Best Live Chat Software in 2025

Live chat software has revolutionized customer service and sales, becoming one of the most preferred communication channels for online shoppers. According to recent studies, 41% of consumers prefer live chat over other support methods like email or phone calls, primarily due to its instant response capabilities.

Additionally, businesses using live chat experience 48% higher revenue per hour and a 40% increase in conversion rates, proving its effectiveness in driving sales.

The demand for real-time assistance is growing rapidly, with 44% of online shoppers stating that instant responses via live chat are the most crucial feature of a website. Furthermore, live chat has an 82% customer satisfaction rate, significantly higher than email (61%) or phone support (44%).

As companies increasingly adopt AI-powered chatbots, live chat tools are becoming more efficient, handling multiple queries simultaneously while reducing operational costs by up to 90% compared to traditional support methods.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best live chat software available in 2025, their key features, pricing, pros and cons, and how to choose the right solution for your business.

LiveChat

LiveChat is a robust, multichannel customer support platform that combines live chat, AI-powered automation, and advanced analytics. With over 37,000 customers worldwide, it’s one of the most trusted solutions for businesses looking to enhance real-time communication. The platform integrates seamlessly with major CRMs like Salesforce and offers omnichannel support, including Facebook Messenger, SMS, and Apple Business Chat. Its AI-powered copilot assists agents by suggesting responses, while detailed visitor tracking helps businesses optimize engagement strategies.

Pros:

✔ Highly customizable chat widgets

✔ AI-driven response suggestions

✔ Advanced visitor behavior tracking

✔ Strong CRM integrations

Cons:

✖ Expensive for small businesses

✖ Limited chatbot features without add-ons

✖ Mobile app lacks some desktop functionalities

Key Features:

AI-powered agent assistance
Multi-channel support (WhatsApp, SMS, social media)
Real-time visitor monitoring
Automated chat routing

Pricing:

Starter: $20/agent/month (100 visitor tracking)
Team: $41/agent/month (unlimited chat history)
Business: $59/agent/month (advanced reporting)
Enterprise: Custom pricing

Zendesk Chat

Zendesk Chat is a powerful live chat solution designed for enterprise-level customer support. Part of the Zendesk Suite, it offers intelligent routing, AI-driven chatbots, and deep CRM integrations, making it ideal for businesses handling high-volume inquiries. The platform excels in proactive engagement, triggering chats based on user behavior, and provides real-time analytics to optimize agent performance.

Pros:

✔ Seamless integration with Zendesk’s help desk

✔ AI-powered chatbots and automation

✔ Advanced visitor tracking

Cons:

✖ Steeper learning curve

✖ Higher pricing compared to standalone chat tools

Key Features:

AI-powered Answer Bot
Omnichannel support (email, social media, phone)
Customizable chat triggers

Pricing:

Suite Team: $55/agent/month
Suite Growth: $89/agent/month
Suite Professional: $115/agent/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing

Tidio

Tidio is a user-friendly live chat and chatbot platform perfect for small businesses and eCommerce stores. Its drag-and-drop chatbot builder allows non-technical users to create automated workflows without coding. The platform integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Facebook Messenger, making it ideal for sales and support automation.

Pros:

✔ Easy-to-use chatbot builder

✔ Affordable pricing

✔ Strong eCommerce integrations

Cons:

✖ Limited advanced features in lower tiers

✖ AI chatbot requires an additional subscription

Key Features:

Visual chatbot builder
Multichannel inbox (email, Messenger, live chat)
Automated abandoned cart recovery

Pricing:

Free: 50 chats/month
Starter: $29/month (100 chats)
Growth: $59/month (2,000 chats)
Plus: $749/month (custom limits)

tawk.to

tawk.to is a completely free live chat solution with unlimited agents and robust features. It includes a knowledge base, team collaboration tools, and mobile apps, making it ideal for startups and small businesses. The platform also offers paid upgrades for removing branding and hiring professional agents.

Pros:

✔ 100% free with unlimited agents

✔ Includes a built-in help center

✔ Mobile-friendly

Cons:

✖ Limited customization in the free version

✖ No AI chatbots without paid add-ons

Key Features:

Free forever plan
Multi-website dashboard
Team collaboration tools

Pricing:

Free plan: Unlimited agents
Remove branding: $29/month
AI Assist (Chatbot): From $29/month

Intercom

Intercom is a leading AI-powered live chat platform designed for sales and support teams. Its Fin AI chatbot handles FAQs, while the Messenger interface provides seamless customer interactions. The platform excels in proactive engagement, sending targeted messages based on user behavior.

Pros:

✔ Advanced AI chatbot (Fin)

✔ Omnichannel messaging (email, WhatsApp, SMS)

✔ Strong automation capabilities

Cons:

✖ Expensive for small businesses

✖ AI features require additional payment

Key Features:

AI-driven chatbots
Unified inbox for all customer messages
Customizable chat triggers

Pricing:

Essential: $29/seat/month
Advanced: $85/seat/month
Expert: $132/seat/month

JivoChat

JivoChat is a unified communication platform that combines live chat, phone calls, email, and social media messaging into a single dashboard. It’s particularly popular among eCommerce businesses due to its deep integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Facebook. JivoChat also offers AI-powered chatbots, CRM features, and real-time visitor analytics. With mobile apps for iOS and Android, agents can respond to inquiries on the go, ensuring 24/7 customer support.

Pros:

✔ Multichannel support (WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram)

✔ Built-in CRM for lead management

✔ Free plan available

✔ Mobile-friendly

Cons:

✖ Limited automation in the free version

✖ Advanced AI features require paid upgrades

Key Features:

Unified inbox for all communication channels
AI chatbots for automated responses
Real-time visitor tracking
CRM integration

Pricing:

Free Plan: Basic live chat features
Professional: $19/month per agent (includes CRM & automation)
Enterprise: Custom pricing (omnichannel support & API access)

Pure Chat

Pure Chat is a simple yet powerful live chat tool designed for small businesses and startups. It offers real-time visitor monitoring, canned responses, and chat transcripts, making it easy to manage customer inquiries efficiently. The platform integrates with Google Analytics, Zapier, and Slack, allowing businesses to streamline workflows. Pure Chat also supports proactive chat triggers, enabling agents to engage visitors based on their behavior.

Pros:

✔ Affordable pricing

✔ Easy-to-use interface

✔ Unlimited chats on all plans

Cons:

✖ Limited AI capabilities

✖ No built-in CRM

Key Features:

Proactive chat invitations
Customizable chat widget
Chat routing & canned responses

Pricing:

Free Plan: 15 chats/month
Starter: $15/month (unlimited chats)
Pro: $39/month (advanced reporting & integrations)

LiveAgent

LiveAgent is an all-in-one customer support platform that includes live chat, email ticketing, and a call center. It’s ideal for businesses needing omnichannel support with features like video calls, social media integration, and a knowledge base. LiveAgent’s AI-powered chatbots handle routine queries, while its gamification tools (badges, performance stats) motivate agents.

Pros:

✔ 200+ integrations (Slack, Shopify, WordPress)

✔ Built-in help desk & ticketing system

✔ Video chat support

Cons:

✖ Steeper learning curve

✖ Higher pricing for advanced features

Key Features:

Unified customer communication dashboard
AI chatbots & automation
Real-time visitor monitoring

Pricing:

Free Plan: Limited features
Ticket + Chat: $9/month (basic support)
All-Inclusive: $39/month (full omnichannel support)

Chatify

Chatify is a budget-friendly live chat solution with AI-powered automation. It offers multilingual support, chatbot scripting, and CRM integration, making it suitable for global businesses. The platform stands out for its voice-to-text capabilities, allowing agents to respond via speech. Chatrify also provides detailed analytics to track chat performance and customer satisfaction.

Pros:

✔ Affordable AI chatbots

✔ Voice-to-text responses

✔ Multilingual chat widgets

Cons:

✖ Limited third-party integrations

✖ No free plan

Key Features:

AI-driven chatbots
Voice & text chat support
Real-time analytics

Pricing:

Starter: $29/month (1,000 chats)
Business: $99/month (10,000 chats)
Enterprise: Custom pricing

Crisp

Crisp is a shared inbox live chat tool with team collaboration features. It centralizes conversations from email, WhatsApp, Messenger, and live chat into one dashboard. Crisp’s AI chatbot handles FAQs, while its knowledge base builder reduces repetitive queries. The platform is ideal for startups and SMBs looking for scalable, multichannel support.

Pros:

✔ Unified inbox for all messages

✔ Built-in knowledge base

✔ Free plan available

Cons:

✖ Limited automation in free tier

✖ No phone support

Key Features:

Shared team inbox
AI chatbot & automation
CRM integrations

Pricing:

Free Plan: Basic features
Pro: $25/month (4 seats)
Unlimited: $395/month (unlimited agents)

Which Live Chat Tool is Right for You?

1. What’s your primary goal for live chat?

Customer support → Zendesk Chat
Sales & lead generation → LiveChat
E-commerce automation → Tidio
Free solution for startups → tawk.to

2. What’s your budget?

Free → tawk.to
Under $50/month → Brevo Conversations
50–100/month → Intercom
Enterprise-level ($100+) → Salesforce Service Cloud

3. Do you need AI chatbots?

Yes, advanced AI → Intercom (Fin AI Agent)
Basic automation → Tidio
No, human agents only → Pure Chat
Hybrid (AI + human) → LiveAgent

4. Which integrations are crucial?

CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot) → LiveChat
E-commerce (Shopify, WooCommerce) → JivoChat
Social media (Facebook, WhatsApp) → Crisp
Basic website chat only → Olark

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What’s the best free live chat software?

A: tawk.to offers a completely free plan with unlimited agents and basic features.

Q: Which tool is best for eCommerce?

A: Tidio excels with Shopify/WooCommerce integrations and abandoned cart recovery.

Q: Does Zendesk Chat include AI chatbots?

A: Yes, Zendesk’s Answer Bot provides AI-powered automated responses.

Conclusion

Choosing the best live chat software depends on your business needs, budget, and desired features. LiveChat and Zendesk are ideal for large teams, Tidio for eCommerce, and tawk.to for budget-conscious businesses. AI-driven tools like Intercom and ChatSimple offer advanced automation, while JivoChat and Crisp provide omnichannel support.

Ready to boost customer engagement? Try LiveChat, Tidio, or tawk.to today and transform your customer support experience!

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