TL;DR: Tidio fits small sites that want free live chat with a published paid upgrade. Intercom fits product-led teams that need messaging plus help desk features (quote or published starter). Zendesk Chat fits support teams already in the Zendesk ecosystem. Order is not a quality ranking.
A live chat software tool provides real-time website messaging, chatbots and handoff to human agents. This comparison covers options with public pricing where available.
Every entry uses the same fields. The order below is not a quality ranking. Free and published-price options appear first.
Live chat software compared at a glance
| Provider | Published pricing | Free limit | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidio | Free plan; paid from published starter rates | Free conversations and chatbot limits | Small business websites | Visit β |
| Crisp | Free; Pro published rates | Free for basic use | Startups wanting shared inbox + chat | Visit β |
| Intercom | Starter published or quote depending on suite | Limited free or trial | Product messaging + support | Visit β |
Packaging was read on 16 September 2026. Always confirm current conversation and seat limits on the live pages.
The 3 providers in detail
1. Tidio
Best for: Small websites that need a free live chat widget with upgrade path to paid features.
| Published pricing | Free + paid tiers |
| Main limitation | Conversation and visitor caps on free |
- Free plan available for basic live chat and chatbot.
- Published paid plans for higher volume.
- Easy embed for marketing sites.
2. Crisp
Best for: Teams that want a shared inbox plus live chat with a free starting point.
| Published pricing | Free; Pro published |
| Main limitation | Advanced automation on paid |
- Free plan covers core messaging.
- Shared team inbox model.
- Published Pro rates for growth.
3. Intercom
Best for: Product and support teams that need messaging, bots and help-center features in one platform.
| Published pricing | Starter or suite pricing; higher tiers often quote |
| Main limitation | Full value often requires higher suite |
- Strong product-led messaging focus.
- Combines chat with customer data and automation.
- Pricing structure mixes published starters and custom.
Kurums Match
Start with Tidio or Crisp free for simple website chat. Move to Intercom when product messaging and richer data become the priority.
Buying tip: Count monthly conversations and concurrent agents before choosing a paid plan; free tiers usually cap one or both.
How this comparison was put together: Official pricing pages checked 16 September 2026. Order follows free / published price rule. No quality ranking.
FAQ
Do free live chat plans support multiple agents?
Most free plans limit concurrent agents or conversation volume. Check the current free-plan limits on each providerβs pricing page.
Related: Best Help Desk Software in 2026 Β· Best AI Customer Service Software in 2026
Last checked: 16 September 2026.
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