LiveChat vs Crisp 2026: Features, Pricing & Who Wins

Honest breakdown of pricing traps, support quality, implementation timelines, and who wins on automation based on real user reviews and head-to-head testing.
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LiveChat vs Crisp: How They Stack Up

Side-by-side comparison on the things that matter most

Criteria Criteria
LiveChat LiveChat
Crisp Crisp
G2 Rating
4.5/5 (800+ reviews); Capterra: 4.6/5
4.5/5 (220+ reviews); Capterra: 4.5/5
Starting price
No free plan; Starter: $19/agent/mo (1 agent only, annual billing)
Free: 2 agents; Mini: €45/mo; Essentials: €95/mo; Plus: €295/mo
Setup time
Minutes; copy-paste code snippet; 14-day free trial available
Minutes; code snippet or CMS plugin; 2-minute widget installation
Hidden costs
Starter: 1 agent max; ChatBot sold separately; ticketing needs HelpDesk
Multi-brand: separate workspace per brand; 10-agent cap on Essentials
AI copilot pricing
Copilot AI assistant included in all paid plans
Hugo AI Agent; included in all plans; credits limited by tier
Agentic AI pricing
ChatBot integration (separate product); AI chat routing available
Hugo AI + Workflows; scenario-based; unlimited conversations on Plus
Storage
60-day history on Starter; unlimited on Business and above
Cloud-only; EU-hosted; unlimited conversations on all plans
Support availability
Chat and email all plans; dedicated account manager on Enterprise
Live chat support; praised in reviews; community docs available

TLDR Verdict

Quick guide to help you decide
LiveChat

LiveChat

Break down

  • Starter: $19/agent/mo (1 agent); Team: from $39/agent/mo annual billing
  • G2: 4.5/5; 37,000+ businesses; founded 2002; NASDAQ: TEXT
  • Copilot AI assistant included on all paid plans at no extra cost
  • Best for teams wanting dedicated live chat without helpdesk complexity
Crisp

Crisp

Break down

  • Free: 2 agents; Essentials: €95/mo; unlimited conversations on all plans
  • 700,000+ businesses; 100% bootstrapped; EU-hosted for GDPR compliance
  • Hugo AI Agent; omnichannel inbox; 96% cheaper than Intercom at scale
  • Best for SMBs wanting omnichannel chat at predictable flat pricing

LiveChat vs Crisp: Key Differences Explained

Key differences between LiveChat and Crisp

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LiveChat's Recent Evolution

Both LiveChat and Crisp are evolving rapidly in 2026 with AI at the center of their roadmaps.

  • LiveChat: check latest product updates on their official website
  • Crisp: check latest announcements for current product direction
  • Both platforms investing heavily in AI capabilities for 2026
file-box

Platform Architecture

LiveChat and Crisp serve different use cases and organizational profiles.

  • LiveChat: Minutes; copy-paste code snippet; 14-day free trial available
  • Crisp: Minutes; code snippet or CMS plugin; 2-minute widget installation
  • Evaluate complexity vs. capability for your team's maturity
Revenue

Pricing Models

Pricing structures differ significantly between LiveChat and Crisp.

  • LiveChat: No free plan; Starter: $19/agent/mo (1 agent only, annual billing)
  • Crisp: Free: 2 agents; Mini: €45/mo; Essentials: €95/mo; Plus: €295/mo
  • Verify total cost including all AI add-ons before committing
workflow

Automation Architecture

Both platforms invest in automation but with fundamentally different approaches.

  • LiveChat AI: Copilot AI assistant included in all paid plans
  • Crisp AI: Hugo AI Agent; included in all plans; credits limited by tier
  • Evaluate agentic AI availability at your specific target plan tier
headset

Support Quality

Support quality is critical for any platform you depend on long-term.

  • LiveChat: 4.5/5 (800+ reviews); Capterra: 4.6/5
  • Crisp: 4.5/5 (220+ reviews); Capterra: 4.5/5
  • Verify live support access at your target plan tier before purchasing
blocks

Integration Ecosystem

Integration breadth and depth differ significantly between the two platforms.

  • LiveChat: verify key must-have integrations before buying
  • Crisp: verify Marketplace or API availability at your plan tier
  • Confirm native connectors vs. third-party workarounds required

Product Overview

Understanding what each platform offers
LiveChat

LiveChat

Dedicated live chat platform for real-time customer support

LiveChat is a dedicated live chat platform founded in 2002 in Wroclaw, Poland, now part of Text (NASDAQ: TEXT). It serves 37,000+ businesses in 150 countries with per-agent pricing. In 2026, LiveChat focuses on real-time chat excellence with a Copilot AI assistant included on all plans, 200+ integrations, and strong CSAT measurement. ChatBot and HelpDesk sold as separate products.

Founded
Founded
2002
Revenue
Revenue
~$87.5M (2024 TTM)
Employees
Employees
~700 (Text Group)
Ownership
Ownership
Public (NASDAQ: TEXT, Poland)
Crisp

Crisp

Affordable omnichannel messaging and AI support for SMBs

Crisp is an all-in-one customer messaging platform founded in 2015 in Nantes, France by Baptiste Jamin and Valerian Saliou. 100% bootstrapped with no external funding, Crisp serves 700,000+ businesses with flat per-workspace pricing. It offers live chat, email, WhatsApp, AI Agent (Hugo), shared inbox, and knowledge base at a fraction of Intercom's cost, EU-hosted.

Founded
Founded
2015
Revenue
Revenue
[NOT PUBLICLY DISCLOSED]
Employees
Employees
~50
Ownership
Ownership
Private (bootstrapped; zero VC funding)

Feature by Feature Comparison

Deep dive into how each platform performs across key areas
LiveChat

LiveChat

  • G2: 4.5/5 (800+ reviews); Capterra: 4.6/5
  • Setup: Minutes; copy-paste code snippet; 14-day free trial available
  • Pricing starts at: No free plan; Starter: $19/agent/mo (1 agent only, annual billing)
  • Best evaluated with a hands-on trial before committing
LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Entry price: No free plan; Starter: $19/agent/mo (1 agent only, annual billing)
  • AI cost: Copilot AI assistant included in all paid plans
  • Hidden costs: Starter: 1 agent max; ChatBot sold separately; ticketing needs HelpDesk
  • Model expected volume carefully before selecting a plan tier
LiveChat

LiveChat

  • AI copilot: Copilot AI assistant included in all paid plans
  • Agentic AI: ChatBot integration (separate product); AI chat routing available
  • Review automation depth against your specific workflow complexity
LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Storage: 60-day history on Starter; unlimited on Business and above
  • Review integration marketplace for your must-have tool connections
  • API availability and rate limits vary by plan tier
LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Review SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA certifications on vendor website
  • Storage and data handling: 60-day history on Starter; unlimited on Business and above
  • Verify data residency options available for your region
LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Support: Chat and email all plans; dedicated account manager on Enterprise
  • G2 rating: 4.5/5 (800+ reviews); Capterra: 4.6/5
  • Verify live support availability at your specific target plan tier
LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Review built-in analytics and dashboard capabilities on vendor site
  • Custom reporting availability varies by plan tier
  • Consider third-party BI tool integration requirements
LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Admin complexity varies by plan tier and team technical maturity
  • Review role-based access and governance features available
  • SSO/SAML: verify availability at your specific target plan tier
LiveChat

LiveChat

  • G2: 4.5/5 (800+ reviews); Capterra: 4.6/5
  • Setup: Minutes; copy-paste code snippet; 14-day free trial available
  • Pricing starts at: No free plan; Starter: $19/agent/mo (1 agent only, annual billing)
  • Best evaluated with a hands-on trial before committing
Crisp

Crisp

  • G2: 4.5/5 (220+ reviews); Capterra: 4.5/5
  • Setup: Minutes; code snippet or CMS plugin; 2-minute widget installation
  • Pricing starts at: Free: 2 agents; Mini: €45/mo; Essentials: €95/mo; Plus: €295/mo
  • Best evaluated with a hands-on trial before committing

Bottom line: LiveChat and Crisp have different setup timelines. Evaluate based on your team's technical maturity and admin time available.

LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Entry price: No free plan; Starter: $19/agent/mo (1 agent only, annual billing)
  • AI cost: Copilot AI assistant included in all paid plans
  • Hidden costs: Starter: 1 agent max; ChatBot sold separately; ticketing needs HelpDesk
  • Model expected volume carefully before selecting a plan tier
Crisp

Crisp

  • Entry price: Free: 2 agents; Mini: €45/mo; Essentials: €95/mo; Plus: €295/mo
  • AI cost: Hugo AI Agent; included in all plans; credits limited by tier
  • Hidden costs: Multi-brand: separate workspace per brand; 10-agent cap on Essentials
  • Model expected volume carefully before selecting a plan tier

Bottom line: Total cost includes base plan, AI add-ons, and usage fees. Model your expected volume before committing to any plan.

LiveChat

LiveChat

  • AI copilot: Copilot AI assistant included in all paid plans
  • Agentic AI: ChatBot integration (separate product); AI chat routing available
  • Review automation depth against your specific workflow complexity
Crisp

Crisp

  • AI copilot: Hugo AI Agent; included in all plans; credits limited by tier
  • Agentic AI: Hugo AI + Workflows; scenario-based; unlimited conversations on Plus
  • Review automation depth against your specific workflow complexity

Bottom line: Both offer automation at different complexity levels. Evaluate against your actual workflow requirements.

LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Storage: 60-day history on Starter; unlimited on Business and above
  • Review integration marketplace for your must-have tool connections
  • API availability and rate limits vary by plan tier
Crisp

Crisp

  • Storage: Cloud-only; EU-hosted; unlimited conversations on all plans
  • Review integration marketplace for your must-have tool connections
  • API availability and rate limits vary by plan tier

Bottom line: Integration breadth differs. Verify must-have connections are available at your target plan tier.

LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Review SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA certifications on vendor website
  • Storage and data handling: 60-day history on Starter; unlimited on Business and above
  • Verify data residency options available for your region
Crisp

Crisp

  • Review SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA certifications on vendor website
  • Storage and data handling: Cloud-only; EU-hosted; unlimited conversations on all plans
  • Verify data residency options available for your region

Bottom line: Both meet enterprise security standards at higher tiers. Verify compliance for your industry before buying.

LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Support: Chat and email all plans; dedicated account manager on Enterprise
  • G2 rating: 4.5/5 (800+ reviews); Capterra: 4.6/5
  • Verify live support availability at your specific target plan tier
Crisp

Crisp

  • Support: Live chat support; praised in reviews; community docs available
  • G2 rating: 4.5/5 (220+ reviews); Capterra: 4.5/5
  • Verify live support availability at your specific target plan tier

Bottom line: Support access varies by plan tier. Verify live support availability before choosing your plan.

LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Review built-in analytics and dashboard capabilities on vendor site
  • Custom reporting availability varies by plan tier
  • Consider third-party BI tool integration requirements
Crisp

Crisp

  • Review built-in analytics and dashboard capabilities on vendor site
  • Custom reporting availability varies by plan tier
  • Consider third-party BI tool integration requirements

Bottom line: Analytics depth differs between platforms. Evaluate built-in reporting against your measurement needs.

LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Admin complexity varies by plan tier and team technical maturity
  • Review role-based access and governance features available
  • SSO/SAML: verify availability at your specific target plan tier
Crisp

Crisp

  • Admin complexity varies by plan tier and team technical maturity
  • Review role-based access and governance features available
  • SSO/SAML: verify availability at your specific target plan tier

Bottom line: Admin complexity varies by platform. Evaluate based on available IT resources and governance needs.

Pricing & Value Breakdown

Transparent comparison of costs and what's included — LiveChat vs Crisp

Plan Tier Plan Tier
LiveChat LiveChat
Crisp Crisp
Free/Entry
No free plan; 14-day trial; Starter: $19/agent/mo (1 agent only)
Free: 2 agents; basic live chat; 100 customer profiles
Mid-Tier
Team: $39/agent/mo (annual); agent groups, basic reporting, file sharing
Mini: €45/mo (4 agents); email, shortcuts, basic automations
Professional
Business: $59/agent/mo (annual); advanced reporting, full Copilot AI
Essentials: €95/mo (10 agents); full omnichannel; AI limited to 50 uses
Enterprise
Enterprise: custom; dedicated account manager; SSO; 99.9% SLA guarantee
Plus: €295/mo; unlimited agents; full AI; advanced workflow automation
Unlimited Agent
Not available; per-agent pricing; ChatBot sold as a separate product
Not applicable; per-workspace billing; unlimited conversations all plans

AI Pricing Deep Dive

See which AI capabilities are included vs charged as extras — LiveChat vs Crisp

AI Capability AI Capability
LiveChat LiveChat
Crisp Crisp
AI Agent Assistance
Copilot AI assistant; included in all paid plans
Hugo AI Agent; AI credits limited by plan tier
Ticket Summarization
AI chat summaries; included in all paid plans no extra cost
Hugo AI: conversation summarization; plan-tiered credit limits
Response Generation
AI-generated reply suggestions; included on all paid plans
Hugo AI: response generation; credit-limited on Essentials
Intelligent Routing
Skills-based routing; Business plan and above only
Workflow-based routing; Hugo AI escalation to human agents
Sentiment Analysis
[VERIFY] via ChatBot integration; separate product
[VERIFY] via Hugo AI capabilities on paid plans
Conversational AI/Chatbot
ChatBot integration (sold separately at $52+/mo)
Hugo AI + Workflows; unlimited conversations on Plus plan
Pay-per-Resolution
Not applicable; per-agent subscription model
Not applicable; flat workspace pricing model

Hidden Costs Comparison

The real cost of LiveChat vs Crisp — what's included and what costs extra

Features Features
LiveChat LiveChat
Crisp Crisp
Data storage
60-day Starter; unlimited on Business+ plans
EU-hosted; unlimited conversation history all plans
File storage
Included in all plans
Included in all plans
Onboarding
14-day trial; documentation; help center available
Self-service; quick start guides available
Migration
CSV import; API migration; documentation available
Import tools; CSV ticket import supported
Support
Email/chat all plans; account manager on Enterprise
Live chat support; community help center docs
Implementation
Self-service; LiveChat expert marketplace
Self-service; Crisp documentation site
Training
Knowledge base free; no formal paid training program
No formal training program; docs and videos free

Industry-Specific Use Cases

Find the right platform for your industry

Features Features
LiveChat LiveChat
Crisp Crisp
Verdict Verdict
SaaS / Tech Companies
Strong: SaaS + e-commerce chat support; 200+ integrations
Strong: affordable SaaS support; omnichannel messaging flat price
Evaluate LiveChat vs Crisp based on team size and technical maturity
E-commerce / Retail
Strong: Shopify integration; e-commerce live chat focus
Strong: Shopify integration; e-commerce chat automation
Verify e-commerce integrations for your specific platform before committing
Healthcare / BFSI
Moderate: SOC 2; GDPR compliant; verify HIPAA per case
Moderate: GDPR; EU-hosted; verify HIPAA for regulated use
Verify compliance certifications against your regulatory requirements
Education / K-12 / Universities
Moderate: no free plan; Team plan affordable for education
Strong: free/Mini plan accessible for small education teams
Both serve education; evaluate cost and feature depth required
IT Services / MSPs
Moderate: live chat only; not full ITSM capabilities
Moderate: basic support; not full ITSM platform
IT/MSP support capabilities differ; verify multi-tenant support
Non-profit / Government
Moderate: affordable entry; not nonprofit-specific pricing
Strong: free plan; flat pricing for tight nonprofit budgets
Compliance and deployment flexibility varies; check government needs
Manufacturing / Logistics
Moderate: live chat for order support; not complex workflows
Moderate: basic support; not built for logistics complexity
Workflow automation depth differs; evaluate against your stack complexity

Switching to HappyFox from LiveChat or Crisp

The 4-Step Process (2-5 Weeks Total)
1

Export & Assessment

2-5 Days

Export and assess your current setup.

  • All tickets, contacts, and profiles
  • Knowledge base articles and macros
  • SLA policies and team structure
  • Custom fields, tags, and historical data
2

Config & Mapping

3-7 Days

Configure HappyFox and map your data.

  • Ticket categories, statuses and SLAs
  • Team structure and roles
  • Email routing and channels
  • Automation rules and branding
3

Automation Setup

2-5 Days

Set up automation rules and workflows.

  • Ticket routing and escalation rules
  • SLA timers and business hour calendars
  • Smart rules, canned responses, and macros
  • Integration connections and webhook triggers
4

Testing & Go-Live

5-10 Days

Test thoroughly and go live with confidence.

  • End-to-end ticket flow testing
  • Agent training and onboarding sessions
  • Parallel running period (optional)
  • Go-live with HappyFox support on standby

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper: LiveChat or Crisp?
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LiveChat starts at No free plan; Starter: $19/agent/mo (1 agent only, annual billing). Crisp starts at Free: 2 agents; Mini: €45/mo; Essentials: €95/mo; Plus: €295/mo. Always verify total cost including AI add-ons, usage fees, and hidden costs. Model your expected volume before committing to either platform.
Which platform sets up faster?
arrow
LiveChat setup: Minutes; copy-paste code snippet; 14-day free trial available. Crisp setup: Minutes; code snippet or CMS plugin; 2-minute widget installation. Setup time depends on your team's technical maturity and workflow complexity. Always use free trials where available before committing.
Which has better AI capabilities?
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LiveChat AI: Copilot AI assistant included in all paid plans. Crisp AI: Hugo AI Agent; included in all plans; credits limited by tier. Evaluate whether AI is included in base plans or requires costly add-ons, and what agentic AI is available at your target plan tier.
What are the main hidden costs to watch for?
arrow
For LiveChat: Starter: 1 agent max; ChatBot sold separately; ticketing needs HelpDesk. For Crisp: Multi-brand: separate workspace per brand; 10-agent cap on Essentials. Model your expected usage volume carefully before committing to avoid billing surprises on your first invoice.
Which platform has better customer support?
arrow
LiveChat G2 rating: 4.5/5 (800+ reviews); Capterra: 4.6/5. Support availability: Chat and email all plans; dedicated account manager on Enterprise. Crisp G2 rating: 4.5/5 (220+ reviews); Capterra: 4.5/5. Support: Live chat support; praised in reviews; community docs available. Always verify live support availability at your target plan tier before purchasing.
Editorial Note

This comparison is published by HappyFox and presents our perspective on how platforms compare. While we've made every effort to present accurate information based on publicly available data, vendor documentation, and third-party reviews as of 2026, features and pricing are subject to change. We encourage readers to verify all claims through official vendor websites, request demos from both platforms, and consult independent review sites like G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius. All customer quotes are from verified review platforms and are linked to their original sources.

Why settle for either? See what HappyFox offers.

Custom demo + side-by-side comparison + cost savings analysis

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