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Chatwoot is our best overall pick for teams that want a shared multichannel inbox, with a free plan and paid pricing from $19 per agent. Chaty is a cheaper fit for routing website visitors to messaging apps; tawk.to is worth considering if free live chat and unlimited agent seats matter most. Before switching, check the caps and extras: Chaty’s free plan allows 500 visitors, Callbell requires at least three agents, and several enterprise tools do not publish prices. The best chat box is the one whose limits match your workload.
Quick picksThe shortlist
ChatwootChatwootBest overall · $19/mo
ChatyChatyBest for website routing · $12/mo
respond.iorespond.ioBest for social leads · $79/mo
tawk.totawk.toBest free live chat · Free
CrispCrispBest shared inbox · $45/mo
WazzupWazzupBest for CRM messaging · $12/mo
LiveChatLiveChatBest for chat revenue · $19/mo
CallbellCallbellBest for messaging teams · $15/mo
GliaGliaBest for financial services · Custom
OlarkOlarkBest for lead qualification · $29/mo
SuperchatSuperchatBest for WhatsApp and email · €79/mo
KindlyKindlyBest for multilingual support · Custom
Verloop.ioVerloop.ioBest for voice automation · Free
LivePersonLivePersonBest for large enterprises · Custom
DriftDriftBest for premium sales teams · $2,500/mo
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatwootChatwoot | 7.8 | $19/mo | Yes | 15 days |
| ChatyChaty | 7.2 | $12/mo | Yes | — |
| respond.iorespond.io | 7.2 | $79/mo | No | 7 days |
| tawk.totawk.to | 7.0 | Free | Yes | — |
| CrispCrisp | 6.8 | $45/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| WazzupWazzup | 6.8 | $12/mo | No | 3 days |
| LiveChatLiveChat | 6.5 | $19/mo | No | 14 days |
| CallbellCallbell | 6.5 | $15/mo | Yes | 7 days |
| GliaGlia | 6.8 | Custom | No | — |
| OlarkOlark | 6.8 | $29/mo | No | 14 days |
| SuperchatSuperchat | 6.3 | €79/mo | Yes | — |
| KindlyKindly | 6.2 | Custom | No | — |
| Verloop.ioVerloop.io | 6.2 | Free | Yes | — |
| LivePersonLivePerson | 5.3 | Custom | No | — |
| DriftDrift | 5.2 | $2,500/mo | No | — |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallChatwootChatwoot
Chatwoot offers a free starting point and paid plans from $19 per agent, with a shared multichannel inbox for startups and small teams. It also leaves room to add voice and automation later. Those features cost more, so check the upgrade price if they are part of your plan. For a broadly useful inbox without an enterprise-first price tag, it is our strongest pick.
What works
- Free plan includes up to two agents
- Paid plans start at $19 per agent monthly
- Shared inbox covers web, email, social and messaging
What doesn't
- Free plan is capped at 500 conversations monthly
- Free plan includes live chat only
- Voice and automation require the $39 Business plan
- Best for website routingChatyChaty
Chaty starts at $12 and offers a free plan, with channel and traffic targeting plus contact forms for lead collection. That makes it a practical choice for smaller sites that want to send visitors to messaging apps rather than build a full support operation. The main catch is the free plan’s 500-visitor cap, which may make it a short trial rather than a lasting option.
What works
- Connects to 20+ messaging and social platforms
- Free plan includes unlimited widgets and channels
- Targeting can use source, country, device, or page
What doesn't
- Free plan is capped at 500 visitors monthly
- Basic costs $15 monthly without annual billing
- Basic is capped at 10,000 visitors monthly
- Best for social leadsrespond.iorespond.io
Respond.io starts at $79 and is aimed at teams handling social-channel leads, especially WhatsApp-heavy sales and support workflows. Its automation and AI agents make it a better fit for teams doing more than answering basic chats. The price is hard to justify if all you need is a shared inbox, so compare it with lower-cost options before switching.
What works
- Combines messages, calls and emails in one team inbox
- Includes CRM context and native lead management
- Growth lists workflows, broadcasts and AI Agents
What doesn't
- Starter costs $99 monthly without annual billing
- Growth starts at $199 monthly without annual billing
- Extra users and AI credits cost more
- Best free live chattawk.totawk.to
tawk.to has a free plan and unlimited agent seats, making it an appealing starting point for teams that want live chat without a per-seat bill. The product also brings chat and CRM together. The trade-off is that some extras are paid, and the published product notes say to verify support links. It is a strong low-cost candidate, not an automatic fit for every team.
What works
- Free core plan at $0/month
- Unlimited agents, chats, websites and chat history
- Combines chat, shared inbox and CRM
What doesn't
- Branding removal costs extra
- AI Assist is a paid add-on
- Add-on prices vary across listings
- Best shared inboxCrispCrisp
Crisp combines chat, CRM and a knowledge base in one inbox, with a free plan and paid pricing from $45. It also supports no-code AI workflows, which may suit teams consolidating support tools. The free plan includes no AI allowance, though, so teams choosing Crisp for automation should price the paid setup rather than assume the free tier covers it.
What works
- Shared inbox brings multiple conversation channels together.
- No-code AI agents can be trained on websites, PDFs and knowledge base articles.
- Free plan includes 2 seats.
What doesn't
- Free plan includes 0 AI credits.
- Mini costs $45 per workspace monthly for 4 seats.
- Mini includes around 90 automated conversations and $5 in AI credits.
- Best for CRM messagingWazzupWazzup
Wazzup starts at $12 and suits sales teams working inside a CRM, particularly those managing WhatsApp and Telegram conversations. Its chat oversight tools may also help managers keep track of team activity. The value depends on usage: channel costs or chat caps can add up, so confirm those terms before comparing its headline price with a basic shared inbox.
What works
- Saves chat history and contacts in the CRM
- Can create CRM deals and contacts from messages
- Team leads can review chats and manager activity
What doesn't
- Prices apply per channel, so multiple channels raise costs
- Start includes only 50 chats
- Inbox and Pro cap chats at 500
- Best for chat revenueLiveChatLiveChat
LiveChat starts at $19 and fits teams combining AI with live-agent chat or tracking revenue attributed to conversations. It can also suit small teams with modest AI volume. Essential’s limits temper the value, and the published pricing is annual-only, so check the commitment and plan caps before switching from a monthly tool or budgeting for higher AI usage.
What works
- Combines AI conversations and human chat in one inbox
- Tracks visitors, browsing activity and cart details
- Includes lead qualification and ticket follow-up
What doesn't
- Essential includes only 10 AI resolutions monthly
- Essential tracks up to 50 live visitors
- Growth costs $79 per user monthly, billed annually
- Best for messaging teamsCallbellCallbell
Callbell starts at $15 and offers a free plan for teams that need a shared inbox across several messaging channels. It also supports automation for repetitive conversations. The advertised starting price is incomplete for smaller teams because the minimum is three agents, and add-ons can raise the bill. Confirm the seat minimum and extras against your actual team size.
What works
- Combines six messaging channels in one team inbox
- Routes chats to the right team members
- Includes AI agents and no-code chatbot flows
What doesn't
- Shared inbox plans require at least three agents
- Month-to-month billing is not offered
- The free plan excludes the multi-agent inbox
- Best for financial servicesGliaGlia
Glia is worth shortlisting for banks automating routine service inquiries, credit unions consolidating customer interactions, and financial teams supporting frontline agents. Its focus makes it more relevant to those organizations than to a general-purpose small business. Pricing is custom, however, so value is difficult to verify before a sales call. Ask for a quote based on your channels and expected usage.
What works
- Built specifically for banks and credit unions
- Automates inquiries such as balance checks and password resets
- Combines voice and digital service tools
What doesn't
- Starting price is not published
- Custom pricing makes direct cost comparisons difficult
- Pricing details are marked low confidence
- Best for lead qualificationOlarkOlark
Olark starts at $29 and combines human handoff with AI, lead qualification through chat, and chat analysis alongside other data. That makes it a candidate for teams that need more than a basic website chat box. Its AI plan is listed at $400 per month, a steep step up; make sure the specific AI features justify that cost before committing.
What works
- AI answers using a business’s website and documentation
- Standard AI includes unlimited conversations
- No token limits or overages on Standard AI
What doesn't
- Standard AI costs $400/month billed annually
- Standard AI includes only one human agent seat
- Extra human seats cost $29 per agent monthly
- Best for WhatsApp and emailSuperchatSuperchat
Superchat starts at $79 and suits teams handling WhatsApp and email that also want CRM and messaging in one place. It has a free tier, but the published product notes describe that tier as tight. Useful AI features raise the price, so buyers should compare the paid configuration they actually need with less expensive shared inboxes.
What works
- Brings customer conversations into one shared inbox
- Includes CRM and recurring-task automations
- AI agent handles chat, email and phone
What doesn't
- Free plan allows just one employee and 30 active contacts
- Basic includes no AI agents
- AI agent access starts at €129/month annually
- Best for multilingual supportKindlyKindly
Kindly’s broad multichannel feature set may suit teams supporting customers across several channels and languages, particularly buyers comfortable with custom contracts. There is no public starting price in the published information, and there is no product-specific Reddit feedback to help check the pitch. Treat it as a shortlist option, then request itemized pricing before comparing it with published-price alternatives.
What works
- Supports chat, voice, in-app, Messenger and WhatsApp
- AI agents are listed for 100+ languages
- Uses verified business and customer data for responses
What doesn't
- Monthly and annual prices are not published
- Session volume is agreed upfront and fixed for the year
- No free plan is listed
- Best for voice automationVerloop.ioVerloop.io
Verloop.io targets enterprises automating voice and chat, serving multilingual customers, and needing agent assistance and audits. A free entry plan gives buyers a way to start, but enterprise costs are unclear. Teams should ask what is included at each level and how voice, automation and audit needs affect the quote before treating the free plan as a meaningful cost comparison.
What works
- Starter plan listed at $0 per month
- Automates inbound and outbound AI calls
- Supports omnichannel chats and 80+ languages
What doesn't
- Enterprise pricing is not published
- Starter is limited to 500 chats monthly
- Starter includes just one seat
- Best for large enterprisesLivePersonLivePerson
LivePerson is built for enterprises coordinating AI and human agents across voice and digital messaging, with conversation-data analysis also in scope. That breadth may fit organizations managing complex service operations, but the price is not published and product feedback is thin. Switching teams should get a detailed quote and confirm which channels and analysis features are included before evaluating total cost.
What works
- Simulates interactions to validate AI agents
- Coordinates AI and human agents across channels
- Supports digital messaging and voice integrations
What doesn't
- Bronze, Silver, and Gold prices are not published
- Plan inclusions are not listed
- Third-party messaging adds a 15% handling fee
- Best for premium sales teamsDriftDrift
Drift is aimed at sales teams qualifying high-intent web visitors, companies already using Salesloft workflows, and teams ready to budget for premium sales software. Its starting price is $2,500, or $30,000 a year according to the published product summary. That is difficult to justify for basic support chat; shortlist it only if its sales focus matches your workflow.
What works
- AI agents answer visitor questions in real time
- Preset questions support lead qualification
- Captures buyer intent for seller workflows
What doesn't
- Premium costs $30,000 yearly when billed annually
- Premium lists only one included seat
- Additional-seat pricing is not published
03How we chose
We prioritize published pricing and plan limits, then use product documentation to check what each vendor says is included. Reddit sentiment can add context about switching or support, but we treat individual posts as anecdotal, not proof of typical results. We do not claim hands-on testing, benchmarks, or screenshots. When a price, cap, or feature is not supported by the available sources, we mark it as not published rather than filling the gap with an estimate. The comparison covers the 15 tools named on this page.
04How to choose live chat software
There is no single best chat box for every business. Start with the conversations you need to handle: website inquiries, customer support, sales, or messaging across channels. Then compare the details that affect daily work: agent and conversation limits, supported channels, routing and automation, integrations, reporting, and how chat history is handled. Confirm each point in the vendor’s documentation; a feature name on a pricing page may not explain its limits.
Compare the total price for the team you expect to run, not just the cheapest advertised entry point. Check whether pricing is public, tied to usage, or requires a quote. Our covered options are LiveChat, Glia, Chaty, Drift, Kindly, tawk.to, Crisp, Wazzup, LivePerson, Chatwoot, Superchat, Callbell, Verloop.io, respond.io, and Olark. Pick a shortlist based on documented fit, not a generic “best” label.
05What to check before switching
Before replacing a chat tool, list the channels your team uses, who owns each conversation, and which records need to move. Ask vendors what can be imported, what requires manual work, and whether integrations you rely on are documented for the plan you are considering. Do not assume that a similar feature name means the same workflow or data access.
Build a cost comparison around your expected agents and message volume, using published plan limits where available. Add any required higher tier or quote-based service to the comparison; if the vendor does not publish a figure, mark it as not published instead of estimating. Check renewal terms and cancellation details directly with the vendor. Before committing, confirm the migration path and the limits that apply to your intended setup. This keeps a low headline price from standing in for a workable, documented fit.
Questions people ask
Which is the best chat box?
There is no universal winner. The right chat box depends on your channels, team size, required integrations, and budget. Compare documented features and plan limits for the tools on this page, and treat prices or capabilities that are not published as unknown—not as included.
What is the best app for live chat?
Choose by the conversations your team needs to manage and the limits that matter to your budget. LiveChat, Crisp, tawk.to, and the other tools covered here are candidates, not a ranking by themselves. Check current vendor pricing and documentation before switching.
What are the top 10 chat sites?
“Top” depends on whether you mean customer-support software or places to chat socially. This page covers business messaging tools, including LiveChat, Glia, Chaty, Drift, Kindly, tawk.to, Crisp, Wazzup, LivePerson, and Chatwoot, among others; it does not establish a universal top-ten ranking.
What are some 18+ live apps available?
That usually refers to adult live-streaming or dating apps, which is a different category from business live chat software. The tools covered here are presented as customer conversation products; the available information does not establish which, if any, are intended for adult content.