LiveChat vs Tidio: which should you choose?
Quick answer: LiveChat is built for sales + support chat, while Tidio suits small ecommerce sites. For most users Tidio is the stronger default, but LiveChat can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Tidio has the lower entry price.
Both LiveChat and Tidio get recommended a lot, but they solve the job differently. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| LiveChat | Tidio | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | live chat software | live chat + AI chatbot |
| What it's known for | Dedicated live chat platform for sales and support with rich agent tooling and a large integration marketplace. | Live chat plus the Lyro AI chatbot, popular with small ecommerce and SMB sites for automated support. |
| Pricing | Starter from ~$24/agent/mo; Team ~$41; Business ~$59; Enterprise custom (billed annually). 14-day trial. | Free plan; Starter from ~$29/mo; Growth ~$59/mo; Plus and Premium tiers higher; Lyro AI billed per conversation. |
| Best audience | Sales and support teams wanting a dedicated chat tool with deep tooling and integrations. | Small and mid-size ecommerce/SMB sites wanting affordable chat plus AI automation. |
| Best for | Sales + support chat, Lifetime recurring affiliates, Integration-heavy stacks | Small ecommerce sites, AI chatbot (Lyro), Affordable live chat |
| Entry price | ~$19-24/agent/mo | Free |
| Biggest strength | Polished, feature-rich live chat with strong agent tooling. | Affordable, beginner-friendly live chat. |
| Main caveat | No permanent free plan (trial only). | Lyro AI is a separate add-on that can roughly double the bill. |
Features compared
The feature sets only partly overlap. Here is what each one actually gives you:
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)
Tidio key features
- Live chat plus the Lyro AI chatbot (resolves up to ~67% of questions automatically)
- Flows: visual automation builder for support and conversion
- Ticketing and shared inbox
- Multichannel widget for websites; popular with small ecommerce
Pricing tiers side by side
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 |
Tidio plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 50 billable conversations, 10 seats, ticketing |
| Starter | ~$29/mo | Basic chat + analytics |
| Growth | ~$59/mo | More conversations, features |
| Plus | from ~$749/mo | Custom/scale; Lyro AI billed separately |
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 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.
Where Tidio wins
Live chat plus Lyro AI, favored by small ecommerce sites for automated support.
- Affordable, beginner-friendly live chat.
- Strong AI chatbot (Lyro) for automated support.
That makes it the stronger pick for small and mid-size ecommerce/SMB sites wanting affordable chat plus AI automation.
Verdict: choose by fit
Both are good at the job, so let your priorities decide.
- Choose LiveChat if you fit its core audience — sales and support teams wanting a dedicated chat tool with deep tooling and integrations.
- Choose Tidio if you fit its core audience — small and mid-size ecommerce/SMB sites wanting affordable chat plus AI automation.
FAQ
Is LiveChat better than Tidio?
Tidio is the stronger default for most users, but LiveChat can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between LiveChat and Tidio?
LiveChat is a dedicated, integration-heavy live chat platform for sales and support. Tidio is live chat plus Lyro AI, favored by small ecommerce sites for automated support.
Which is cheaper, LiveChat or Tidio?
Entry pricing differs: LiveChat starts at ~$19-24/agent/mo, while Tidio offers a free tier. Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for LiveChat and Tidio: