Softabase

LiveChat vs HubSpot Chat: Complete Comparison 2026

An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.

LiveChat logo

LiveChat

8.2(8,900 reviews)

Dedicated live chat platform for customer support with ticketing, canned responses, and rich messaging from $20/agent/mo.

HubSpot Chat logo

HubSpot Chat

7.6(8,900 reviews)

Free live chat built into HubSpot CRM with chatbot builder, meeting scheduler, and automatic contact creation for sales and support teams.

Quick Comparison

AspectLiveChatHubSpot Chat
Best ForSupport teams of 3-20 agents who want a focused, reliable chat tool without platform bloatB2B SaaS companies already using HubSpot CRM that want chat-to-CRM lead capture without extra cost
Pricing ModelSubscriptionFreemium
Starting Price$20/moFree
Deploymentcloudcloud
PlatformsWEB, IOS, ANDROID, MAC, WINDOWSWEB, IOS, ANDROID
Rating8.2/107.6/10

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

HubSpot Chat

Pros

  • Free chat that automatically creates and updates CRM contacts — no manual data entry between chat and CRM
  • Chatbot builder with drag-and-drop lead qualification and calendar meeting booking works without code
  • Full CRM context during chat shows company info, deal stage, previous interactions, and marketing activity
  • Massive ecosystem of 1,500+ integrations through the HubSpot marketplace extends chat capabilities
  • Setup takes under 10 minutes for existing HubSpot users with zero technical knowledge required

Cons

  • Not a dedicated support tool — no ticketing, no SLAs, no omnichannel messaging in the free plan
  • Conversation routing is basic with only round-robin or manual assignment on free and Starter plans
  • HubSpot branding on the widget requires a paid subscription to remove
  • Widget customization is limited compared to Intercom or LiveChat
  • High-volume support operations (100+ daily conversations) will outgrow chat features quickly

Pricing Comparison

ProductPricing ModelStarting Price
LiveChatsubscription$20/mo
HubSpot ChatfreemiumFree0

Our Verdict

Choose LiveChat if...

Support teams of 3-20 agents who want a focused, reliable chat tool without platform bloat

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Choose HubSpot Chat if...

B2B SaaS companies already using HubSpot CRM that want chat-to-CRM lead capture without extra cost

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Still Not Sure?

Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.