Crisp vs tawk.to
Pricing
Crisp: Free tier, Pro from $25/mo
tawk.to: 100% free, optional add-ons from $29/mo
Description
Crisp: Live chat, shared inbox, and knowledge base in one, with a free tier that actually works
tawk.to: Completely free live chat with unlimited agents and chats (paid add-ons only for branding removal and AI)
Pros
- 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
- Core product is genuinely free forever: no agent limits, no chat limits, no site limits
- Includes ticketing system and knowledge base at no cost
- Real-time visitor monitoring shows who is on your site and what pages they are viewing
Cons
- 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
- Widget shows 'Powered by tawk.to' branding unless you pay $29/mo to remove it
- Mobile app notifications are unreliable: users report delayed or missed alerts regularly
- Fewer integrations than competitors, and no native chatbot without the $29/mo AI add-on
Details
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.
tawk.to is the only live chat tool that is actually free with no catch on the core features. You get live chat, a ticketing system, a knowledge base, and real-time visitor monitoring for unlimited agents on unlimited sites. They make money from optional add-ons: removing the “Powered by tawk.to” badge ($29/mo), AI Assist for automated replies ($29/mo), and video/voice/screensharing ($29/mo). They also sell hired agents starting at $1/hour if you want someone else handling your chats.
For a bootstrapped founder who just needs a chat widget on their site, tawk.to is the obvious starting point. Zero cost, no trial that expires, and enough features to handle real customer conversations. The trade-offs are real though: the mobile app is the weakest part (missed notifications are a common complaint), the widget branding is visible to your customers, and the integration options are limited compared to Crisp or LiveChat. If you are fine with the branding and mostly respond from your desktop, tawk.to lets you ship live chat support today without spending a dollar.
Verified
