14 Best Free Live Chat Software for Websites in 2023
There are quite a several free live chat software solutions out there, and most of them offer functional solutions for businesses.
Using live chat on your website is vital for customer retention and increasing revenue.
It is an ideal online support service tool because it combines real-time interactions with the ability to provide immediate help to customers.
We have brought together the 12 best free live chat software solutions for websites in this blog post so that you can select one to use for your business and improve your customer support.
Let’s check them out!
What is Live Chat Software?
Live chat is a customer support channel that allows customers to have text-based online conversations with support teams.
Companies embed live chat boxes on their website so customers can instantly receive answers to their questions.
Live chat software allows businesses or organizations to communicate with their customers or website visitors in real-time through a chat interface.
These tools enable companies to create chat widgets that are functional and customizable to form better relationships with visitors.
Companies can deliver live chat support through a website or mobile messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and SMS, and live chat software make it easier.
The 12 Best Free Live Chat Software Solutions
Here we listed top 12 free live chat software that can help you to form better relationships and connect with your visitors.
We included their pros and cons and G2 ratings so you can select the proper one quickly!
1. Tidio Live Chat
Tidio is a live chat software solution for websites that enables you to connect with visitors in real time.
You can create chatbots with Tidio, just like HubSpot, to automate your messages.
It has many other features, such as canned responses for quick responses and an all-in-one shared inbox.
You can integrate Tidio with various software, including Shopify, WordPress, and Wix.
Tidio offers premium plans as well as a free plan. Its free plan is best for micro and small businesses as it allows the following:
- Only up to 3 chat operators,
- Chatbots to have unlimited chats with 100 unique visitors per month.
What’s notable about Tidio’s free plan is that you send 500 automated emails a month.
Considering all, Tidio can support CRMs and email automation tools to provide your customers with a tailored customer support experience.
Pros:
- Excellent customer support
- Clean and customizable interface
- Quick setup
Cons:
- Doesn't allow multiple triggers for one bot
- No on-site settings that allow you to change the chatbox position
Tidio G2 Rating & Reviews: 4.7/5
2. FreeChat
FreeChat is a live chat software that is 100% free and requires no coding.
Its best feature is that you can add live chat to your site without slowing down your website speed.
Outstanding Features:
- With its sleek and modern live chat designs, you can perfectly customize and match your chat box and button to your site’s design.
- Incredibly easy to set up on your site within a few minutes
- You can add multiple social media channels to your live chat.
With this free live chat software solution, provide your customers with immediate responses and increase customer retention without relying on costly software solutions.
Pros:
- Super easy to use and set up on your site
- Perfect for small businesses
- You can answer customer messages even on the go from your messaging apps like WhatsApp Business or Instagram
Cons:
- It would be insufficient for medium to large businesses. In that case, I suggest going for paid live chat software like Intercom, or you can keep looking in our list to find a more convenient service for your business size.
Create a Free Live Chat Box with FreeChat
3. HubSpot's Free Live Chat
HubSpot’s live chat software comes as a part of HubSpot’s CRM, allowing incoming chats to get logged to customers’ contact profiles.
This way, your team can look up recurring customer issues and offer different solutions.
It is a perfect free live chat solution if you are using HubSpot’s CRM.
However, if you are not using its CRM, you can sign up for free and install its customized live chat widget on your website.
Get Started with Hubspot Free Chat
Pros:
- Custom branding
- Bots
- Targeted welcome messages
- Canned responses.
- HubSpot provides its chatbot builder, making it possible to keep your live chat active outside working hours.
Cons:
- Somewhat limited customization without an upgrade. However, by upgrading, you can edit the color of your chat widget and remove the HubSpot branding.
- HubSpot branding
4. Respond.io
Respond.io is a business messaging platform that allows your customers to contact you via any channel.
Customers can message you using Respond.io live chat on your website or your social media pages.
This live chat software provides a 360° view of your customer base to your team.
Omnichannel chat history, contact import, and real-time analytics can help you gain a clearer insight into each customer profile.
Respond.io includes an AI feature that guides your chatbot responses by using “Smart Replies.”
Smart replies enable communicating faster and troubleshooting recurring issues based on repetitive questions.
Pros:
Respond.io’s live chat software has both free and paid plans. The forever free plan includes:
- 5 team members
- Up to 100 contacts
- Unlimited messages
- All channels
Cons:
- Missing features compared to
- No mobile app; only works on desktop
G2 Rating: 4.8/5 (11 reviews)
5. Tawk.to
Tawk.to is a free live chat software that operates with a small JavaScript snippet on your site.
It works on your website, within your mobile app, or from a customizable page.
You can monitor customer activity in real-time and see which team member responded to a customer.
Tawk.to’s live chat software comes with other features as well:
- Localized messages to chat with foreign customers in your native language
- Tawk.to has IOS and Android apps so you can chat with customers from your mobile device.
- Canned messages
Pros:
- Track the user's location, activity, where they clicked, etc.
- Browser-based, so you won't need to install any software
- A lot of customization features
Cons:
- Inconsistent notifications
- Somewhat difficult to integrate with websites and set up for some users
G2 Rating: 4.6/5
6. Smartsupp
When it comes to multichannel management in one place, Smartsupp is a good option.
With this live chat software, you can respond to your customers’ emails, chats, and Facebook messages in one place.
It comes as a mobile app as well to chat with your customers on the go.
What we like about Smartsupp is that it has a file-sharing feature that allows sending a photo or document with drag and drop.
Also, it has a chatbot that can send personalized messages to customers. Another prominent feature of Smartsupp is the video recording feature, which records visitor behaviors.
It has a forever-free plan and paid plans. The free plan covers the following:
- 3 agents (Live chat agents are the customer service team employees who answer chats.)
- Unlimited number of websites
- 3 chatbots
- All the core features
Pros:
- The ability to email when a user abandons the chat session
- User-friendly interface
- Records user sessions on screen
- Has a mobile app
Cons:
- Some users have reported that sometimes notifications don't show up on the Android app.
- You can't set up office hours in the free version
G2 Rating: 4.3/5
7. Crisp.Chat
Crisp.Chat is a live chat software that brings together all your channels with its shared inbox feature. You can build chatbot scenarios, create GIFs and video previews, and share files.
Also, Crisp.Chat allows connecting your live chat to social networks like Messenger and Twitter.
What caught our attention is that they offer a feature called CrispyBird, which is a game to keep your customers engaged while they wait for your response.
This live chat software has free and paid plans. Forever free plan is best for personal websites and anyone who wants a basic live chat to communicate with customers. It covers:
- 2 seats
- Team inbox
- Mobile apps
Pros:
- Auto-translate feature
- Has a mobile app
- Great sync between web, desktop, and mobile apps
Cons:
- No way to have separate conversations with the same customer.
- Message history of the free plan is 30 days
- Integrations with services like PipeDrive caused issues and didn't work well for some users.
G2 Rating: 4.4/5
8. JivoChat
Being the top-rated mobile customer support app at the App Store, JivoChat empowers support teams to handle chats from various platforms, including websites, emails, Telegram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
Other cool features JivoChat offers are:
- Color-coded chats
- Message sneak-peek
- Canned responses
- Hotkeys
- Proactive chat
Free basic version is limited to the first five agents but covers unlimited websites and chats.
Pros:
- Provides visitor information (location, name, email address) under certain conditions
- Call back feature
- Ability to see the users type in before they click "send"
Cons:
- Inability to contact customers who leave the chat after stating it
- Limited SMS features
- The number of times the chat box popup on the webpage may get annoying for users
G2 Rating: 4.8/5
9. Chatra
Chatra is a live chat software that enables you to initiate conversations with visitors on your website automatically.
It comes with features like read receipts and typing indicators so that customers can know when you are responding.
One notable feature is that Chatra has an offline chat widget. Offline chat widgets let customers know that your team is busy and will get them back soon.
Chatra has a forever free plan as well as paid plans that come with more features.
Pros:
- Its mobile app works great.
- Connects you with customers through your email and Facebook as well
- Integrating Chatra into your website is simple and quick
- Free version is perfect for small businesses.
Cons:
- Sometimes, the chat may lag.
- Lacks HTML support in messages
- Lacks the ability to send chat transcript manually
G2 Rating: 4.2/5
10. OnWebChat
OnWebChat is a live chat service that aims at increasing your customer satisfaction.
It includes features like file sharing, shortcuts, and typing insights.
You can keep a customer knowledge base and monitor your customers in real time. It only has an Android app to chat on the go.
What onWebChat’s free plan covers:
- 100 chats/month
- 1-year chat history
- Visitor monitoring
- Shortcuts, speech to text
Note that there aren't a lot of people that have tried and reviewed this tool.
However, if you like their offers and features, you can still give them a try.
11. Userlike
Userlike has a free live chat software option and paid plans.
The free plan includes one widget and one seat.
Its live chat window for web and mobile has various features like image and video support, feedback options, and conversation tagging.
With conversation tagging, you can tag conversations with topics and better organize them.
Also, setting up canned messages for common questions is another positive feature.
Pros:
- Ability to live chat on Messenger, WhatsApp, and more
- Integration options with other tools like Pipedrive, Salesforce, and Slack
- Optimal user interface
Cons:
- Broken chat sessions
- The operator can't send the message back to the user once you close the chat window.
- No smartphone app
G2 Rating: 4.4/5
12. MyLiveChat
With MyLiveChat, agents can have multiple simultaneous chat sessions. Sessions run in separate room tabs.
You can customize the visitor popup messenger by adding your company logo and agent photo, which is cool for matching the live chat to your brand image.
MyLiveChat also has a spell checker feature to eliminate spelling mistakes.
One outstanding feature is the proactive chat, which allows you to initiate a one-on-one chat with your website visitors.
Other features include:
- Typing indicator
- File transfer
- Firewall support
- Geolocation
- Multi-language support
- Canned responses
Pros:
- Easy to implement
- Set working hours for availability
Cons:
- No bot function for automatic replies
- Lacks proper product onboarding
- Inability to customize the chat button in the free version
- Unhelpful customer support
Capterra Rating: 4.4/5
13. Gist
With Gist, businesses have access to an all-encompassing platform that centralizes their marketing, sales, and customer support efforts.
Features include live chat, email marketing, and a comprehensive dashboard.
Thanks to its ABM, forms, chatbots and automated scheduling on your website, you can turn visitors into leads and customers.
Gist's standout features are:
- Analytics and reporting to track performance and customer interactions.
- Integration with various platforms, such as Wordpress and Zapier.
- AI-powered chatbot.
Pros:
- Excellent customer support.
- Easy to understand UI.
- Multiple filter options to create different customer segments.
- Edit chats after sending or re-open closed chats.
Cons
- Managing multiple organizations on one account can be confusing.
- Some documentation lacks clarity and important implementation details.
- Mobile app performance could be improved.
G2 Rating: 4.6/5
14. Rocket.Chat
Rocket.Chat is designed to provide seamless interactions with your customers no matter how they choose to connect with you.
With this tool, you can manage all customer collaboration from a single central location, whether it's through phone, email, chat, or social media.
This platform makes it easy to respond quickly to inquiries and track interactions to ensure a positive experience every time.
Some of the important features of Rocket.Chat are
- Omnichannel help desk solutions.
- CRM integration, chatbots, and machine learning apps.
- One team inbox for all client communication.
Pros:
- Unlimited chat history.
- Ability to auto-close inactive chats.
- Canned responses.
Cons:
- Issues handling large numbers of messages and users.
- Might be buggy.
- Support service could be improved.
G2 Rating: 4.0/5
Bonus: Hiver
Hiver is the world’s first helpdesk built for Google Workspace.
With Hiver’s live chat widget, support managers can delegate incoming chat queries to agents and track their status till the point of resolution.
Since Hiver’s live chat feature works within Gmail’s native interface, your support team can get started in minutes with minimal training.
Hiver is a great option for teams looking for an intuitive solution to manage email and chat queries together.
Top features:
- Auto-assign of incoming customer chat queries
- Custom-built chat templates
- Measure customer satisfaction with short surveys.
- Real-time alerts for support managers when chat queries aren’t responded to on time.
- Hiver’s mobile app (Android & iOS) for on-the-go live chat support.
Pros:
- Minimal setup and training costs since Hiver works on top of Gmail.
- Complete visibility and insights into your team’s performance.
- Customize the chat widget based on your site’s design preferences.
- Personalized engagement with website visitors
Cons:
- Compatible only with businesses that use Google Workspace.
Pricing: It offers a 7-day free trial, and its pricing starts at $15/month/agent.
G2 Rating: 4.6/5
What are The Benefits of Using Free Live Chat Software?
Positive word of mouth is a super-effective trick in creating brand loyalty and helping businesses grow. But what does it have to do with live chat?
Customers love talking about their live chat experiences.
According to Kayako's live chat study, 29% of consumers spread a positive live chat experience.
Besides, here are some benefits of using live chat as your support channel:
-
Increased customer satisfaction: Imagine having a magic wand that could make your customers happy with a quick wave. That's what live chat can do for your business! It's like having a personal assistant that's always available to help your customers out.
-
Improved sales: Picture a shopping cart that's just about to roll away, with a customer hesitating to buy. Live chat is like having a superhero on standby, ready to jump in and save the sale with a quick chat.
-
Cost-effective: Live chat is often less expensive than traditional customer service methods such as phone support.
-
Greater efficiency: It allows multiple customers to be assisted simultaneously, increasing the efficiency of customer service.
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Insight into customer needs and preferences: Live chat transcripts can give you a glimpse into their thoughts and desires, helping you make better business decisions.
-
Increased accessibility: Live chat is like a bridge that connects you to your customers, no matter where they are. Customers get help at any time and from any device, increasing accessibility for customers who may have difficulty reaching a business by phone.
-
Better engagement: Think of live chat as the ultimate ice-breaker for your business. It allows customers to engage with your business in real-time, which can help build stronger relationships and increase loyalty.
Wrap Up
And that's a wrap for our best free live chat software suggestions you can add to your website.
Live chat support on your website greatly improves your brand's trustability.
However, if you are starting your business or have a small business, most well-established live chat software can burden your budget.
No need to worry. You can still provide real-time support to your customers with free live chat software.
We gathered 12 best free live chat software in this blog post, so you can choose the one that suits your business needs.
Have another free live chat solution for websites or further ideas on this topic?
Tell us in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does Free Live Chat Software Work?
Free live chat software integrates a chat widget into a website or platform.
When customers or visitors initiate a chat, they are connected with a customer service representative who can assist them with their inquiries or concerns.
In addition, the chat can be conducted in real-time, allowing for immediate communication and resolution of issues.
2. What is The Best Free Live Chat Software?
You can choose either Tawk.to or Tidio since both are tested and used by many website owners.
If your business is more focused on social platforms like WhatsApp business, Instagram, Facebook, etc., FreeChat is also a great option.
3. Is it Possible to Customize Chat Widgets with Free Live Chat Software?
Yes, many free live chat software offer customization options, such as the ability to choose the chat widget's color, size, and position on the website.
Some also allow businesses to customize the chat window with their branding or logo.
4. Will my Customer's Personal Information be Protected when Using a Free Live Chat Tool?
Many free live chat tools have security measures in place, such as encryption and data privacy policies, to protect customer information.
However, it's important to research the specific security measures of any free live chat tool you're considering and ensure they meet your business's needs.
5. Can I Integrate a Free Live Chat Tool with my CRM System?
Some free live chat tools offer integration with CRM systems, allowing you to track customer interactions and pull up customer information during a chat.
However, the level of integration may be limited compared to paid options.
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