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Customer Support · head to head

Chatwoot vs PocketBase

Chatwoot logo

Chatwoot

Customer Support

Open-source customer engagement platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PocketBase logo

PocketBase

APIs

Open-source backend with REST API, real-time subscriptions and Admin UI

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Chatwoot free plan limited to 2 agents and 500 conversations per month; PocketBase requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain
  • They diverge on capability: Chatwoot covers Live chat, PocketBase covers REST API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chatwoot and PocketBase actually diverge.

Attributes where Chatwoot and PocketBase differ
AttributeChatwootPocketBase
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, Self-hostedLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
CategoryCustomer SupportAPIs
Founded20172021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), 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 Chatwoot

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

Only in PocketBase

  • REST API
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Admin UI
  • SQLite
  • Webhooks
  • File storage
  • Go support
  • Docker support

Both cover

  • Self-hosted support

What people use each for

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

Chatwoot

  • Self-hosted supportnot PocketBase
  • Privacy-first chatnot PocketBase
  • Multi-channel supportnot PocketBase

PocketBase

  • Embedded realtime database with REST APInot Chatwoot
  • Backend-as-a-service for single-file deploymentsnot Chatwoot
  • Rapid application development with email/OAuth2 authenticationnot Chatwoot
  • File storage and media attachment managementnot Chatwoot
  • Lightweight alternative to Firebase or traditional backend infrastructurenot Chatwoot
  • Go and JavaScript customisable application frameworknot 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

PocketBase

  • Requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain
  • No built-in hosting provided
  • Community support only

Pricing, plan by plan

Chatwoot

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

PocketBase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PocketBase review.

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.
Chatwoot review

Choose PocketBase if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want real-time subscriptions.
PocketBase review

Questions people ask

Is Chatwoot or PocketBase better?
Neither clearly leads. Chatwoot starts at Free and PocketBase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chatwoot or PocketBase?
Chatwoot starts at Free and PocketBase at Free.
Does Chatwoot or PocketBase run on more platforms?
Chatwoot runs on Web, Cloud, Self-hosted. PocketBase runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
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 PocketBase is typically brought in for.
What can Chatwoot do that PocketBase cannot?
Chatwoot covers Live chat, Email inbox, Social channels, Knowledge base. PocketBase covers REST API, Real-time subscriptions, Admin UI, SQLite. Both handle Self-hosted 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
PocketBase: How much does PocketBase cost?

PocketBase is completely free and open-source. It is a self-hosted backend solution with database, authentication, and file storage capabilities at no cost.

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
PocketBase: Is PocketBase open-source?

Yes, PocketBase is open-source software. You can download, modify, and deploy it yourself at no cost with no licensing restrictions.

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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