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Chatwoot starts at $19 per agent, with a free plan; voice and automation cost more. That makes it worth comparing alternatives if you want a free starting point or mainly need a different channel mix. The Reddit feedback published is more positive than negative: users praise Chatwoot with n8n and describe replacing Intercom with it. It doesn’t establish a recurring complaint, so we’ve matched alternatives to specific buying needs rather than claiming these are fixes for reported failures.
01Why people leave Chatwoot
Voice and automation add cost
Chatwoot’s starting price is $19 per agent; our comparison says voice and automation cost more.
You only need basic chat
If you want a free starting point, tawk.to has a free plan and Chaty offers one with a 500-visitor cap.
Your channels are different
Some teams may prefer a tool centered on WhatsApp and Telegram, or one that routes visitors to messaging apps.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Best free starting point
tawk.totawk.toSwitch to tawk.to if the $19-per-agent Chatwoot starting price is hard to justify and you need live chat without a listed entry fee. Its free plan and unlimited agent seats suit teams that want to keep staffing costs predictable. The provided comparison also lists chat and CRM together, making it worth considering if those are your main needs.
Trade-off: The comparison flags paid extras and says to verify support links.
7.0/10from
Freefree plan - Best shared inbox
CrispCrispCrisp is a closer fit if you want a shared support inbox that combines chat, CRM and a knowledge base. That keeps it in the running against Chatwoot for teams bringing customer conversations and support content together. Its starting price is $45, and our comparison lists a free plan for teams that want to start without paying.
Trade-off: The free plan includes zero AI allowance; paid plans start at $45.
6.8/10from
$45/mofree plan - Best channel routing
ChatyChatyChoose Chaty if your priority is giving site visitors ways to contact you through messaging apps, rather than moving to another broad support inbox. The comparison highlights channel and traffic targeting plus contact forms for lead collection. It starts at $12 and has a free plan, making it a lower-cost option to assess for simpler routing needs.
Trade-off: The free plan caps traffic at 500 visitors.
7.2/10from
$12/mofree plan - Best chat and AI
LiveChatLiveChatLiveChat may suit teams that want AI alongside live-agent chat and track revenue attributed to conversations. Its listed starting price is $19, matching Chatwoot’s starting figure, so the case for switching is fit rather than a clearly lower price. The comparison also identifies it as an option for small teams with modest AI volume.
Trade-off: Essential’s limits and annual-only published pricing temper the value.
6.5/10from
$19/mo - Best WhatsApp and email
SuperchatSuperchatSuperchat is worth a look if your support work is concentrated in WhatsApp and email and you also want CRM and messaging together. It starts at $79 and has a free plan, so it is not an obvious price cut from Chatwoot. Consider it when that channel combination matters more than finding the cheapest inbox.
Trade-off: The free tier is tight, and useful AI features raise the price.
6.3/10from
€79/mofree plan - Best CRM-led messaging
WazzupWazzupWazzup fits sales teams that work inside a CRM and need to manage WhatsApp and Telegram chats with manager oversight. It starts at $12, below Chatwoot’s listed $19-per-agent starting point, though the published details don’t establish an apples-to-apples cost comparison. It’s a focused option if those messaging channels drive the switch.
Trade-off: Channel costs or chat caps can add up.
6.8/10from
$12/mo
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chatwoot Chatwoot (current) | 7.8 | $19/mo | Yes | Small teams starting with live chat |
| tawk.to tawk.to | 7.0 | Free | Yes | Teams starting with free live chat |
| Crisp Crisp | 6.8 | $45/mo | Yes | Small teams wanting one shared support inbox |
| Chaty Chaty | 7.2 | $12/mo | Yes | Small sites routing visitors to messaging apps |
| LiveChat LiveChat | 6.5 | $19/mo | No | Teams combining AI and live-agent chat |
| Superchat Superchat | 6.3 | €79/mo | Yes | Teams handling WhatsApp and email |
| Wazzup Wazzup | 6.8 | $12/mo | No | Sales teams working inside a CRM |
Questions people ask
What are some alternatives to Zendesk?
From the tools covered here, Crisp combines chat, CRM and a knowledge base; tawk.to offers a free starting point with unlimited agent seats; and LiveChat combines AI with live-agent chat. These are options to shortlist by need, not a verified feature-for-feature comparison with Zendesk.
What are some open-source alternatives to Chatwoot?
The published details identify Chatwoot as open source in a Reddit discussion, but they do not establish that any of the alternatives covered here are open source. Free plans, such as tawk.to’s, do not by themselves mean the software is open source. Check licensing before switching for that reason.
What are some open-source alternatives to Zendesk?
The alternatives covered here include free plans and paid tools, but the published information does not verify an open-source license for any of them. If open source is a requirement, don’t treat a free plan as proof; confirm the license and self-hosting terms before choosing a replacement.