LiveChat vs Crisp: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
LiveChat
8.2(8,900 reviews)
Dedicated live chat platform for customer support with ticketing, canned responses, and rich messaging from $20/agent/mo.
Crisp
8.0(920 reviews)
Business messaging platform for startups and SMBs with live chat, shared inbox, chatbot, and a generous free plan.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | LiveChat | Crisp |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Support teams of 3-20 agents who want a focused, reliable chat tool without platform bloat | Startups and indie hackers needing a free messaging solution |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $20/mo | Free |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID, MAC, WINDOWS | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
Pros & Cons
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
Crisp
Pros
- Free plan includes 2 seats, live chat, and shared inbox — no time limit
- Per-workspace pricing instead of per-agent means predictable costs as you grow
- MagicBrowse co-browsing and video calls are rare at this price point
- Supports 12+ messaging channels including WhatsApp, Telegram, and SMS
- Status page feature eliminates the need for a separate uptime monitoring tool
- Clean, modern UI that takes minutes to set up
Cons
- Chatbot capabilities are basic compared to Intercom or Tidio
- Reporting and analytics are limited, especially on lower plans
- No phone/voice channel support
- Small company (11-50 employees) means support response times can vary
- Advanced routing rules only available on the Unlimited plan ($95/month)
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| LiveChat | subscription | $20/mo |
| Crisp | freemium | Free0 |
Our Verdict
Choose LiveChat if...
Support teams of 3-20 agents who want a focused, reliable chat tool without platform bloat
Choose Crisp if...
Startups and indie hackers needing a free messaging solution
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.