Skip to main content

With so many different live chat software solutions available, finding the best fit for your needs is tricky. You know you want to speed up your customer communication and provide answers to customer queries quickly, but you need to figure out which system is best. In this post, I'll help you make this choice simpler by sharing my insights on the best live chat software to connect with customers, based on my own CX experience.

Why Trust Our Reviews

We’ve been testing and reviewing live chat software since 2021. As CX professionals ourselves, we know how critical and difficult it is to make the right decision when selecting software.

We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions. We’ve tested more than 2,000 tools for different customer experience use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & our software review methodology.

The Best Live Chat Software Summary Table

Tools Price
SysAid Pricing upon request
Zoho SalesIQ From $7/operator/month
3CX From $175/year (10 users)
Hiver From $15/user/month (billed annually)
LiveChat From $49/agent/month
CallTrackingMetrics From $39/month and rises to $299/month
Intercom From $74/month (billed annually)
Userlike From $320/month for ten seats plan to integrate with other channels
LivePerson Pricing upon request
Helpscout From $25/month
Preview Image - <h2 class="c-block__title b-summary-table__title c-listicle__title h3" > Compare Software Specs Side by Side</h2>

Compare Software Specs Side by Side

Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.

Compare Software

How to Choose Live Chat Software

Choosing the right live chat software can help improve the customer experience and boost customer engagement.

As you're shortlisting, trialing, and selecting live chat software consider the following:

  • What problem are you trying to solve - Start by identifying the live chat feature gap you're trying to fill to clarify the features and functionality the live chat software needs to provide.
  • Who will need to use it To evaluate cost and requirements, consider who'll be using the software and how many licenses you'll need. You'll need to evaluate if it'll just be the customer service team or the whole organization that will require access. When that's clear, it's worth considering if you're prioritizing ease of use for all, or speed for your software power users.
  • What other tools it needs to work with Clarify what tools you're replacing, what tools are staying, and the tools you'll need to integrate with, such as accounting, CRM or HR software. You'll need to decide if the tools will need to integrate together, or alternatively, if you can replace multiple tools with one consolidated live chat software.
  • What outcomes are important - Consider the result that the software needs to deliver to be considered a success. Consider what capability you want to gain, or what you want to improve, and how you will be measuring success. For example, an outcome could be the ability to get greater visibility into performance. You could compare live chat software features until you’re blue in the face but if you aren’t thinking about the outcomes you want to drive, you could be wasting a lot of valuable time.
  • How it would work within your organization - Consider the software selection alongside your workflows and delivery methodology. Evaluate what's working well, and the areas that are causing issues that need to be addressed. Remember every business is different — don’t assume that because a tool is popular that it'll work in your organization.

Best Live Chat Software Reviews

Here’s a brief description of each live chat platform to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.

Best live chat for help desk teams

  • 30-day free trial
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 1/5

SysAid is an ITSM Software designed to help bring clients closer to help desk teams at scale through many channels, live chat included.

SysAid's help desk software improves team efficiency through several automation features like ticket routing. With ticket routing, users concerns no longer sit in a queue waiting for a help desk coordinator to assign them to team members. Instead, the platform automatically routes the information based on pre-defined people structures.

One of the many features that this platform has is a self-serve portal in which users can access services like password resets and live chat. SysAid lets you view all users, which ones have initiated a chat, who are waiting in a queue and which IT administrator is chatting with which user.

One thing I like about their queueing system is that you can configure different queues for different services. That way, you won't have people waiting for their turn when there is someone available from the team that can help them solve their problem.

Finally, this platform can let your team perform remote control sessions directly from SysAid's console and save the conversation within the ticket so that you always have context and can help users in the most personal way.

Integrations can be accessed through SysAid's marketplace and include pre-built integrations with Jira, Teamviewer, Solarwinds, Azure, Openam, Slack, Okta, and Google Apps. You can also connect to thousands of additional apps using a paid subscription with Zapier.

Best for its robust customization options

  • 15-day free trial available
  • From $7/operator/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

Zoho SalesIQ is live chat software that enables businesses to communicate with their customers in real-time. The software provides features like live chat, website visitor tracking, and analytics to help businesses connect with their website visitors on a deeper level.

One of its standout features is its robust functionality. The software allows for easy customization of chat widgets so it matches the company branding, and its chatbots can handle basic customer inquiries, leaving human agents to handle more complex ones.

Zoho SalesIQ also includes visitor tracking, which shows visitors' behavior in real-time, and advanced reporting and analytics to help businesses make informed decisions about their engagement strategies. Additionally, the software offers integration with popular CRM systems, making it easy for businesses to track customer interactions and follow up with leads.

In terms of integrations, Zoho SalesIQ seamlessly integrates with other Zoho tools like Zoho CRM, Zoho Desk, and Zoho Campaigns. It also integrates with other popular tools like Google Analytics and Slack, making it an all-in-one tool for customer engagement and management.

Plans start at $7/operator/month, and they offer a 15-day free trial.

Best live chat software that can escalate enquiries to a phone call

  • Free for up to 10 users
  • From $175/year (10 users)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

3CX is an enterprise communications system that offers software-based PBX functionality with a cloud-hosted option. It includes multiple features like live chat, instant messaging, CRM integration, web conferencing, and native mobile applications.

3CX’s live chat solution is a great way to initiate a non-intrusive connection between agents and customer at scale. Since most live chats end up being forwarded to a call center agent more than half the time, the live chat tool is designed so that it’s easier to elevate the conversation from live chat to an actual call. The customer or the agent can initiate the call to expedite the resolution of whatever issues there might be.

The live chat tool is available with 3CX’s free plan, which means that small businesses and startups can take full advantage of this feature for no charge. They can easily assign more agents (up to 10 users) to group chats without having to worry about added monthly fees. They can also customize the live chat tool to add voice and video call functions too.

3CX also comes with free Android and iOS apps, allowing contact center agents to respond to live chat, WhatsApp, and SMS messages through their smartphone or tablet. This can help boost the productivity and efficiency of any company’s customer service program.

Pricing for 3CX starts at $175/year for 10 users. They also offer a freemium version with limited features that includes their live chat tool too.

Best for turning standard email inboxes into shared collaborative spaces

  • 7-day free trial
  • From $15/user/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.7/5

Hiver is a dynamic live chat software solution designed to revolutionize team collaboration and customer support. It seamlessly integrates with email platforms like Gmail, allowing businesses to transform their email inboxes into shared collaborative spaces where teams can respond to customer inquiries and internal messages in real-time. Hiver empowers organizations to provide timely and efficient customer support, streamline internal communication, assign tasks, track progress, and maintain a unified approach to managing email interactions, all within a user-friendly interface. 

Hiver excels as a live chat software by offering several key strengths. Firstly, its seamless integration with email platforms like Gmail makes it an exceptional tool for businesses already heavily reliant on email communication, allowing them to transform email inboxes into collaborative workspaces for real-time customer support and internal team communication. Secondly, Hiver's shared inbox and task assignment features enable efficient collaboration among team members, ensuring that customer inquiries are addressed promptly and that tasks are delegated and tracked effectively.

One of Hiver's standout features is its capability to turn standard email inboxes, such as Gmail, into shared collaborative spaces. This unique approach allows teams to manage customer inquiries and internal communication within their existing email infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate live chat platforms. Competing live chat software often requires businesses to adopt a new interface, whereas Hiver integrates seamlessly with familiar email clients, enhancing user adoption and reducing the learning curve.

Hiver offers a distinctive feature by allowing users to assign tasks directly within email threads. This means that customer inquiries can be converted into actionable tasks, assigned to team members, and tracked efficiently, all within the same email interface. This feature streamlines workflow management and ensures that customer issues are addressed promptly, setting Hiver apart from competitors that may require external task management tools or lack this level of integration.

Hiver distinguishes itself with the ability to add notes and tags to email conversations. This unique feature enables teams to add context, instructions, or important information directly to email threads, enhancing collaboration and ensuring that all team members are well-informed about customer interactions. Unlike many competitors that lack this level of integrated note-taking and tagging within live chat, Hiver provides a seamless way to manage and share vital information, improving the quality and consistency of customer support.

Hiver offers collision alerts and prevention to ensure that multiple team members don't accidentally respond to the same customer inquiry simultaneously. This distinctive feature enhances customer service by preventing redundant responses and potential confusion. It helps maintain a professional and streamlined customer support process, setting Hiver apart from competitors that may lack built-in mechanisms for preventing and managing collisions in live chat scenarios.

Hiver integrates with Slack and Gmail. More can be accessed through Zapier, but that requires another product subscription and may incur additional costs.

Hiver costs from $19/user/month and offers a 7-day free trial.

Best live chat for sales teams

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $49/agent/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

LiveChat is a customer service and sales platform that handles all customer communication. You just create the chat experiences and then roll out the widget to your website.

The tool stands out due to its selling features. For example, you can add product cards to the live chat widget to encourage customers to buy. Or you can add forms or AI chatbots to capture leads on your website and then route the conversation to relevant people. You can then measure the tool’s impact on sales using its reporting features.

LiveChat works with plenty of communication channels to handle all communication in a single inbox. You can connect Facebook Messenger, Email, SMS, Apple Business Chat, and WhatsApp alongside your website and apps.

LiveChat plans start at $19 per agent per month and rise to $50. You can also get a free trial of the software to test it before buying.

Best for measuring campaigns

  • From $39/month and rises to $299/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

CallTrackingMetrics is a conversation analytics platform that helps marketers see which campaigns generate calls and conversations. The tool also has live chat functionality to help support and sales teams provide better experiences.

The tool has a dashboard you can use to manage calls, texts, and chats in a single place. And the live chat widget is easy to install and has plenty of customization options to ensure it meets your branding.

A cool feature is the ability to suggest relevant questions from within the widget on the page the customer is visiting. For example, a pricing page could include questions to help customers get a product demo, while a help page could include questions relevant to the specific problem. You can also create customized templated responses to help your team respond to common queries quickly.

The tool also allows you to set up chat routing rules that ensure conversations always go to the right agent. For example, sales queries go to your sales team, while requests for support go to your support team. And there are also support tools to help you transfer conversations between agents, so you don’t start from scratch every time a new person takes over.

CallTrackingMetrics pricing starts at $39 per month and rises to $299 per month. Each plan comes with a free month.

Create customizable chat widgets

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $74/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

Intercom is a business messaging tool with plenty of live chat features. The main product is the chat widget, which you can install on your website or app. From here you can handle chats, as well as provide easy access to self-service documents, a knowledge base search bar, and relevant content.

One thing I like about Intercom is that the chat tool shows an estimate of response time. Or, if your team is currently offline, it tells them when you will be online again. This ensures customers are never left waiting for a reply that is unlikely to come.

Intercom also has useful proactive chat support features. This lets you reach out to customers to provide help with issues before they know the problem exists. A simple example is providing customers with extra information about shipping times when they spend time on a relevant page.

Intercom’s starter plan costs $74 per month when billed annually. Larger businesses can contact the company for further pricing options.

Live chat with plenty of useful features

  • Free Trial
  • From $320/month for ten seats plan to integrate with other channels
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

Userlike is a website messenger that allows you to assist customers as they browse your site. It offers chatbots, an omnichannel help desk, and many agent help options.

The tool has advanced functionality. A useful lead generation feature allows you to collect customer information before they start a call. You can use the data from these pre-chat forms to build a customer profile.

You can also proactively reach out to customers as they browse your website. And you can include a green circle to show that your help team is currently online which may encourage people to connect.

You can connect Userlike to other communication channels, including WhatsApp, Messenger, and SMS. You then answer all queries from within the Userlike platform and even switch to browser-based voice calls when necessary. The tool also has a dashboard that allows you to track your conversational KPIs. Just choose to highlight the ones most relevant to your business.

Userlike paid plans start at $100 per month for four seats, although you need the $320 per month for ten seats plan to integrate with other channels. The tool offers a free trial as well as an always-free version of the tool for a single user.

Roll out AI chatbots to multiple channels

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 3.9/5

LivePerson is a conversational platform that helps you automate customer conversations with AI chatbots. By automating conversations, you’ll reduce the number of tickets your team has to deal with.

The tool makes creating conversations for the use cases you need easy. And it offers pre-built conversations for common issues like payment reminders and order status updates.

A cool feature is that each conversation uses contextual customer data to provide personalized experiences. For example, if a customer wants to return a purchase, the tool can search through their profile to find the most recently ordered item to make their reply relevant. And if the AI has problems, your team can see the conversations and jump in to help.

Another great thing about LivePerson is that you can roll out the chatbots on multiple platforms such as Messenger, WhatsApp, and your website. This means customers can contact you on the channels they already use.

LivePerson doesn’t advertise pricing on its website. But you can contact the sales team to get a demo via the website.

Offer self-help resources within your chat widget

  • 15 Days Free Trial
  • From $25/month

Helpscout is a customer service platform with a powerful live chat toolkit. The chat widget is central to the tool: it allows you to offer live support alongside access to self-support documents, which can reduce the number of chats your team has to deal with.

I like that you can choose which articles to recommend on each page of your website. This makes it easy for visitors to find the most relevant support. And you can also add a survey to find out whether the article answered the customer question or not. If it didn’t, consider updating the information or adding a new article.

Despite the focus on self-help resources, it’s always easy for customers to start a live chat. And the tool has a super clean user interface you can customize to fit with your other branding.Helpscout’s cheapest plan with live chat starts at $25 per user per month. You can also sign up for a 15-day free trial to test the software.

Need expert help selecting the right Customer Chat Software?

We’ve joined up with the software comparison platform Crozdesk.com to assist you in finding the right software. Crozdesk’s Customer Chat Software advisors can create a personalized shortlist of software solutions with unbiased recommendations to help you identify the solutions that best suit your business's needs. Through our partnership you get free access to their bespoke software selection advice, removing both time and hassle from the research process.

It only takes a minute to submit your requirements and they will give you a quick call at no cost or commitment. Based on your needs you’ll receive customized software shortlists listing the best-fitting solutions from their team of software advisors (via phone or email). They can even connect you with your selected vendor choices along with community negotiated discounts. To get started, please complete the form below:

Other Live Chat Software

Here are a few more tools that didn’t make the top list. These could still be great options for the right business.

  1. Tidio Chat

    Best for ecommerce

  2. Genesys DX

    Live chat with a powerful agent dashboard

  3. Tidio

    Best for its standalone and embedded chat options

  4. LiveAgent

    Best for offering voice support

  5. HubSpot CRM

    Best for streamlining customer interactions with scalable live chat solutions

  6. Zendesk

    Powerful help desk software with chat features

  7. Pure Chat

    Live chat with CRM or help desk integration

  8. Smartsupp

    Live chat with features to power shopping experiences

  9. SnapEngage

    Live chat with CRM or help desk integration

  10. Olark

    Live chat with customer data insights

If you still haven't found what you're looking for here, check out these related customer experience management tools that we've tested and evaluated.

Selection Criteria for Live Chat Software

Selecting the right live chat software hinges on matching the software's functionality with the specific use cases that matter most to your business. These use cases address common pain points and needs, ensuring end users can seamlessly connect with your team in real time. Having personally tried and researched these tools, I prioritize features that not only meet basic communication needs but also offer unique functionalities that set them apart from the competition.

Core Live Chat Software Functionality: 25% of total weighting score

Common features for live chat software typically include real-time messaging, automated greetings, chatbots, file sharing, customization options, visitor tracking, integration capabilities, mobile optimization, analytics, and proactive engagement tools.

To be considered for inclusion on my list of the best live chat software, solutions had to support the ability to fulfill common use cases:

  • Immediate customer support
  • Proactive engagement with site visitors
  • Handling multiple conversations simultaneously
  • Integrating with other business tools (CRM, email, etc.)
  • Analyzing chat interactions for insights

Additional Standout Features: 25% of total weighting score

  • Innovative AI functionalities for smarter chatbots
  • Advanced analytics for deeper insights into customer behavior
  • Seamless omnichannel support integrating various communication platforms
  • Unique customization options for a branded experience
  • Novel features like VR/AR support for immersive service experiences

We explore and test for functionality that goes beyond generic offerings by identifying tools that leverage these new and innovative features effectively.

Usability: 10% of total weighting score

  • Intuitive interface that simplifies navigation and operation
  • Streamlined processes for managing chats and accessing features
  • Balance between comprehensive functionality and simplicity to accommodate users of varying skill levels
  • Clear and responsive design, especially for mobile devices

Onboarding: 10% of total weighting score

  • Straightforward setup process
  • Comprehensive resources like training videos, product tours, and templates
  • Availability of direct support during the initial setup
  • Community forums or webinars for user engagement and learning

Customer Support: 10% of total weighting score

  • Multiple support channels (email, phone, live chat)
  • Quick response times and effective problem resolution
  • Knowledgeable and helpful support team
  • Resources like FAQs, knowledge bases, and user guides

Value For Money: 10% of total weighting score

  • Competitive pricing models that offer clear benefits for different sizes of businesses
  • Transparent costs without hidden fees
  • Scalability of plans to grow with your business needs
  • Free trials or demos to evaluate the software before committing

Customer Reviews: 10% of total weighting score

  • Positive feedback on ease of use and setup
  • Strong testimonials regarding customer support quality
  • User stories highlighting how the software solved specific business challenges
  • Reviews that emphasize reliability and performance under various conditions

Selecting live chat software involves a detailed comparison of features, usability, support, and value. Prioritizing tools that not only meet essential communication needs but also offer unique and advanced functionalities can significantly enhance your customer service efforts. This approach ensures that your choice of live chat software is a strategic investment in improving real-time engagement with your customers.

Here are some trends I’ve noticed for live chat software technology, plus what they might mean for the future of customer service and engagement. I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs to tease out the most important insights.

  • Use of AR and VR: Some live chat systems are beginning to integrate augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to provide unique and immersive support experiences. This innovative approach can transform customer service, especially in industries where visual demonstrations enhance understanding and engagement.
  • Proactive Engagement Tools: Features that enable businesses to initiate contact with visitors based on their behavior on the site are highly sought after. They not only improve customer engagement rates but also boost the potential for sales conversions by addressing needs proactively.
  • Real-Time Support and Co-Browsing: The ability for support agents to offer real-time assistance, including co-browsing capabilities where agents can guide users through processes directly on their screen, remains in high demand. This feature is crucial for enhancing customer support and ensuring effective problem-solving.

By selecting live chat software solutions that align with these new developments, businesses can enhance the customer experience, streamline operations, and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of online communication and customer service.

What is Live Chat Software?

Live chat software is a messaging help desk tool that allows end users to connect with members of your team in real time. They're often used by customer support teams or sales teams to provide information and support. Many have automated chatbot tools to answer FAQs or offer self-serve resources from your knowledge base. They often also have multi-channel management capabilities, chat history, automated follow-ups, support ticket distribution, and analytics tools to monitor your processes.

Using live chat software offers numerous benefits, including faster customer support, increased engagement with your customers, and improved customer satisfaction. These modern tools also make it easy to request immediate feedback from your customers, giving you a competitive advantage.

Features of Live Chat Software

Here are some of the core features I looked for to include a platform on my best live chat software list:

  1. Live Chat Widget: Embed a customizable chat widget on your website. This feature not only facilitates immediate communication but also allows the customization of widget content and the addition of helpful resources or documents directly within the chat interface.
  2. Omnichannel Support: Integrate support across multiple channels including social media, email, and video chat. Ensuring your live chat software can seamlessly connect with these platforms means a unified customer experience, regardless of their preferred communication method.
  3. Chatbots: Deploy chatbots for real-time, automated support. Chatbots are essential for managing initial inquiries and providing self-serve options, efficiently bridging the gap until a live agent becomes available.
  4. Proactive Support: Initiate conversations with website visitors through proactive chat popups. This feature not only addresses potential questions before they arise but also serves as an effective tool for improving conversion rates and generating leads.
  5. Agent-side Features: Access advanced tools such as answer templates, the option for multiple agents to enter a single conversation, automated ticket routing, and knowledge base search. These functionalities streamline the support process and enhance the efficiency of your team.
  6. Customization and Branding: Tailor the look and feel of your chat interface to match your brand. This coherence in branding fosters trust and a more personalized user experience.
  7. Real-time Analytics and Reporting: Monitor chat performance and customer interactions through detailed analytics. This insight helps in optimizing your support strategies and improving overall service quality.
  8. File Sharing: Allow agents and customers to exchange documents and images directly within the chat. This capability significantly speeds up problem resolution and enhances the communication flow.
  9. Integration with CRM Systems: Ensure seamless integration with your existing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. This connectivity provides agents with immediate access to customer histories and preferences, enabling more personalized and informed support.
  10. Security and Compliance: Adhere to stringent security standards and compliance regulations. Protecting customer data and ensuring privacy is paramount, especially in sectors with rigorous data protection laws.

By prioritizing these features in your live chat software, you equip your team with the necessary tools to offer prompt, efficient, and highly responsive customer support.

Benefits of Using Live Chat Software

With an impressive 41% of customers showing a preference for live chat over other support channels, its adoption can significantly uplift the customer service experience and operational efficiency. Here are five primary benefits that live chat software offers to both users and organizations:

  1. Immediate Response Times: Live chat ensures that customer queries are addressed instantly. This rapid response capability enhances customer satisfaction by eliminating long wait times associated with phone or email support, thereby meeting the modern customer's expectation for quick and efficient service.
  2. Increased Engagement: By offering proactive contact options and chatbots for self-service support, live chat software significantly boosts customer engagement. This personalized approach helps in addressing customer needs in real-time, fostering a positive user experience and encouraging repeated interactions with the brand.
  3. Unified Communication: The software consolidates conversations from various channels into a single inbox. This seamless integration across social media, email, and SMS communications streamlines the workflow for agents, enabling them to provide more cohesive and informed support without the hassle of switching between platforms.
  4. Cost Efficiency: Live chat software is a cost-effective solution for customer support. By handling multiple inquiries simultaneously and reducing the need for extensive phone support infrastructure, organizations can lower operational costs while still delivering high-quality service.
  5. Enhanced Resolution Rates: With features like real-time typing view, file sharing, and access to a comprehensive knowledge base, live chat improves the efficiency of problem-solving. Agents can provide faster and more accurate solutions, which leads to higher resolution rates and overall customer satisfaction.

For businesses in pursuit of excellence in customer service and operational efficiency, live chat software is an invaluable asset. It not only meets the contemporary demand for instant support but also enhances the quality of interactions between customers and brands.

Cost & Pricing for Live Chat Software

The price range for live chat software varies depending on the functionality, integration capabilities, and level of customer support offered. To accommodate your specific needs, this guide covers a broad spectrum of options, from straightforward live chat solutions for small businesses to more sophisticated systems designed for larger enterprises with complex customer service demands.

Below is a breakdown of typical plan options and their pricing:

Plan TypeAverage PriceCommon Features
Free$0Basic live chat functionality, limited chat history and concurrent chats, basic customization
Basic$10-$30/user/monthEnhanced chat capabilities, customization options, basic analytics
Professional$35-$75/user/monthAdvanced features such as CRM integrations, omnichannel support, comprehensive analytics
Enterprise$100+/user/monthPremium support, custom integrations, full analytics suite, unlimited scalability, advanced security

When choosing a live chat software plan, it’s crucial for you and your team to carefully evaluate your specific customer service needs and budget constraints. Selecting a plan that offers the right mix of essential features at a cost-effective price point can ensure a wise investment in optimizing your customer interactions. Consider starting with a free plan to see if the software meets your requirements, and then progress through more advanced pricing plans as your company's needs grow and evolve.

What do you think about this list?

All the tools on this list are good ways to offer live chat support to your customers. The best platform for you depends on the specific features you need and how much you are willing to spend. 

The good news is that most of the tools offer free trials, so it’s easy to try a couple of them out to find one that you like. 

For more insight and help with customer-related challenges, sign up for The CX Lead newsletter. Every week we send out insight and articles from top CX thinkers. 

Related Read: Shortlist of the Best Customer Tracking Software