10 Best Live Chat Software of 2026

1. 1

   Tidio

   A live chat widget, help desk and Lyro AI agent built for small online stores and service websites.

   9.0overall

   A live chat widget, help desk and Lyro AI agent built for small online stores and service websites.

   Best forsmall online stores that want a free chat widget with an AI agent upgrade

   Adoption data

   300,000+Tidio says on its home page that more than 300,000 businesses use its customer service software.

   Tidio, Tidio home page (2026): “Trusted by 300,000+ businesses”

   Tidio is built for the site owner who wants a chat bubble on the page today and a path to automation later. The Free plan covers live chat and ticketing, and the 7-day trial of paid features falls back to Free rather than locking the account. Starter costs $24.17 per month billed annually and includes 100 billable conversations, a live visitors list, operating hours and 50 one-off Lyro AI Agent conversations. Growth starts at $49.17 and adds automatic chat assignment, live typing preview and viewed pages history, which matter for sales chat on product pages. Flows, Tidio's no-code automation for lead capture and quote requests, and the Lyro AI Agent are sold as add-ons or standalone products, so the bill depends on volume rather than seats. Tidio says more than 300,000 businesses use it, the largest count from a dedicated chat vendor on this list. The tradeoff is the conversation cap: a high-traffic store will outgrow Starter fast and should price Growth and Plus before committing.

   Strengths

   • +Largest published business count among dedicated chat vendors here, 300,000+
   • +Free plan stays active after the 7-day trial ends
   • +Priced by conversations, not by seats, on Starter and Growth

   Limitations

   • −Billable conversation caps mean busy sites move up tiers quickly
   • −Lyro AI is metered separately from human conversations
   • −Plus starts at $300 per month plus usage

   SummaryTidio is the best live chat software for small online stores because it pairs a permanent Free plan with a $24.17 Starter plan and a 300,000+ business base. Busy sites should model conversation caps before choosing a tier.

2. 2

   tawk.to

   A free live chat platform funded by optional paid add-ons such as branding removal, AI Assist and hired chat agents.

   8.9overall

   A free live chat platform funded by optional paid add-ons such as branding removal, AI Assist and hired chat agents.

   Best forbudget sites that need unlimited human chat at no cost

   Adoption data

   three billiontawk.to says more than three billion people interact through its widget every month.

   tawk.to, tawk.to home page (2026): “Over three billion people interact via tawk.to every month.”

   tawk.to inverts the usual pricing model: the live chat software is free for life and the company earns money from optional services. Keeping the small "Powered by tawk.to" credit costs nothing, and removing it costs $29 per month. AI Assist, a chatbot that answers from your knowledge base and a set of shortcut FAQs, starts at $29 per month, and tawk.to will staff chat with trained human agents for $1 per hour if you cannot cover the widget yourself. That makes it the cheapest way on this list to put a person behind the chat bubble around the clock. tawk.to says more than three billion people interact through its widget every month, the widest reach claim here, though it does not publish a customer count in plain text. The product is lighter on sales automation, proactive campaigns and analytics than paid suites, so conversion-focused teams with a budget may get more from Tidio or LiveChat.

   Strengths

   • +The core chat product costs nothing, with no seat fee
   • +Paid add-ons are published in USD on one page
   • +Option to outsource chat coverage at $1 per hour

   Limitations

   • −Free widget shows tawk.to branding
   • −AI Assist is an add-on rather than part of the free plan
   • −Fewer native sales automation tools than Intercom or LiveChat

   Summarytawk.to is the best free live chat software for budget sites because unlimited chat costs nothing and branding removal is $29 per month. Teams that need deep sales automation should look at paid suites.

3. 3

   Freshchat

   Freshworks' messaging and live chat product for web, mobile apps, social messengers and SMS.

   8.6overall

   Freshworks' messaging and live chat product for web, mobile apps, social messengers and SMS.

   Best forsupport teams that want a free plan for up to 10 agents

   Adoption data

   75,000Freshworks states on its investor relations site that nearly 75,000 companies use its service software; the figure covers more than Freshchat.

   Freshworks, Freshworks Investor Relations (2026): “Nearly 75,000 companies trust Freshworks to improve service efficiency and fuel long-term loyalty.”

   Freshchat is the strongest free option for a team rather than a solo owner: the Free plan covers up to 10 agents with a chat widget for web and mobile apps, a shared inbox, connected email and roles and permissions. Growth costs $19 per agent per month billed annually and adds social media messengers, text messaging and reporting dashboards, plus access to the Freddy AI Agent at $49 per 100 sessions. Pro at $49 per agent adds multilingual conversations, custom dashboards and intelligent routing, which matter once chat traffic spans regions. Day passes at $2 let occasional staff join busy periods without a full seat. Freshworks says nearly 75,000 companies trust its service software, a figure that includes Freshdesk and other products, so we read it as platform adoption. The weak spot for conversion-focused sites is that proactive sales features are lighter than in LiveChat or Intercom, and AI costs scale with sessions.

   Strengths

   • +Most generous free seat count here, up to 10 agents
   • +Low $19 entry price for omnichannel messaging
   • +Part of a wider Freshworks suite for tickets and CRM

   Limitations

   • −AI sessions are billed on top of seats
   • −Multilingual chat and routing need the $49 Pro plan
   • −Adoption figure covers all Freshworks service products

   SummaryFreshchat is the best free live chat software for teams because its Free plan covers up to 10 agents and Growth costs $19 per agent. AI sessions add $49 per 100 on top.

4. 4

   HubSpot Live Chat

   Free live chat inside HubSpot's CRM, with paid Service Hub and Sales Hub tiers for automation and help desk.

   8.5overall

   Free live chat inside HubSpot's CRM, with paid Service Hub and Sales Hub tiers for automation and help desk.

   Best forteams that want chat leads to land straight in a CRM

   Adoption data

   306,000HubSpot lists 306,000 customers on its company page; the figure covers all HubSpot products, not live chat alone.

   HubSpot, HubSpot Our Story (2026): “306,000 Customers”

   HubSpot's live chat makes most sense when the goal of the chat bubble is a qualified lead in a CRM. Chat is available on HubSpot's free CRM, and every conversation attaches to a contact record that marketing and sales can act on. The free Service Hub tier covers up to 2 users; Starter adds email and in-app chat support plus simple AI agents and automation, and Professional adds a full help desk and a customer agent that answers questions across channels. HubSpot lists 306,000 customers, the largest base on this list, though the figure spans every HubSpot product. Our pricing check returned non-USD prices, so we mark the price as pending and score value conservatively. Teams that only need a chat widget will pay less elsewhere; teams already on HubSpot, or planning to be, get the tightest link between chat and pipeline.

   Strengths

   • +Chat history and contact data live in one CRM
   • +Free entry point with no card required
   • +Largest published customer base on this list, 306,000

   Limitations

   • −USD prices could not be confirmed from our location, so value is scored conservatively
   • −Professional tier is a large step up in price
   • −Customer count covers all HubSpot products

   SummaryHubSpot Live Chat is the best choice for teams that want chat leads in a CRM because chat runs on HubSpot's free CRM with 306,000 customers behind the platform. Check US prices on HubSpot's site before upgrading.

5. 5

   Intercom

   A Messenger live chat and help desk paired with the Fin AI Agent, billed per seat plus per resolved outcome.

   8.3overall

   A Messenger live chat and help desk paired with the Fin AI Agent, billed per seat plus per resolved outcome.

   Best forSaaS companies that want chat, help desk and AI in one product

   Adoption data

   30,000Intercom says on its about page that more than 30,000 companies use its products.

   Intercom, About Intercom (2026): “30,000 + companies use our products.”

   Intercom is the most complete product on this list for a company that wants live chat to grow into a full support and AI operation. The Essential plan bundles Messenger live chat, a shared inbox, ticketing, pre-built reports and a public help center for $19 per seat per month billed annually for new customers, down from a $29 list price. The Fin AI Agent is available on every plan at $0.99 per outcome, so automation is billed only when it resolves a conversation. Advanced at $85 per seat adds a workflow automation builder, multiple team inboxes, round robin assignment and 20 free Lite seats, and Expert at $132 adds collaboration and security features. Startups under $10M raised with 15 or fewer employees can apply for the Early Stage program. Intercom says more than 30,000 companies use its products. The drawback is cost growth: there is no free plan, and seats plus outcomes add up for large teams.

   Strengths

   • +Deepest feature set here, from chat to AI resolution
   • +Clear published per-outcome AI price
   • +Essential discounted to $19 per seat for new customers

   Limitations

   • −No permanent free plan
   • −Seat and outcome charges stack
   • −Advanced jumps to $85 per seat

   SummaryIntercom is the best live chat software for SaaS companies because Messenger chat, help desk and the $0.99 Fin AI Agent share one product from $19 per seat. Teams on a tight budget should start with Tidio or Freshchat.

6. 6

   Zendesk

   A service platform whose Suite plans add messaging, live chat, AI agents and telephony to Zendesk ticketing.

   8.3overall

   A service platform whose Suite plans add messaging, live chat, AI agents and telephony to Zendesk ticketing.

   Best forsupport organizations that want chat inside a full ticketing suite

   Adoption data

   80,000+Zendesk says on its company page that more than 80,000 companies choose it for AI customer service.

   Zendesk, Zendesk company overview (2026): “See why 80,000+ companies choose Zendesk for AI service”

   Zendesk fits teams for whom live chat is one channel among many. Messaging and live chat are part of the Suite plans, starting with Suite Team at $55 per agent per month paid yearly, which also includes AI Agents, an AI Knowledge Base, the AI Action Builder, omnichannel routing and telephony. The cheaper Support Team plan at $19 covers email and ticketing only, so a site that wants chat should budget from $55. Suite Professional at $115 adds skills-based routing, an IVR phone tree and AI writing tools, and Copilot is a $50 per agent add-on. Zendesk says more than 80,000 companies choose it for AI service, the strongest product-specific count among help desks here. For a small site that only wants to convert visitors, the per-agent price is high compared with Tidio, LiveChat or Freshchat; for a support organization consolidating channels, the suite is hard to beat.

   Strengths

   • +Second-largest published customer count here, 80,000+
   • +Chat, email, phone and AI in one routed queue
   • +Mature reporting and admin controls

   Limitations

   • −Live chat is not in the $19 Support Team plan
   • −Highest entry price for chat on this list at $55
   • −No permanent free plan

   SummaryZendesk is the best live chat software for multichannel support teams because Suite Team bundles chat, AI agents and telephony at $55 per agent. Small sites will find cheaper chat-only tools.

7. 7

   LiveChat

   A live chat product from Text built around selling through chat, with Shopify selling, proactive campaigns and an AI Agent.

   8.2overall

   A live chat product from Text built around selling through chat, with Shopify selling, proactive campaigns and an AI Agent.

   Best foronline sellers that want chat built for sales conversions

   Adoption data

   30,000+Text, the company behind LiveChat, HelpDesk and ChatBot, says its products are used by more than 30,000 customers.

   Text, LiveChat pricing (2026): “products used by 30,000+ customers worldwide”

   LiveChat, now made by Text, is the most sales-minded product on this list. The Essential plan at $19 per user per month billed annually includes an omnichannel inbox, ticketing, selling through Shopify, 3 proactive campaigns, 50 live visitors tracked, workflow automation and one AI Agent with 10 AI resolutions. Growth at $79 per user adds chat supervision and takeover, shared canned responses, unlimited chat history, 400 live visitors tracked and 30 proactive campaigns, the features a sales chat team uses to reach shoppers before they leave. Text says its LiveChat, HelpDesk and ChatBot products are used by more than 30,000 customers. The gap between Essential and Growth is large, and the 50-visitor tracking cap on Essential limits proactive outreach on busy sites. Sellers who plan to staff chat to close sales get more conversion tooling here than in free tools.

   Strengths

   • +Sales-focused features such as proactive campaigns and Shopify selling
   • +Clear per-user pricing from $19
   • +Published case studies with revenue figures

   Limitations

   • −No permanent free plan
   • −Essential caps live visitor tracking at 50
   • −Growth jumps to $79 per user

   SummaryLiveChat is the best live chat software for online sellers because Essential includes Shopify selling and proactive campaigns from $19 per user. Busy sites will need the $79 Growth plan for full visitor tracking.

8. 8

   Crisp

   A chat widget, shared inbox and AI agent priced per workspace rather than per seat.

   8.0overall

   A chat widget, shared inbox and AI agent priced per workspace rather than per seat.

   Best forsmall teams that want flat workspace pricing instead of seats

   Adoption data

   10,000Crisp says on its pricing page that 10,000 companies use it.

   Crisp, Crisp pricing (2026): “Trusted by 10,000 companies worldwide”

   Crisp prices by workspace, which changes the math for teams with several part-time chat agents. The Free plan includes a website chat widget and 2 seats. Mini costs $45 per month per workspace and includes 4 seats, a shared email inbox, shortcuts, chat triggers based on visitor behavior and $5 in AI credits, around 90 automated conversations. Essentials at $95 raises that to 10 seats, adds customer data management, an omnichannel inbox for WhatsApp Business, Instagram DMs and SMS, and $25 in AI credits. Plus at $295 adds the AI-first support suite with 20+ seats and task automations. A four-person team on Mini pays about $11 per person, below most per-seat tools here. Crisp says 10,000 companies use it, a smaller base than the leaders, which is why it ranks lower on adoption. Teams that need more AI volume should check credit limits before choosing a plan.

   Strengths

   • +Flat workspace pricing keeps costs predictable as seats grow
   • +Free plan with 2 seats
   • +WhatsApp, Instagram and SMS on Essentials

   Limitations

   • −Smallest published customer count among the top eight, 10,000
   • −AI credits are capped per plan
   • −Omnichannel inbox needs the $95 Essentials plan

   SummaryCrisp is the best live chat software for small teams that dislike per-seat pricing because Mini covers 4 seats for $45 per month. AI-heavy teams should check credit limits first.

9. 9

   LiveAgent

   A help desk from Quality Unit that combines live chat, email, phone and social messages in one ticket inbox.

   7.8overall

   A help desk from Quality Unit that combines live chat, email, phone and social messages in one ticket inbox.

   Best forsmall teams that want chat plus phone and email at a low seat price

   Adoption data

   7,000LiveAgent says more than 7,000 businesses use its help desk.

   Quality Unit, LiveAgent home page (2026): “More than 7,000 businesses use LiveAgent, made by Quality Unit since 2004.”

   LiveAgent is a low-cost help desk that treats live chat as one channel in a shared ticket inbox. The Starter plan's regular price is $15 per agent per month billed annually, for up to 5 agents, and covers email, live chat, contact forms and a knowledge base. Team at $29 per agent adds Facebook, Instagram, X and phone, which few chat-first tools include at that price. LiveAgent does not charge for AI: you connect your own AI provider, pay it directly, and every AI feature, including answer drafts and an AI chatbot, is included in the plan. The 30-day free trial is the longest on this list. LiveAgent says more than 7,000 businesses use it, so its adoption score is lower than the leaders. It is less focused on proactive sales chat than LiveChat, but it suits a small support team that wants chat, phone and email together for a modest seat price.

   Strengths

   • +Lowest regular per-agent price among paid tools here, $15
   • +AI usage billed by your provider with no markup
   • +Phone support included from the Team plan

   Limitations

   • −Starter is limited to 5 agents
   • −Smaller published customer base, 7,000+
   • −Requires a separate AI provider account for AI features

   SummaryLiveAgent is the best low-cost choice for small teams that need chat, email and phone together because Starter costs $15 per agent. Sales-focused sites will find more conversion tools in LiveChat.

10. 10

    Olark

    A long-running live chat tool with a flat-priced AI Website Agent for answering and qualifying visitors.

    7.3overall

    A long-running live chat tool with a flat-priced AI Website Agent for answering and qualifying visitors.

    Best forsales teams that want unlimited AI chat at a flat monthly price

    Adoption data

    12,000+Olark says on its pricing page that more than 12,000 businesses have used it since 2009.

    Olark, Olark pricing (2026): “Trusted by 12,000+ businesses since 2009.”

    Olark has offered live chat since 2009 and now sells two simple options. Live Chat without AI costs $29 per agent per month. The Standard AI Website Agent costs $400 per month billed annually and gives unlimited AI conversations with no token costs or overages, plus one human agent seat; extra human agents cost $29 each. The AI agent answers visitor questions, updates its FAQ knowledge automatically, captures and qualifies leads and engages visitors proactively. Olark says more than 12,000 businesses have trusted it since 2009. The flat model suits high-traffic sales sites that want AI on every page without watching a usage meter, but $400 per month is steep for a small site, and the product covers fewer channels than Zendesk, Freshchat or Crisp. Sites that only need human chat get similar coverage for less from LiveAgent or tawk.to.

    Strengths

    • +No token or usage fees on the AI agent
    • +Predictable flat price for unlimited AI conversations
    • +Long track record, in business since 2009

    Limitations

    • −AI agent costs $400 per month, high for small sites
    • −No free plan
    • −Fewer channels than omnichannel suites

    SummaryOlark is the best choice for high-traffic sales sites that want unlimited AI chat because its AI Website Agent is a flat $400 per month with no usage fees. Small sites will pay less elsewhere.

Questions or corrections: editorial@statlyst.com · Disclosure