Guides & Learning
Results & Compliance
Guides & Learning
Results & Compliance
// Updated 15 October 2026 · LiveChat alternatives compared
LiveChat is a polished live-chat tool, but its per-user pricing and capped AI resolutions lead many teams to look for a LiveChat alternative that answers more on its own.
By the Bitsa AI team · We make Bitsa AI, listed first. Every other tool is assessed from its own pricing page and documentation, checked October 2026.
Best LiveChat alternatives in 2026
LiveChat is a well-established live-chat platform with an agent inbox and an AI agent included in its plans. These are the most common reasons teams compare other options.
The Essential plan includes 10 AI resolutions a month and Growth 200; extra packs of 50 cost $49.50.
Plans are $19 or $79 per user a month on yearly billing ($25 or $99 monthly), so cost rises with every agent.
Live chat works when someone is there to reply. After hours, visitors leave without an answer.
LiveChat offers a 14-day trial but no permanent free tier.
From LiveChat’s own pricing page, checked October 2026: Essential $19 · Growth $79 per user/month (yearly; $25 and $99 monthly). Free plan or trial: 14-day trial, no card.
LiveChat is priced per user, with AI resolutions capped by plan. Calculated from the vendor’s own pricing page, October 2026.
| Scenario | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| 1 agent, Essential | $19 a month yearly or $25 monthly (10 AI resolutions) |
| 3 agents, Essential | $57 a month yearly |
| 5 agents, Growth | $395 a month yearly (200 AI resolutions) |
| Extra AI resolutions | $49.50 per 50 |
| Bitsa AI | ₹299 to ₹1,999 a month by plan, not per user |
Bitsa AI learns your business from your documents, website and FAQs, answers in Hindi and 50+ languages, and sends every lead to your WhatsApp and email. Where LiveChat needs agents online to reply, Bitsa AI answers every visitor instantly, day and night, and sends the lead to WhatsApp, on rupee plans from ₹299 a month with no per-user fees.
Pros
Tidio is the most common LiveChat alternative for small sites: live chat plus Lyro AI, with a free plan, so you are not paying per user for basic chat.
Pros
Cons
Crisp gives a free plan and a flat price per workspace instead of LiveChat’s per-user pricing, plus a shared email inbox and knowledge base.
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Cons
Help Scout combines chat with a shared inbox and help centre, free for 5 users, with AI paid only per resolution.
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Freshchat is free for up to 10 agents for web chat and WhatsApp, the budget LiveChat alternative for growing teams.
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Zoho Desk adds chat to a full helpdesk billed in rupees, a good fit for Indian teams that want tickets and chat together.
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Cons
Intercom Fin is the premium LiveChat alternative for teams that want AI to resolve most chats on its own.
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Chatbase is an AI-only alternative trained on your documents, for sites where most chats are repeat questions.
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respond.io suits teams moving beyond website chat to WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger in one inbox.
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Cons
Starting prices in each vendor’s own currency, checked October 2026.
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| LiveChat | teams that want polished human live chat | $19/user/month | 14-day trial, no card |
| Bitsa AI | Indian businesses that want AI answers in Hindi and leads on WhatsApp | ₹299/month | 7-day free trial, no card |
| Tidio + Lyro AI | small Shopify and WooCommerce stores | Free plan | Free plan + 7-day trial |
| Crisp | startups wanting chat, inbox and a knowledge base | Free plan | Free plan + 14-day trial |
| Help Scout | small teams that want a simple shared inbox | Free plan | Free plan + 15-day trial |
| Freshchat + Freddy AI | teams already on Freshworks | Free plan | Free plan + 14-day trial |
| Zoho Desk | Indian teams that want a full helpdesk in rupees | Free plan | Free plan + 15-day trial |
| Intercom Fin | high-volume support teams | $29/seat/month | 14-day trial, no card |
| Chatbase | detailed product and policy questions | $40/month | 7-day trial (no free plan) |
| respond.io | teams handling many messaging channels | $79/month | 7-day trial, no card |
Live chat needs people online; AI answers at any hour.
Check caps such as 10 or 200 AI resolutions a month against your volume.
Multiply by your team size, now and next year.
Make sure every chat with buying intent reaches your team instantly.
Your saved replies show the questions visitors ask most.
Upload them with your FAQs and website pages so the AI answers instantly.
Swap LiveChat’s snippet for the new one-line code.
Send leads and complex chats to WhatsApp and email so your team follows up.
Stay with LiveChat if your business relies on human agents chatting in real time and you value its polished agent tools and app marketplace.
LiveChat remains a strong tool when people chat with visitors all day. Its limits show after hours and as you add agents: per-user pricing rises, and AI resolutions are capped. Tidio and Crisp are the easiest swaps for small teams with free plans. If you want every visitor answered instantly at any hour, with leads sent to WhatsApp and no per-user fees, Bitsa AI fits that need.
See every tool side by side in our guide to the best ecommerce chatbots, or compare other alternatives: