- Free live chat tools side by side
- Nine free live chat tools to try
- How long should you keep chat transcripts?
- Free plan or free trial?
- Getting live chat running without stress
- Questions to ask before you add a chat box
- Signs your website needs live chat
- My plain advice on choosing free live chat software
- Frequently asked questions
The best free live chat software puts a chat box on your website so visitors can ask a question before they leave. Several tools have free plans with a shared inbox, while others offer a trial before you choose a plan. Nine options follow in no particular order.
A visitor with a quick question is often a buyer who's nearly ready. If they can't get an answer in a minute or two, they'll open a competitor's site in the next tab.
The nine chat tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the tool's own website, read this week. If you've never set chat up before, my guide on setting up business live chat walks through the first steps.
Free live chat tools side by side
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version, a free account, a free allowance or open source software. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo Conversations | Chat inbox inside the Brevo marketing platform | Chat next to email campaigns | Yes |
| Chaport | Customer messaging software with chatbots | Chat plus simple chatbots | Trial only |
| Crisp | AI customer support platform | Solopreneurs starting with one inbox | Yes |
| Freshchat | Customer messaging, live chat and chatbots | Teams already using Freshworks | Trial only |
| HubSpot Live Chat | Free live chat inside the HubSpot CRM | Chats that land in your CRM | Yes |
| LiveAgent | Help desk software with live chat | A help desk with chat built in | Trial only |
| Smartsupp | Live chat, chatbot and AI tools for online shops | Ecommerce chat that boosts sales | Yes |
| tawk.to | Free live chat software for websites | Completely free chat with no seat limits | Yes |
| Tidio | Live chat and AI agent for support and sales | Chat with an AI agent ready to help | Yes |
Nine free live chat tools to try
Brevo Conversations
Best for: Small businesses already sending newsletters with Brevo who want website chat in the same free-to-start account.
Chaport
Best for: Small teams that want a tidy chat widget, chatbots for common questions and mobile apps to reply on the go.
Crisp
Best for: Solo founders and small shops that want a free starting plan for chat, then AI support features as they grow.
Freshchat
Best for: Support teams using other Freshworks tools who want messaging, chat and bots that connect to their help desk.
HubSpot Live Chat
Best for: Sales-led businesses that want every website chat saved to a contact record in a free CRM.
LiveAgent
Best for: Growing support teams that want chat, email tickets and AI answers together in one help desk.
Smartsupp
Best for: Online shops that want chat, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp messages answered from one free account.
tawk.to
Best for: Very small businesses and charities that want free live chat on their website with a ticketing inbox included.
Tidio
Best for: Ecommerce stores that want live chat with an AI agent answering common questions before a person steps in.
How long should you keep chat transcripts?
Longer than a day, shorter than forever. The Information Commissioner's Office says you must not keep personal data for longer than you need it, and that you need to think about, and be able to justify, how long you keep it.
Chat transcripts often hold names, email addresses and order details. Decide how long you'll keep them, such as long enough to handle a complaint or a return, and check your chat tool lets you delete or export old conversations.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Free plan or free trial?
A free plan lets you keep chatting without upgrading, usually with limits on agents, history or branding. A free trial gives you every feature for a short time, then asks you to choose a plan.
If you're a one-person business, a free plan may be all you ever need. If several people answer chats, look at what happens to history and seats once the free period ends, so nobody's surprised later.
Getting live chat running without stress
Start with short opening hours you can keep. A chat box that says you'll reply within minutes, then leaves people waiting an hour, does more harm than having no chat at all. Set clear hours and an away message that collects an email address.
Save answers to your ten most common questions as quick replies on day one. You'll answer faster, sound consistent and spot which questions belong on your website as well.
Questions to ask before you add a chat box
- Does the free plan include enough agents for my team?
- How long does it keep chat history on the free plan?
- Can I reply from my phone when I'm away from my desk?
- Does it connect to my email, CRM or help desk?
- Can visitors leave a message when nobody's online?
- Can I delete or export transcripts when I need to?
Signs your website needs live chat
- People email the same questions. Answer them live.
- Visitors leave at checkout. Help them finish.
- Phone lines are busy. Chat takes the pressure off.
- You sell to busy people. They prefer a quick message.
Do you make live chat software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing free live chat software
Pick the tool you'll answer from, not the one with the most features. If you live on your phone, a great mobile app matters more than clever automation you'll never set up.
And be honest about your hours, because a fast reply at 10am beats a promise of round-the-clock help you can't keep. My checklist of what to look for in live chat software covers the finer points.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free live chat software?
It depends on your team size and where you reply from. The list above is in no particular order because each tool suits a different business.
Is free live chat software really free?
Some tools have free plans you can keep, and others offer trials. The free plan column shows what each tool's own site says.
Do I need to be online all the time?
No. Most tools let visitors leave a message when you're away, and you can set clear opening hours.
How long can I keep chat transcripts?
The ICO says you must not keep personal data longer than you need it, so set a sensible retention period.
Can live chat connect to my CRM?
Many tools connect to CRMs or include their own. Check before you choose if you want every chat saved to a contact.
Will live chat slow my website down?
A chat widget adds a small script. Test your page speed after adding it.
