Finding the right live chat tool shouldn't require a spreadsheet and three hours of research. We've done the work for you — testing 10 popular free live chat tools, comparing their actual features, limits, and hidden costs. This isn't a list of tools we've never used. We've installed each one, tested the free tier, and checked what you actually get before pulling out your credit card.
Transparency note: Svyazio is our product, and it's on this list. We'll be honest about its strengths and limitations. If another tool fits your needs better, we'll tell you.
Quick navigation
- Svyazio — best for multichannel
- tawk.to — best unlimited free
- Tidio — best for chatbots
- Crisp — best for startups
- Chatwoot — best open-source
- HubSpot — best for CRM users
- Smartsupp — best for EU compliance
- Chatra — best for simplicity
- JivoChat — best for calling + chat
- Zoho SalesIQ — best for Zoho ecosystem
How we evaluated
We tested each tool on five criteria: free plan generosity (agent limits, conversation limits, branding), core chat features (real-time messaging, typing indicators, file sharing), multichannel support (email, Telegram, social media), ease of installation (time from signup to live widget), and upgrade pricing (because most teams outgrow free plans eventually).
1 Svyazio
Svyazio is a multichannel inbox that unifies website chat, Telegram, and email into a single conversation stream. The free Starter plan includes 1 agent and 50 conversations per month — enough for personal websites, portfolios, and small businesses receiving moderate traffic.
What sets Svyazio apart is its Telegram and email integration (on paid plans). Most free tools only support website chat. Svyazio's Pro plan ($39/agent/mo) supports up to 10 Telegram bots and 10 email accounts — all appearing in one inbox. The AI writing assistant (powered by Google Gemini) helps agents write better replies, and departments route conversations to the right team.
Strengths: Unified multichannel inbox, Shadow DOM isolation (zero CSS conflicts), native desktop and mobile apps, transparent per-agent pricing, GDPR-compliant EU servers.
Limitations: Free plan limited to 50 conversations/month and 1 agent. No chatbot builder. Telegram requires Pro plan. No Facebook or Instagram integration.
2 tawk.to
tawk.to is the only truly unlimited free live chat — no agent limits, no conversation limits, no time restrictions. The business model monetizes through paid agent staffing services ($1/hour for hired agents) and branding removal ($29/month).
The interface feels dated compared to newer tools, and the widget has prominent "Powered by tawk.to" branding on the free plan. But if your primary requirement is "free with no limits," tawk.to delivers. Detailed Svyazio vs tawk.to comparison →
Strengths: Truly unlimited free plan, ticketing system, knowledge base, JavaScript API.
Limitations: Aggressive branding on free plan, dated UI, no Telegram integration, no email integration, limited automation.
3 Tidio
Tidio shines with its AI chatbot (Lyro) that can handle basic customer queries automatically. The free plan includes 1 seat and 50 conversations. However, AI conversations cost extra ($0.50–0.70 each on the Lyro add-on), and pricing scales steeply — the Communicator plan starts at $29/month.
Tidio supports Instagram and Facebook Messenger, which is useful for social-first brands. But it lacks Telegram integration, and pricing can get complicated with multiple add-ons. Detailed Svyazio vs Tidio comparison →
Strengths: AI chatbot (Lyro), visual chatbot builder, Instagram/Facebook integration, Shopify app.
Limitations: Paid AI conversations, complex pricing with add-ons, no Telegram, no free email integration.
4 Crisp
Crisp offers a generous free plan with 2 seats — one of the few tools that lets you have 2 agents for free. The interface is modern and clean. However, the free plan lacks chat history (only last 30 days), and paid plans use workspace-based pricing ($25–$95/month per workspace regardless of user count).
Crisp's knowledge base and co-browsing features are available on higher-tier plans. For small startups with 2 people handling support, Crisp's free plan is hard to beat. Detailed Svyazio vs Crisp comparison →
Strengths: 2 free seats, modern UI, knowledge base (paid), co-browsing (paid), video calls (paid).
Limitations: 30-day chat history on free, workspace pricing can be expensive, limited free features, Telegram on higher plans only.
5 Chatwoot
Chatwoot is open-source and can be self-hosted for free — unlimited agents, unlimited conversations. The cloud-hosted version starts at $19/agent/month. Chatwoot supports the most channels: website chat, email, Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Line, and more.
The catch? Self-hosting requires DevOps knowledge — server maintenance, database backups, SSL certificates, updates. If you have a developer on staff, self-hosted Chatwoot is incredibly cost-effective. If not, the cloud plan or a simpler SaaS tool is the better choice. Detailed Svyazio vs Chatwoot comparison →
Strengths: Open-source, self-hosted unlimited free, most channel integrations, active community.
Limitations: Self-hosting requires DevOps, cloud version same price as competitors, UI less polished, slower development cycle.
6 HubSpot Live Chat
If you already use HubSpot CRM, their free live chat is a natural extension — conversations auto-link to contact records. The free plan has unlimited agents but includes HubSpot branding. The chatbot builder is basic but functional for qualifying leads.
The downside is that HubSpot's chat is designed as a CRM entry point, not a standalone support tool. Advanced features (automation, custom bots, no branding) require HubSpot's paid plans, which start at $20/month but scale rapidly to $100–800/month for marketing and sales features.
Strengths: CRM integration, contact auto-creation, basic chatbot, unlimited agents on free.
Limitations: HubSpot branding on free, limited standalone value, expensive upgrades, no Telegram.
7 Smartsupp
Smartsupp is a Czech company with EU-hosted servers — attractive for businesses that need strict GDPR compliance without relying on US-based infrastructure. The free plan includes 1 agent and 100 conversations per month, which is more generous than most competitors.
The unique feature is session recordings — Smartsupp can record visitor sessions (like Hotjar) alongside chat. This helps agents understand what the visitor was doing on the website before reaching out. Paid plans start at €19.5/month with 3 agents included.
Strengths: EU-hosted, session recordings, generous free plan (100 chats), good for e-commerce.
Limitations: Limited integrations, no Telegram, basic chatbot on free, less modern UI.
8 Chatra
Chatra is known for its clean, simple interface. The free plan includes 1 agent with basic chat features. It's a good choice if you want a straightforward chat tool without the complexity of multichannel inboxes or AI chatbots.
However, Chatra was acquired and development has slowed. Pricing starts at $21/agent/month for the Essential plan. If you're looking for active development and multichannel support, newer tools offer more value.
Strengths: Simple, clean UI, easy setup, good typing indicators.
Limitations: Slow development, limited free plan, no Telegram, basic analytics, acquired product.
9 JivoChat
JivoChat stands out with its integrated phone calling — you can make and receive phone calls from the same interface as chat. The free plan supports 5 agents with basic features, which is generous for agent count but limited in functionality.
JivoChat supports many channels: website chat, phone, email, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp (paid). It's popular in Russia, Latin America, and parts of Asia. The downside is aggressive upselling and a somewhat cluttered interface with many features competing for attention.
Strengths: Integrated phone calling, 5 free agents, many channels, callback feature.
Limitations: Aggressive upselling, cluttered UI, limited free features, history limits on free.
10 Zoho SalesIQ
If your business runs on Zoho (CRM, Desk, Mail), SalesIQ integrates seamlessly. The free plan offers 3 operators and 100 monthly visitors tracked — note that this is tracked visitors, not conversations. Paid plans start at just $10/operator/month, making it one of the most affordable options.
SalesIQ's Zobot (AI chatbot) and visitor scoring are useful for sales-driven teams. However, the standalone value without other Zoho products is limited, and the interface can feel overwhelming with features.
Strengths: Zoho ecosystem integration, affordable paid plans, visitor scoring, AI chatbot.
Limitations: Best only within Zoho ecosystem, complex setup, limited channel support on free.
Summary: which free live chat should you choose?
- Best free chat with multichannel: Svyazio — chat + Telegram + email in one inbox
- Best unlimited free: tawk.to — no limits, but heavy branding
- Best for AI chatbots: Tidio — Lyro AI handles basic queries
- Best for 2-person teams: Crisp — 2 free seats
- Best open-source: Chatwoot — self-host for free, unlimited
- Best for HubSpot users: HubSpot Live Chat — CRM integration
- Best for small budget: Zoho SalesIQ — $10/agent/mo paid plan
Final thoughts
Every tool on this list has a usable free plan. The real question is: what happens when you outgrow free? Some tools (Intercom, LiveChat) don't even offer free plans — they start at $39–74/month. Others (HubSpot, Tidio) have free chat but expensive ecosystem upgrades.
If your priority is multichannel support (chat + Telegram + email) at an affordable price, Svyazio offers the best balance. If you need unlimited free agents, tawk.to is unbeatable. If you want AI chatbots, Tidio leads the pack. Choose based on your actual needs — not flashy feature lists.