Softwr

Customer Support · head to head

Balto vs Crisp

Balto logo

Balto

Customer Support

Real-time guidance that prompts contact centre agents mid-call rather than scoring them afterwards

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Crisp logo

Crisp

Live Chat

Customer messaging platform for startups and SMBs

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Crisp has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Balto the prompts only work if agents read them, and on floors with fast handle-time targets agents learn to ignore the panel, which turns an expensive live system into an ordinary after-the-fact scorer.; Crisp free tier limited to 2 seats and 100 customer profiles
  • They diverge on capability: Balto covers Real-time prompts, Crisp covers Live chat.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Balto and Crisp actually diverge.

Attributes where Balto and Crisp differ
AttributeBaltoCrisp
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOSCloud-based SaaS
CategoryCustomer SupportLive Chat
FoundedUnknown2015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Balto

  • Real-time prompts
  • Real-Time Coaching
  • Playbook builder
  • Automated scoring
  • Balto AI Suite
  • Compliance checklists
  • Dialler and CCaaS integrations

Only in Crisp

  • Live chat
  • Shared inbox
  • Chatbots
  • Knowledge base
  • Video calls
  • CRM
  • Slack
  • WordPress

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Balto

  • A debt collection floor that must read a required disclosure on every call and wants the prompt to fire rather than a scorecard to record the failure afterwardsnot Crisp
  • An insurance enrolment team where a missed eligibility question means the application is rejected and the call has to be made againnot Crisp
  • A high-turnover outbound floor where new starters need on-screen scaffolding for the first eight weeks instead of a supervisor sitting beside themnot Crisp
  • A healthcare intake centre that needs auditable evidence that specific consent language was spoken on every recorded callnot Crisp

Crisp

  • Customer service and support automationnot Balto
  • Chat and omnichannel messagingnot Balto
  • Chatbot and AI conversation managementnot Balto
  • Customer profile and ticket managementnot Balto
  • Team collaboration on customer communicationnot Balto

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Balto

  • The prompts only work if agents read them, and on floors with fast handle-time targets agents learn to ignore the panel, which turns an expensive live system into an ordinary after-the-fact scorer.
  • Playbooks are trigger-phrase driven and need continuous maintenance as products, scripts and objections change, so the tool quietly degrades unless someone owns it as a standing job.
  • Real-time transcription on noisy lines and strong accents misfires, producing prompts that fire on the wrong cue and train agents to distrust the panel entirely.
  • It is voice-first, so a contact centre where most volume has moved to chat and messaging gets far less from it than the per-agent price implies.
  • No pricing is published and there is no self-serve tier, so evaluating it means a sales cycle plus a technical integration into your telephony before you can judge whether agents will actually use it.

Crisp

  • Free tier limited to 2 seats and 100 customer profiles
  • Additional agents cost $10/month per seat beyond included seats
  • Customer profile limits increase with each tier; 5,000 (Mini) to 200,000 (Plus)
  • Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales

Pricing, plan by plan

Balto

On request
  • Balto$undefined/year
    • Real-time agent guidance
    • Real-Time Coaching for supervisors
    • Automated call scoring

Crisp

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 seats
    • Website chat widget
    • Shared inbox
  • Mini$45/month
    • 4 seats
    • ~$5 AI credits (around 90 automated conversations)
    • Shared email inbox
  • Essentials$95/month
    • 10 seats
    • ~$25 AI credits (around 450 automated conversations)
    • Omnichannel inbox
  • Plus$295/month
    • 20+ seats
    • ~$75 AI credits (around 1,350 automated conversations)
    • Unlimited task automations

Which should you pick?

Choose Balto if

  • You need real-time prompts.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want real-time coaching.
Balto review

Choose Crisp if

  • You need live chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud-based SaaS.
  • You also want shared inbox.
Crisp review

Questions people ask

Is Balto or Crisp better?
Neither clearly leads. Balto starts at On request and Crisp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Balto or Crisp?
Crisp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Balto and Free for Crisp.
Does Balto or Crisp run on more platforms?
Balto runs on Web, Windows, macOS. Crisp runs on Cloud-based SaaS.
Can I use Crisp for free?
Yes. Crisp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Balto starts at On request.
What is Balto best used for?
Balto is most often used for a debt collection floor that must read a required disclosure on every call and wants the prompt to fire rather than a scorecard to record the failure afterwards, an insurance enrolment team where a missed eligibility question means the application is rejected and the call has to be made again, a high-turnover outbound floor where new starters need on-screen scaffolding for the first eight weeks instead of a supervisor sitting beside them, a healthcare intake centre that needs auditable evidence that specific consent language was spoken on every recorded call. Of those, a debt collection floor that must read a required disclosure on every call and wants the prompt to fire rather than a scorecard to record the failure afterwards and an insurance enrolment team where a missed eligibility question means the application is rejected and the call has to be made again are not what Crisp is typically brought in for.
What can Balto do that Crisp cannot?
Balto covers Real-time prompts, Real-Time Coaching, Playbook builder, Automated scoring. Crisp covers Live chat, Shared inbox, Chatbots, Knowledge base.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Balto: How is this different from Gong or Chorus?

Those analyse calls after they end. Balto changes the call while it is happening by prompting the agent live, which matters for compliance and much less for post-hoc coaching.

Crisp: How much does Crisp cost?

Crisp offers a free plan ($0/month for 2 seats), Mini ($45/month for 4 seats), Essentials ($95/month for 10 seats), Plus ($295/month for 20+ seats), and Enterprise (custom pricing).

Source
Balto: Does it need my telephony vendor to cooperate?

Yes. It needs a live audio stream, so it integrates at the CCaaS or dialler layer with Five9, Genesys, Amazon Connect and similar. An unsupported platform is a blocker, not a config change.

Crisp: Is there a free version of Crisp?

Yes, Crisp Free includes 2 seats, website chat widget, shared inbox, and mobile/desktop apps with a 100 customer profile limit and no AI credits.

Source
Balto: What does it cost?

Balto does not publish pricing. Expect a quoted per-agent annual contract, with the rate depending on seat count and which modules you licence.

Crisp: What are AI credits in Crisp?

AI credits power automated conversations. Mini plan includes ~$5 credits (90 conversations), Essentials includes ~$25 credits (450 conversations), Plus includes ~$75 credits (1,350 conversations).

Source
Balto: Will it work for chat teams?

Not well. The product is built around live voice, and text channels are not where its strength is.

Crisp: Does Crisp charge per additional agent?

Yes, additional agents beyond included seats cost $10/month per person. Free plan includes 2 seats; additional seats available on paid plans.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Balto

More on Crisp

Keep looking

Other head to heads