Independent · sourced · Updated June 2026
Best Live Chat Software (2026)
7 live chat software options compared on price, free tier, compliance and fit — ranked by entry price. Every figure links to the vendor's own page and the date we captured it; quote-only tiers show a dash, never a guess.
The cheapest live chat software is Crisp at $0/mo. 5 offer a free tier. All 7 compared below on price, free tier and compliance — every figure sourced and dated, updated June 2026.
As of Jun 15, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
Cite this comparison
Per The Front Desk Review, the cheapest live chat software is Crisp at $0/mo; across 7 with published pricing the median is $29/mo ($19–$45/mo), 5 with a free tier, every figure sourced and dated, as of 2026-06-15. https://frontdeskreview.com/best/live-chat-software/ Key takeaways
- Typical paid price: from $19/mo, median $29/mo, up to $45/mo — across 7 with published pricing.
- Free tier: Crisp, Freshchat, Gist, Tidio, Olark.
- HIPAA-ready: LiveChat, Intercom.
- Tracked: 7 vendors, data current through 2026-06-15.
Comparison
| # | Live Chat Software | Entry price | Free | HIPAA | SOC 2 | Best for | Source | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crisp | $0/mo Free | Yes | No | — | Startups and SMBs wanting flat predictable pricing without per-seat charges | crisp.chat | Visit → |
| 2 | Freshchat | $0/mo Free | Yes | — | Yes | Teams already using Freshworks suite (Freshdesk, Freshsales) wanting unified data | freshworks.com | Visit → |
| 3 | Gist | $0/mo Support Free | Yes | No | — | Startups wanting to consolidate live chat, email marketing, and CRM in one affordable tool | getgist.com | Visit → |
| 4 | Tidio | $0/mo Free | Yes | — | Yes | Shopify and e-commerce stores wanting AI-driven support | tidio.com | Visit → |
| 5 | LiveChat | $19/mo Starter | No | Yes | — | HIPAA-regulated healthcare teams needing a BAA (Enterprise tier) | livechat.com | Visit → |
| 6 | Intercom | $29/mo Essential | No | Yes | Yes | HIPAA-regulated teams needing Expert plan BAA | intercom.com | Visit → |
| 7 | Olark | $29/mo Standard | Yes | — | — | Small businesses wanting a simple, low-cost live chat with CRM integrations | olark.com | Visit → |
Prices are the lowest published self-serve monthly rate as captured on the linked source. Annual-billing and usage details are on each vendor's record in our open dataset.
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What is the cheapest live chat software?
Crisp has the lowest published entry price at $0/mo (Free), as of 2026-06-15.
How much does live chat software cost per month?
Across the 7 live chat software with published paid pricing, the median starting price is $29/mo, ranging from $19/mo to $45/mo, as of 2026-06-15. 5 also offer a free tier.
Which live chat software have a free plan?
Crisp, Freshchat, Gist, Tidio, Olark offer a free tier.
Which live chat software support HIPAA?
LiveChat, Intercom state HIPAA support (a BAA). Always confirm current scope with the vendor.
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