Crisp vs LiveChat: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Crisp is built for startups on flat pricing, while LiveChat suits sales + support chat. For most users LiveChat is the stronger default, but Crisp can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Crisp has the lower entry price.
Crisp versus LiveChat comes down to which trade-offs you can live with. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Crisp | LiveChat | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | business messaging | live chat software |
| What it's known for | All-in-one business messaging suite (chat, chatbot, shared inbox, CRM) with flat per-workspace pricing. | Dedicated live chat platform for sales and support with rich agent tooling and a large integration marketplace. |
| Pricing | Free plan; Mini from ~$45/mo; Essentials ~$95/mo; Plus ~$295/mo (priced per workspace, not per seat). | Starter from ~$24/agent/mo; Team ~$41; Business ~$59; Enterprise custom (billed annually). 14-day trial. |
| Best audience | Startups and small teams wanting multichannel messaging on predictable flat pricing. | Sales and support teams wanting a dedicated chat tool with deep tooling and integrations. |
| Best for | Startups on flat pricing, Multi-channel messaging, Small teams wanting all-in-one | Sales + support chat, Lifetime recurring affiliates, Integration-heavy stacks |
| Entry price | Free | ~$19-24/agent/mo |
| Biggest strength | Flat per-workspace pricing, not per seat, with unlimited conversations. | Polished, feature-rich live chat with strong agent tooling. |
| Main caveat | AI usage is tightly capped until the Plus (~$295/mo) tier. | No permanent free plan (trial only). |
Features compared
Where they really diverge is in the day-to-day feature set:
Crisp key features
- All-in-one business messaging: live chat, chatbot, shared inbox and small CRM
- Flat per-workspace pricing with unlimited conversations on every plan
- Multichannel inbox: email, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, SMS, Line, Viber
- Workflow automation, analytics and (Plus) unlimited AI plus ticketing and white-labeling
LiveChat key features
- Dedicated live chat with customizable widgets and chat templates
- AI tools: chat summaries, text enhancement (grammar/tone)
- Rich agent tooling, routing and advanced reporting
- Large integration marketplace (170+ tools)
Pricing tiers side by side
Crisp plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic chat, 2 seats |
| Mini | ~$45/mo per workspace | 4 seats, shared email inbox, triggers |
| Essentials | ~$95/mo per workspace | ~10 seats, automation, analytics, limited AI |
| Plus | ~$295/mo per workspace | ~20 seats, unlimited AI, ticketing, white-label |
LiveChat plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | ~$19-24/agent/mo | Annual; 60-day chat history |
| Team | ~$41-49/agent/mo | Full chat history, more tools |
| Business | ~$59-79/agent/mo | Advanced reporting, staffing prediction |
| Enterprise | Custom | SMS, Apple Messages, security |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Crisp wins
Flat per-workspace, all-in-one messaging suite with unlimited conversations.
- Flat per-workspace pricing, not per seat, with unlimited conversations.
- Genuinely all-in-one (chat, bot, inbox, CRM).
That makes it the stronger pick for startups and small teams wanting multichannel messaging on predictable flat pricing.
Where LiveChat wins
A dedicated, integration-heavy live chat platform for sales and support.
- Polished, feature-rich live chat with strong agent tooling.
- Large integration marketplace.
That makes it the stronger pick for sales and support teams wanting a dedicated chat tool with deep tooling and integrations.
Verdict: choose by fit
Both are good at the job, so let your priorities decide.
- Choose Crisp if you fit its core audience — startups and small teams wanting multichannel messaging on predictable flat pricing.
- Choose LiveChat if you fit its core audience — sales and support teams wanting a dedicated chat tool with deep tooling and integrations.
FAQ
Is Crisp better than LiveChat?
LiveChat is the stronger default for most users, but Crisp can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Crisp and LiveChat?
Crisp is flat per-workspace, all-in-one messaging suite with unlimited conversations. LiveChat is a dedicated, integration-heavy live chat platform for sales and support.
Which is cheaper, Crisp or LiveChat?
Entry pricing differs: Crisp offers a free tier, while LiveChat starts at ~$19-24/agent/mo. Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Crisp and LiveChat: