These best free live chat software for customer service balance ease of use, features, and user feedback.
Each section notes key strengths, free plan limits, setup tips, and who should try it first.
Tawk.to: Unlimited Free Chats with No Limits
Tawk.to offers unlimited agents and chats on its free plan, plus mobile apps and visitor tracking. It is simple to embed, with a WordPress plugin for quick setup. Pros include a forever-free model and fast onboarding. Cons are basic reporting and fewer advanced workflows. Best for small teams that want a reliable, free chat right away. Setup tip: install the plugin, add a short welcome message, and set business hours so customers know when you reply.
Tidio: AI-Powered Chatbots for Smarter Replies
Tidio’s free plan includes 100 chats per month, chatbot templates, and email integration. Its visual bot builder helps automate common questions, which saves time during rush hours. Pros include friendly design and ready-to-use flows. Cons include a tight chat limit on the free plan. Ideal for e-commerce stores that need quick bot coverage for FAQs. Setup tip: start with a simple shipping bot, then add product FAQ flows as you learn new questions.
HubSpot Live Chat: Seamless CRM Integration
HubSpot Live Chat sits inside the free HubSpot CRM, so chats feed into contact records and pipelines. You get lead capture, team routing, and analytics. Pros include no extra cost if you already use HubSpot and strong reporting out of the box. Cons include the need to create a HubSpot account and live in its ecosystem. Great for growing businesses that track leads and sales closely. Setup tip: add a meeting link or knowledge base article to your welcome message.
JivoChat: Multi-Channel Support in One Place
JivoChat’s free plan supports one operator, with WhatsApp, Facebook, and website chat in a single inbox. You can send files, use canned responses, and get mobile alerts. Pros are unified channels and solid mobile apps. Cons are the single user limit on free. Suited for solopreneurs who manage social DMs and site chats alone. Setup tip: connect Facebook and WhatsApp early so you do not miss messages coming from different places.
Crisp: Modern Interface with Visitor Insights
Crisp gives three users on its free plan, with live typing preview and visitor segmentation. The interface is clean, fast, and privacy focused. Pros include a modern feel and helpful context during chats. Cons include advanced features, like full automation, behind paid tiers. Perfect for small teams that want an intuitive inbox. Setup tip: add a short pre-chat form for email capture so you can follow up if someone drops off.
Smartsupp: Offline Messages and Video Calls
Smartsupp offers unlimited chats on the free plan, chat history, and canned responses. It also supports video and voice calls, which adds a personal touch for service-heavy sites. Pros include that human touch and strong EU data practices. Cons include no native bots on free. Good for agencies, consultants, or service brands that rely on conversation. Setup tip: add a “We reply in under 2 minutes” note if you can meet that target, then measure it.
Zoho SalesIQ: Analytics-Driven Chat Support
Zoho SalesIQ includes three operators on the free plan, visitor tracking, and a mobile SDK for app chat. It ties neatly into the Zoho suite for CRM and email. Pros are deep insights and strong segmentation. Cons include a learning curve if you are new to Zoho. Best for data-minded teams that want context on behavior before starting a chat. Setup tip: enable triggers to greet visitors on pricing or checkout pages with a short prompt.
Chatra: Simple Setup with Group Chats
Chatra’s free plan allows one agent, group messaging, and sound alerts so you do not miss chats. It is very easy to install and fun to use with emojis and read receipts. Pros include quick setup and a friendly feel. Cons include no integrations on the free plan. Ideal for small shops that need straightforward chat without extra tools. Setup tip: create three canned replies for shipping, returns, and discount codes to cut typing time.
LiveHelperChat: Open-Source Flexibility
LiveHelperChat is self-hosted and free, with custom departments, triggers, and a wide range of extensions. You get full control over data and UI. Pros include no seat limits and strong privacy control. Cons include the need for hosting and technical setup. Best for technical users or teams with IT support who want full flexibility. Setup tip: start with a basic widget on key pages, then add departments once volume grows.
Userlike: One-Widget Chat With GDPR Focus
Userlike’s free plan supports one operator and one widget, with a clean widget, transcripts, and strong GDPR features. You can customize the chat look to match your brand. Pros include a polished interface and privacy options. Cons include limits on operators and integrations on free. Great for EU-focused sites or any brand that values compliance. Setup tip: add a consent text line in the widget and link to your policy to build trust.
Why Choose Free Live Chat for Your Customer Service Needs
Live chat software fits how people shop today. They look, compare, and ask questions at the same time. A quick answer right when they hesitate can keep them on the page and ready to buy.
Here is what you gain with a solid free chat tool:
- Real-time help: Customers get answers while they browse. No back and forth by email. Think of it as a friendly store associate walking the aisles online.
- Lower costs: Many teams start with a free plan, then upgrade only when volume grows. You save on phone time and reduce ticket backlogs.
- Faster response times: Chat queues are easier to manage than email threads. One agent can handle multiple chats when questions are simple.
- Higher conversion rates: Timely nudges matter. When a shopper asks about shipping, sizing, or returns, a quick reply can prevent drop-off.
- Easy website integration: Most tools give you a short script to paste into your site or a plugin for WordPress, Shopify, or Wix.
- Customer preference: In recent surveys, live chat often ranks at or near the top for quick support. Shoppers like the speed and low effort.
For small businesses or startups, live chat gives you a responsive support channel without a big price tag. You can start with one or two people, learn what customers ask most, and build a simple playbook for replies. I once launched chat on a new product page and saw common questions repeat within a week. We turned those into short, saved replies and cut handle time in half. That freed us to focus on tougher issues and sales conversations.
Free software plans usually limit seats, chats, or features. That is fine at the start. You still get the core value, which is real-time answers where they matter most.
Tips to Implement Free Live Chat Effectively
Start with a clear purpose. Decide what you want live chat to do first, such as reduce email volume, lift conversion on key pages, or qualify leads.
Follow these steps:
- Choose based on needs, not hype. If you need bots, pick a tool with a simple builder. If you track sales, pick one tied to a CRM.
- Train your team. Share a short playbook with tone guidelines, response targets, and approved offers. Include saved replies for the top ten questions.
- Set response goals. For example, reply to new chats within 30 seconds, and resolve simple questions in under 5 minutes.
- Monitor the right metrics. Watch first response time, resolution time, missed chats, and satisfaction ratings. Review weekly.
- Place the widget wisely. Add it to product, pricing, and checkout pages. Keep it off pages where it distracts from form fills.
- Use triggers with care. Greet visitors after 20 to 30 seconds, not instantly. Offer help with context, such as size help on apparel pages.
- Do A/B tests. Try different welcome messages, icons, and colors. Test proactive prompts versus passive widgets.
- Cover hours with a plan. Set business hours, add away messages, and capture emails when you are offline.
- Avoid common mistakes. Do not ignore chats during busy times. Do not over-automate complex issues. Do not ask for too much info before the chat starts.
- Iterate. Use chat transcripts to find new FAQs, update your site copy, and improve bots or saved replies.
Free Live Chat Software Keeps Costs Low
Free live chat software gives you real-time help, lower costs, and faster answers where customers need them. The tools above cover different needs, from unlimited team seats with Tawk.to to AI templates in Tidio, CRM tracking in HubSpot, and open-source control with LiveHelperChat.
