Crisp vs LiveChat: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Elena Kowalski, Security & Enterprise Editorยท12 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing Crisp and LiveChat in 2026, Crisp is the stronger choice for startups wanting free, all-in-one customer messaging from day one due to generous free plan. LiveChat excels for e-commerce and service businesses wanting reliable, real-time live chat with reliable and stable chat platform. Crisp offers Shared inbox, Live chat, Chatbots starting at $25/mo with a free plan. LiveChat provides Live chat, Ticketing, Chat archives from $20/agent/mo. For teams prioritizing value, Crisp delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 74/100. Crisp and LiveChat compete in the customer support segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading customer support tools include Zendesk, Intercom, Freshdesk. Crisp serves 500K+ orgs users globally (founded 2015) while LiveChat reports 38K+ orgs active users (founded 2002).

Crisp vs LiveChat at a Glance

Crisp
LiveChat
Starting Price
$25/mo
$20/agent/mo
Free Plan
Yes
No
User Rating
4.5/5
4.5/5
Best For
Startups wanting free, all-in-one customer messagi...
E-commerce and service businesses wanting reliable...
Users
500K+ orgs
38K+ orgs
Founded
2015
2002
hiltonsoftware Score
74/100
70/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
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Crisp
Customer Support
74
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
๐Ÿ—จ๏ธ
LiveChat
Customer Support
70
hiltonsoftware.co Score

What are the main differences between Crisp and LiveChat?

Crisp and LiveChat differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Crisp leads in 5 of 7 categories.

CrispLiveChat
86Ease of Use79
78Features81
72Value for Money65
67Customer Support70
68Integrations62
66Scalability64
74Learning Curve68

What are the pros and cons of Crisp vs LiveChat?

Crisp
+Generous free plan
+All-in-one for early-stage companies
-Limited scalability for enterprise
-Mobile app needs improvement
LiveChat
+Reliable and stable chat platform
+Good widget customization
-No free plan
-Limited automation versus rivals

Which is better, Crisp or LiveChat?

After evaluating Crisp and LiveChat across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Crisp earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 74/100 versus LiveChat at 70/100. Crisp stands out for "generous free plan" and "all-in-one for early-stage companies". LiveChat delivers competitive advantages in "reliable and stable chat platform", making LiveChat a viable alternative.

On pricing, Crisp offers a free plan for SMBs and startups. LiveChat starts at $20/agent/mo with no free tier, but justifies the cost with live chat and ticketing and enterprise-grade scalability.

Bottom line: Choose Crisp for startups wanting free, all-in-one customer messaging from day one. Choose LiveChat for e-commerce and service businesses wanting reliable, real-time live chat. Both Crisp and LiveChat are established customer support platforms.

CHOOSE CRISP IF:

Startups wanting free, all-in-one customer messaging from day one.

CHOOSE LIVECHAT IF:

E-commerce and service businesses wanting reliable, real-time live chat.

Crisp vs LiveChat: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Crisp better than LiveChat in 2026?
Crisp outperforms LiveChat in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 74/100 compared to 70/100. Crisp excels in Shared inbox, Live chat, Chatbots, making Crisp the better choice for Startups wanting free, all-in-one customer messaging from day one. LiveChat is the stronger option for E-commerce and service businesses wanting reliable, real-time live chat due to reliable and stable chat platform. For teams needing shared inbox, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Crisp.
How does Crisp pricing compare to LiveChat in 2026?
Crisp starts at $25/mo and includes a free plan. LiveChat starts at $20/agent/mo without a free plan. Crisp includes features like Shared inbox, Live chat, Chatbots. LiveChat provides Live chat, Ticketing, Chat archives. Crisp serves 500K+ orgs users while LiveChat serves 38K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Crisp and LiveChat?
Crisp specializes in Shared inbox, Live chat, Chatbots, earning a 74/100 hiltonsoftware Score. LiveChat focuses on Live chat, Ticketing, Chat archives, scoring 70/100. Crisp is best for Startups wanting free, all-in-one customer messaging from day one. LiveChat is best for E-commerce and service businesses wanting reliable, real-time live chat. Both Crisp and LiveChat serve the Customer Support market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Crisp to LiveChat?
Migrating from Crisp to LiveChat is possible since both operate in the Customer Support space. Export data from Crisp and verify LiveChat import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Shared inbox, Live chat, Chatbots (Crisp) versus Live chat, Ticketing, Chat archives (LiveChat). Running both Crisp and LiveChat in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Crisp or LiveChat better for small business?
For small businesses, Crisp offers a free plan with shared inbox. Crisp scores 74/100 on hiltonsoftware.co. LiveChat (starting at $20/agent/mo) is worth the investment for businesses needing Live chat, Ticketing, Chat archives. Both Crisp and LiveChat support SMB and startup teams.

Reviewed by Elena Kowalski, Security & Enterprise Editor. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

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