💬 Customer Support Comparison
Crisp vs LiveChat
A detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
Last updated: 2026-02-06
Crisp
Free tier, Pro from $25/mo
Strengths
- + Free tier includes live chat and a shared inbox for 2 operators
- + Modern, clean interface that does not look like 2010 enterprise software
- + Knowledge base and chatbot features on paid plans
Weaknesses
- − Free tier is limited to 2 team members — solo founder only
- − Mobile app can be slow and miss notifications
- − Some features (chatbot, video calls) are locked to expensive tiers
LiveChat
From $20/agent/mo (billed annually)
Strengths
- + Chat widget loads fast and looks clean — one of the best-designed widgets on the market
- + 200+ integrations including Shopify, Salesforce, HubSpot, and WhatsApp
- + Built-in AI Copilot suggests replies and summarizes conversations in real time
Weaknesses
- − No free plan — Starter is $20/agent/mo (annual) or $24/month-to-month
- − Starter plan only keeps 60 days of chat history, then it is gone
- − Adding a chatbot (ChatBot product) costs $52/mo extra — it is a separate product, not included
The verdict
Which one is right for you?
Choose Crisp if you want
- → Free tier includes live chat and a shared inbox for 2 operators
- → Modern, clean interface that does not look like 2010 enterprise software
Choose LiveChat if you want
- → Chat widget loads fast and looks clean — one of the best-designed widgets on the market
- → 200+ integrations including Shopify, Salesforce, HubSpot, and WhatsApp
In depth
About each tool
Crisp
Live chat, shared inbox, and knowledge base in one — with a free tier that actually works
Crisp gives solo founders live chat, email support, and a knowledge base without paying Intercom prices. The free tier includes live chat and a shared inbox — enough to handle customer conversations professionally when you are the only person responding.
The interface is modern and does not feel like enterprise support software. On paid plans, you get chatbot automation and a knowledge base that can deflect common questions before they hit your inbox. The main gripe is the mobile app: notifications can be unreliable, which matters when you are the only person on support.
LiveChat
Dedicated live chat tool with a fast widget, 200+ integrations, and strong reporting
LiveChat is a focused live chat tool, not a full helpdesk. It does one thing well: put a fast, good-looking chat widget on your site and let you talk to visitors in real time. The Starter plan is $20/agent/month billed annually ($24 monthly), and the Team plan jumps to $41/agent/month. It connects to over 200 tools and pulls messages from email, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and SMS into one inbox.
The widget itself is genuinely one of the best — fast to load, easy to customize, and does not slow your site down. The AI Copilot on paid plans suggests responses and summarizes long conversations, which helps when you are juggling support between other tasks. The downside is cost and fragmentation: there is no free tier, the Starter plan limits chat history to 60 days, and if you want automated chatbot responses you need to buy their separate ChatBot product ($52/mo). For a solo founder who wants live chat specifically and can justify the spend, it is polished. If you need a free option or want chatbot automation included, look at tawk.to or Tidio instead.
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