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Software · head to head

Chatwoot vs HubSpot Live Chat

Chatwoot logo

Chatwoot

Software

Open-source customer engagement platform

From
Free
Rated
-
HubSpot Live Chat logo

HubSpot Live Chat

Software

Live chat integrated with HubSpot CRM platform

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Chatwoot free plan limited to 2 agents and 500 conversations per month; HubSpot Live Chat the Internet Archive's capture of HubSpot's live chat page on 4 January 2022 confirmed live chat is offered free as part of Service Hub, which the page states also has separate premium plans, though no premium figure appeared on the page itself.
  • They diverge on capability: Chatwoot covers Live chat, HubSpot Live Chat covers Live chat messaging.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chatwoot and HubSpot Live Chat actually diverge.

Attributes where Chatwoot and HubSpot Live Chat differ
AttributeChatwootHubSpot Live Chat
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, Self-hostedWeb, Mobile app, IOS, Android
Founded20172006

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Chatwoot

  • Live chat
  • Email inbox
  • Social channels
  • Knowledge base
  • Chatbots
  • Reports
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram

Only in HubSpot Live Chat

  • Live chat messaging
  • CRM integration
  • Visitor identification
  • Chatbot builder
  • Salesforce
  • Gmail
  • Outlook
  • Mobile app support

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Chatwoot

  • Self-hosted supportnot HubSpot Live Chat
  • Privacy-first chatnot HubSpot Live Chat
  • Multi-channel supportnot HubSpot Live Chat

HubSpot Live Chat

  • Customer engagementnot Chatwoot
  • Lead generationnot Chatwoot
  • Customer supportnot Chatwoot
  • Sales automationnot Chatwoot

Where each one falls short

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

Chatwoot

  • Free plan limited to 2 agents and 500 conversations per month
  • Self-hosted option requires managing infrastructure, updates, and external messaging costs
  • Smaller ecosystem and community compared to Zendesk or Intercom
  • AI features require credit consumption and additional configuration

HubSpot Live Chat

  • The Internet Archive's capture of HubSpot's live chat page on 4 January 2022 confirmed live chat is offered free as part of Service Hub, which the page states also has separate premium plans, though no premium figure appeared on the page itself.

Pricing, plan by plan

Chatwoot

Free
  • HackerFree
    • 2 agents
    • 500 conversations per month
    • 1 live chat channel
  • Startups$19/month
    • Unlimited agents
    • Unlimited conversations

HubSpot Live Chat

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Live chat
    • CRM
    • Basic features
  • Starter$50/month
    • Marketing automation
    • Enhanced features
  • Professional$320/month
    • Advanced workflows
    • Custom reporting

Which should you pick?

Choose Chatwoot if

  • You need live chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, Self-hosted.
  • You also want email inbox.

Choose HubSpot Live Chat if

  • You need live chat messaging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android.
  • You also want crm integration.

Questions people ask

Is Chatwoot or HubSpot Live Chat better?
Neither clearly leads. Chatwoot starts at Free and HubSpot Live Chat at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chatwoot or HubSpot Live Chat?
Chatwoot starts at Free and HubSpot Live Chat at Free.
Does Chatwoot or HubSpot Live Chat run on more platforms?
Chatwoot runs on Web, Cloud, Self-hosted. HubSpot Live Chat runs on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android.
Can I use Chatwoot for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Chatwoot best used for?
Chatwoot is most often used for self-hosted support, privacy-first chat, multi-channel support. Of those, self-hosted support and privacy-first chat are not what HubSpot Live Chat is typically brought in for.
What can Chatwoot do that HubSpot Live Chat cannot?
Chatwoot covers Live chat, Email inbox, Social channels, Knowledge base. HubSpot Live Chat covers Live chat messaging, CRM integration, Visitor identification, Chatbot builder. Both handle Slack, Web support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Chatwoot: Does Chatwoot offer a self-hosted option?

Yes. Chatwoot provides both cloud-hosted and self-hosted versions. Self-hosting is free with the open-source version, though you handle infrastructure, maintenance, and external messaging costs.

Source
Chatwoot: What communication channels does Chatwoot support?

Chatwoot supports email, live chat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media channels consolidated into a single inbox.

Source
Chatwoot: Is there a free plan for Chatwoot?

Yes. Chatwoot offers a free Hacker plan supporting up to 2 agents, 500 conversations per month, and one live chat channel.

Source
Chatwoot: What AI features does Chatwoot include?

Chatwoot includes Captain AI agent for automated responses, Copilot for smart reply suggestions, and live translation features.

Source

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