LiveChat vs Freshchat: 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.
Freshchat
Conversational messaging platform by Freshworks with AI bots, omnichannel support, and a free plan for 100 agents.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | LiveChat | Freshchat |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Support teams of 3-20 agents who want a focused, reliable chat tool without platform bloat | Teams wanting free live chat for large agent groups |
| 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 | 7.8/10 |
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
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
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| LiveChat | subscription | $20/mo |
| Freshchat | freemium | Free0 |
Our Verdict
Choose LiveChat if...
Support teams of 3-20 agents who want a focused, reliable chat tool without platform bloat
Choose Freshchat if...
Teams wanting free live chat for large agent groups
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.