations and add-ons, which sounds great… until you realize that some essential features aren’t built in and require extra payments.
Instead of getting everything in one package, businesses sometimes feel like they’re constantly paying for additional features just to make LiveChat work the way they need it to.
Limited native support for social media chats
If your business connects with customers on platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook Messenger, you might be disappointed with LiveChat’s limited built-in support for these channels.
LiveChat often requires third-party integrations to connect with social platforms. This adds extra setup time, potential costs, and sometimes a clunky user experience. For businesses that rely on social selling or customer service through messaging apps, this can be a major downside.
Top 10 LiveChat Alternatives
So, if LiveChat isn’t quite the tool you’re looking for, what is a better solution?
The good news is, you’ve got options. Plenty of live chat software offers better pricing, more customization, and built-in features that don’t require endless add-ons.
Below you’ll find our favorite picks:
1. Social Intents
Social Intents is a customer communication platform that integrates directly with platforms like Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google Chat, Zoom, and Webex, letting your team manage customer chats without constantly switching between tools.
If you already rely on these platforms, Social Intents’ live chat will fit right into your existing workflow – no extra logins or learning curve required. Plus, there are no per-agent fees, so you can add unlimited team members without paying extra (something most competitors don’t offer).
Key features
- Unlimited team members: Add as many agents as needed without extra costs.
- AI-powered chatbots: Easily train ChatGPT-powered bots using your website content to handle common inquiries.
- Seamless integrations: Connect with Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google Chat, Zoom, and Webex so your team can manage chats within the platforms they already use.
- Proactive chat invites: Engage visitors proactively with automatic chat invitations based on their behavior to increase the chances of conversion.
- Customizable chat widgets: Tailor the chat interface to match your brand’s look and feel for a cohesive customer experience.
- Canned responses: Save time with pre-set replies to frequently asked questions.
- No-code setup: Implement the chat solution without any technical expertise, making it accessible for businesses without dedicated IT staff.
- Real-time auto-translation: Improve customer relationships by communicating in their preferred language.
- Time of day rules: Set your chat availability based on your business hours so customers know when you’re online.
Pricing
- Free Trial: Test all features without committing with a 14-day trial.
- Starter: $39/month (if billed annually) – Includes 1 chat widget, 1 website, 3 agents, 200 chat conversations/month, ChatGPT integration.
- Basic: $59/month (if billed annually) – Offers 2 chat widgets, 2 websites, unlimited agents, 1,000 conversations/month, and message shortcuts.
- Pro: $99/month (if billed annually) – Provides 5 chat widgets, 5 websites, unlimited agents, 5,000 conversations/month, plus team chat transfers.
- Business: $199/month (if billed annually) – Features 10 chat widgets, 10 websites, unlimited agents, 10,000 conversations/month, plus auto-translation and white-labeling.
Best for
Social Intents is perfect for businesses that want an affordable, easy-to-use chat solution without per-agent fees. If your team already uses Microsoft Teams or Slack, this is a no-brainer since you can handle all customer chats directly inside the platforms you already work with.
2. Userlike
Userlike is a German-based live chat platform that’s especially popular in Europe. It’s a privacy-focused tool, so if GDPR compliance is a big deal for your business, Userlike has you covered.
Key features
- Multichannel messaging: Connect with customers via your website, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and more.
- Chatbot integration: Automate responses to common inquiries with customizable chatbots.
- Analytics and reporting: Gain insights into chat performance and customer satisfaction.
- Customizable chat widget: Adjust the chat interface to align with your brand identity.
- Operator routing: Ensure customers are connected to the right support agent based on their needs.
Pricing
- Free Plan: Includes basic chat functionality suitable for small businesses or startups.
- Team Plan: $29/month per agent – Adds chat transcripts and analytics.
- Corporate Plan: $299/month – Includes API access and white-labeling.
Best for:
Userlike is great for businesses that want to handle chats across multiple messaging apps. However, the per-agent pricing can get expensive fast – so if you’re growing your team, you might want to consider alternatives with flat-rate pricing.
3. Intercom
Intercom is an all-in-one customer messaging platform that combines live chat, bots, email marketing automation, and sales engagement in one place.
Key features
- Shared inbox: Manage all customer interactions from a single, collaborative inbox.
- AI-powered tools: Utilize Fin AI Agent and Fin AI Copilot to automate responses, summarize conversations, and assist support agents in real time.
- Customizable bots and automation: Deploy chatbots to handle common inquiries, qualify leads, and route conversations to the appropriate teams.
- Help center and knowledge base: Create and manage a public or private help center with unlimited articles.
- Multichannel support: Engage customers through various channels, including live chat, email, SMS, WhatsApp, and more.
Pricing
- Essential: $29 per seat/month – Includes shared inbox, Fin AI Agent, ticketing system, basic automation, and a public help center.
- Advanced: $85 per seat/month – Adds team inboxes, advanced workflows, multilingual help center, and integrations with tools like Slack and Salesforce.
- Expert: $132 per seat/month – Offers workload management, multiple help centers, single sign-on (SSO), and advanced security features.
Best for
Intercom is great for SaaS businesses and customer support teams that need automation and live chat in one. However, the pricing can get expensive quickly, especially for growing teams – so if you’re budget-conscious, it might not be the best fit.
4. Zoho Desk
Zoho Desk is a help desk solution that’s part of the larger Zoho ecosystem (which includes Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, and more). It’s a good choice for businesses that want a structured customer support system with built-in automation, ticketing, and live chat.
Key features
- Omnichannel support: Handle customer interactions from various channels, including email, social media, live chat, and web forms.
- Automation tools: Automate routine tasks with customizable workflows.
- Customizable dashboards: Gain insights into support metrics with detailed reports and analytics.
- Knowledge base management: Create and manage a repository of help articles and FAQs to empower customers with self-service options.
- Integration capabilities: Seamlessly connect with other Zoho applications and third-party tools.
Pricing
- Free Plan: Includes basic help desk features suitable for small teams.
- Standard Plan: $14 per agent/month – Includes social and community channels, product-based ticket management, and workflow automations.
- Professional Plan: $23 per agent/month – Adds features like multi-department support, custom roles, and advanced process management.
- Enterprise Plan: $40 per agent/month – Offers live chat integration, custom functions, and advanced analytics.
Best for
Zoho Desk is a solid choice for small to mid-sized businesses that need a structured support system – especially if they’re already using Zoho’s ecosystem. However, the mobile app isn’t as full-featured as the desktop version, which can be frustrating for teams that handle support on the go.
5. Zendesk Support Suite
Zendesk is one of the biggest names in customer support software. It’s a fully loaded customer service platform that includes ticketing, live chat, automation, and AI-powered tools.
Key features
- Unified agent workspace: Manage all customer interactions from a single, intuitive dashboard.
- Advanced automation: Utilize AI-powered tools to automate repetitive tasks and route tickets to the appropriate agents.
- Multichannel support: Engage with customers across email, chat, phone, and social media platforms seamlessly.
- Comprehensive reporting: Access detailed analytics to monitor performance metrics and customer satisfaction levels.
- Extensive integrations: Connect with a wide range of third-party applications to extend functionality.
Pricing
- Suite Team: $55 per agent/month – Has core support features suitable for small teams.
- Suite Growth: $89 per agent/month – Adds self-service and automation capabilities.
- Suite Professional: $115 per agent/month – Includes advanced reporting and customization options.
- Suite Enterprise: $169 per agent/month – Offers enterprise-grade features like custom roles and AI-powered automation.
Best for
Zendesk is a powerhouse for large companies with complex support needs. However, its pricing structure is confusing, and it can get expensive quickly since many advanced features are locked behind higher-tier plans.
6. Tidio
Tidio is a live chat and chatbot platform that’s super popular with ecommerce businesses. It’s easy to set up and integrates well with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other online store platforms.
Key features
- Live chat with customization: Engage visitors instantly with a customizable chat widget that matches your brand.
- AI-powered chatbots: Automate responses to FAQs and lead qualification to assist customers 24/7.
- Multichannel support: Manage conversations from live chat, email, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram in one inbox.
- Visitor tracking: See what pages visitors are on and what they’re doing in real time to offer personalized assistance.
- Ecommerce integrations: Connect with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other platforms to improve customer interactions.
Pricing
- Free Plan – Offers basic live chat features and limited chatbot responses.
- Growth Plan: $59 per month – Includes up to 2,000 handled conversations, advanced analytics, and additional features.
- Plus Plan: $749 per month – Offers custom quotas, dedicated success managers, and multisite support.
- Premium Plan: $2,999 per month – Provides extensive features and support.
Best for
Tidio is great for small to mid-sized ecommerce businesses that need an affordable live chat and chatbot solution. However, some users find the chatbot customization options a bit limited, making it less ideal for businesses that need complex automation.
7. LiveAgent
LiveAgent is a help desk and live chat solution that brings together email, live chat, social media, and phone support into a single system.
Key Features
- Omnichannel ticketing: Consolidate customer inquiries from various channels – such as email, live chat, phone, and social media – into a unified ticketing system.
- Live chat: Engage website visitors instantly with a responsive and customizable chat widget.
- Built-in call center: Manage inbound and outbound calls directly within the platform, complete with features like IVR, call recording, and call transfers.
- Knowledge base management: Develop a self-service portal with FAQs, articles, and forums.
- Automation and rules: Implement automation rules to streamline repetitive tasks, such as ticket routing and prioritization.
Pricing
- Free Plan: Includes basic ticketing for one email address, one live chat button, and a knowledge base.
- Small Plan: $9 per agent/month – Adds features like multiple email addresses, live chat buttons, and advanced reporting.
- Medium Plan: $29 per agent/month – Incorporates call center support, social media integrations, and more extensive customization options.
- Large Plan: $49 per agent/month – Offers additional features such as WhatsApp integration, advanced automation, and multiple knowledge bases.
Best for
LiveAgent is a solid, affordable option for small to mid-sized businesses that need an all-in-one help desk and chat solution. However, some users find the platform overwhelming at first, as it has a lot of features to set up.
8. Hiver
Hiver is a help desk built directly into Gmail, making it perfect for teams that want to manage customer support without leaving their inbox.
Instead of using a separate platform for tickets and chat, Hiver transforms your Gmail into a full customer service solution – with live chat, shared inboxes, and automation tools built right in.
Key features
- Omnichannel shared inbox: Consolidate customer communications from email, live chat, WhatsApp, and voice calls into a single, shared inbox.
- Live chat with AI-powered chatbots: Engage with website visitors in real-time using a customizable widget, and utilize AI-driven chatbots to handle common queries.
- Knowledge base integration: Develop a self-service portal by creating and managing help articles and FAQs.
- Workflow automation: Automate repetitive tasks such as ticket assignment and routing using rule-based automation.
- Analytics and reporting: Access actionable insights into team performance with user, tag, and contact reports, and customize reports to meet specific business needs.
Pricing
- Lite: $24 per user/month – Includes features like live chat, knowledge base integration, and basic analytics.
- Growth: $34 per user/month – Adds advanced analytics, custom reports, and integrations with tools like Zapier.
- Pro: $59 per user/month – Offers chatbots, customer satisfaction surveys (CSAT), business hours configuration, AI capabilities, and advanced analytics.
Best for
Hiver is perfect for teams that rely on Gmail and want to manage customer support directly from their inbox. However, if your business doesn’t use Gmail, Hiver won’t be a good fit, since all its features are designed to work inside Google Workspace.
9. Crisp
Crisp is a live chat and customer messaging platform that helps businesses centralize customer communication across multiple channels. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a balance of live chat, automation, and CRM features, all in a clean, modern interface.
Key features
- Live chat widget: Engage with website visitors in real time through a customizable chat interface.
- AI-powered chatbots: Automate responses to common inquiries using AI-driven chatbots.
- Shared inbox: Centralize all customer communications, including emails, chats, and messages from social media platforms, into a single collaborative inbox accessible by your entire team.
- Knowledge base: Create and manage a repository of help articles and FAQs.
- CRM integration: Maintain detailed customer profiles with interaction histories.
Pricing
- Free Plan: Has basic live chat features suitable for small teams or startups.
- Pro Plan: €25/month per team – Includes advanced features such as chatbots, integrations, and a knowledge base.
- Unlimited Plan: €95/month per team – Offers the full suite of features, including unlimited chat history, automated campaigns, and priority support.
Best for
Crisp is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses looking for a modern, all-in-one customer communication platform. However, some users find that setting up advanced automation requires technical knowledge, making it less ideal for non-technical teams.
10. Freshchat
Freshchat (by Freshworks) is a live chat and messaging platform that helps businesses engage customers on their websites, mobile apps, and social media.
Key features:
- Multichannel messaging: Engage with customers through multiple channels such as web chat, mobile apps, email, and social media platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.
- AI-powered chatbots: Deploy no-code, intelligent chatbots powered by Freddy AI to handle common customer inquiries, provide instant responses, and reduce the workload on human agents.
- In-app messaging: Communicate directly with users within your mobile application.
- Automated campaigns: Create targeted messaging campaigns to proactively reach out to customers, share updates, and promotions, or gather feedback.
- Analytics and reporting: Access detailed insights into customer interactions, agent performance, and chatbot effectiveness through customizable dashboards and reports.
Pricing
- Free Plan: Supports up to 10 agents with basic features like live chat and a unified inbox.
- Growth Plan: $19 per agent/month (billed annually) – Includes all Free Plan features plus additional channels like WhatsApp and Messenger, real-time dashboards, and 500 bot sessions per month.
- Pro Plan: $49 per agent/month (billed annually) – Adds advanced features such as custom dashboards, enhanced routing mechanisms, multiple SLA policies, and 3,000 bot sessions per month.
- Enterprise Plan: $79 per agent/month (billed annually) – Offers all Pro Plan features along with skills-based assignment, additional security features, and 5,000 bot sessions per month.
Best for
Freshchat is great for businesses that need multichannel support and AI-driven automation. However, some users find that it works best when integrated with other Freshworks products (like Freshdesk), which means it might not be ideal if you don’t want to use their full suite of tools.
What to Look for in a Customer Communication Tool
Now that we’ve covered the best alternatives to LiveChat, how do you decide which one is right for your business?
Not all chat solutions are built the same, so here are the key features to look for:
Easy integration with existing tools:
Your chat software should work seamlessly with your CRM, email, and internal messaging channels like Slack or Microsoft Teams. The smoother the integration, the better your team can manage conversations.
Codeless chatbots:
AI chatbots can automate repetitive tasks and provide instant responses, but setting them up shouldn’t require coding knowledge. A user-friendly chatbot platform saves time and makes automation accessible to any team.
Multichannel support:
A great communication tool should go beyond website chat and allow you to connect with customers via email, social media, SMS, and even video chat for more personalized support.
Proactive messaging:
Instead of waiting for customers to reach out, a strong platform engages visitors proactively, regardless of whether that happens through automated greetings, chatbot triggers, or targeted messages based on user behavior.
Customization & branding:
Your live chat tool should blend seamlessly into your website and brand, with options for white-labeling and custom chat widgets to maintain a professional, on-brand experience.
Security & compliance:
Handling customer data comes with responsibility. Look for strong encryption, compliance with GDPR and other data regulations, and role-based access controls to keep your communications secure.
Which LiveChat Alternative Is Best for You?
LiveChat is a solid platform, but it comes with its challenges – per-agent pricing can get expensive, customization isn’t as flexible as you’d think, and some essential features require costly add-ons.
If those issues seem like dealbreakers, you don’t have to settle. There are better LiveChat alternatives to explore.
Social Intents gives you unlimited agents at no extra cost, seamless integrations with Microsoft Teams, Slack, and more, plus an easy no-code setup. You get powerful live chat and AI chatbots without the pricing hurdles or technical headaches.
Ready to try it out? Get started with a 14-day free trial today.