Freshchat vs LiveChat: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Freshchat
Conversational messaging platform by Freshworks with AI bots, omnichannel support, and a free plan for 100 agents.
LiveChat
8.2(8,900 reviews)
Dedicated live chat platform for customer support with ticketing, canned responses, and rich messaging from $20/agent/mo.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Freshchat | LiveChat |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Teams wanting free live chat for large agent groups | Support teams of 3-20 agents who want a focused, reliable chat tool without platform bloat |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Free | $20/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID, MAC, WINDOWS |
| Rating | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 |
Pros & Cons
Freshchat
Pros
- Free plan for up to 100 agents is unmatched in the market
- Freddy AI bot builder requires no coding and handles common queries well
- Omnichannel messaging across WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and more
- Campaign messaging lets you proactively reach users based on behavior
- Tight integration with Freshdesk and the broader Freshworks suite
Cons
- Standalone functionality is limited compared to Intercom or Drift
- Advanced bot triggers require technical configuration
- Reporting doesn't match the depth of dedicated analytics tools
- Email ticketing requires Freshdesk as a separate product
- Free plan strips out canned responses, integrations, and analytics
LiveChat
Pros
- Dead simple setup — install the widget and start chatting within 15 minutes, no technical skills required
- Agent dashboard is clean and fast with sneak peek typing preview that cuts response times
- Staffing prediction feature helps managers schedule the right number of agents per shift
- Multi-channel support pulls website, WhatsApp, Messenger, and email into one unified queue
- Reliable uptime and performance — the company has 20+ years of experience doing this one thing well
Cons
- AI chatbot requires separate ChatBot subscription starting at $52/month — not built in
- Knowledge base is another separate product (KnowledgeBase) with its own pricing
- Starter plan limits chat history to 60 days, which is frustratingly short
- No built-in help desk comparable to Intercom or Zendesk — strictly a chat tool
- Per-agent pricing adds up quickly for larger teams compared to flat-rate alternatives
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freshchat | freemium | Free0 |
| LiveChat | subscription | $20/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Freshchat if...
Teams wanting free live chat for large agent groups
Choose LiveChat if...
Support teams of 3-20 agents who want a focused, reliable chat tool without platform bloat
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.