Live chat converts website visitors at 3-5x the rate of email forms. But dedicated chat software can cost $20-50 per agent per month. Here are the cheapest options that still deliver a professional experience.
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1. Tawk.to - $0 (Forever Free)
Tawk.to $0 - Completely Free
Tawk.to is 100% free live chat with unlimited agents, unlimited chats, and unlimited history. There is no paid tier for chat functionality. They monetize by offering hired chat agents ($1/hour) if you need them.
- Free forever: Unlimited agents, chats, history, websites
- Features: Chat widget, ticketing, knowledge base, video+voice chat
- Paid option: Remove Tawk.to branding at $29/mo (optional)
2. HubSpot Live Chat - $0
HubSpot Chat $0
HubSpot's free CRM includes live chat and a basic chatbot. If you already use HubSpot, the chat widget integrates seamlessly with your contact database. Conversations are stored as CRM activities.
- Free: Live chat, basic chatbot, shared inbox
- CRM integration: Every chat becomes a contact activity
- Branding: Remove HubSpot branding on Starter plan ($20/mo flat)
3. Crisp - $0 (2 Agents)
Crisp $0 - $25/mo
Crisp's free plan supports 2 agents with live chat, a shared inbox, and basic chatbot flows. The Pro plan at $25/month adds unlimited history, audio messages, and triggers. One of the cleanest chat UIs available.
- Free: 2 agents, live chat, shared inbox
- Pro: $25/mo (flat) - unlimited history, triggers, audio
4. Tidio - $0 (50 Conversations)
Tidio $0 - $19/mo
Tidio's free plan includes live chat for 50 unique conversations per month. The Starter plan at $19/mo raises the limit to 100 conversations and adds basic analytics. Includes an AI chatbot (Lyro) for automated responses.
- Free: 50 conversations/month, live chat, email integration
- Starter: $19/mo - 100 conversations, analytics, live visitors
- AI chatbot: Lyro AI included on all plans (50 free conversations)
5. LiveChat - $20/Agent
LiveChat $20/agent/mo
LiveChat is the premium option here at $20/agent/month. It is the most polished chat experience with rich media support, file sharing, canned responses, and detailed analytics. The 14-day free trial lets you evaluate before committing.
- Starter: $20/agent/mo - 60-day chat history, ticketing
- Team: $41/agent/mo - unlimited history, advanced reporting
Pricing Comparison
| Chat Tool | Monthly Cost | Free Agents | AI Chatbot | Branding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tawk.to | $0 | Unlimited | Basic | $29 to remove |
| HubSpot | $0 | Unlimited | Basic | $20 to remove |
| Crisp | $0 | 2 | Flows | Free |
| Tidio | $0 | Unlimited | Lyro AI | $19 to remove |
| LiveChat | $20/agent | Trial | Add-on | None |
Bottom Line
Tawk.to is the clear winner - completely free with unlimited everything. If you are already on HubSpot, their free live chat integrates with your CRM automatically. For a more modern UI, Crisp's free plan for 2 agents is clean and capable. Only consider LiveChat at $20/agent if you need premium analytics and reporting.
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