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Customer Support · head to head

Chatwoot vs Reply.io

Chatwoot logo

Chatwoot

Customer Support

Open-source customer engagement platform

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Reply.io logo

Reply.io

CRM

Multichannel sales engagement platform for email, LinkedIn, calls and SMS outreach

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Chatwoot free plan limited to 2 agents and 500 conversations per month; Reply.io multichannel features and CRM sync require the higher-priced Professional tier or above.
  • They diverge on capability: Chatwoot covers Live chat, Reply.io covers Multichannel sequences.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chatwoot and Reply.io actually diverge.

Attributes where Chatwoot and Reply.io differ
AttributeChatwootReply.io
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, Self-hostedweb, api
CategoryCustomer SupportCRM
Founded20172014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Reply.io

  • Multichannel sequences
  • Contact database
  • AI email assistant
  • Deliverability tools
  • CRM sync
  • Reporting and analytics

What people use each for

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

Chatwoot

  • Self-hosted supportnot Reply.io
  • Privacy-first chatnot Reply.io
  • Multi-channel supportnot Reply.io

Reply.io

  • Running multichannel outbound sequences combining email and LinkedInnot Chatwoot
  • Automating cold calling and SMS follow-ups alongside emailnot Chatwoot
  • Finding new B2B prospects from a built-in contact databasenot Chatwoot
  • Syncing outreach activity into an existing CRMnot 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

Reply.io

  • Multichannel features and CRM sync require the higher-priced Professional tier or above.
  • LinkedIn and calling/SMS automation are billed as separate per-account add-ons on top of plan pricing.
  • Pricing is per user, which can raise costs quickly for larger sales teams.
  • Monthly (non-annual) billing carries a notable price premium over the advertised annual rates.

Pricing, plan by plan

Chatwoot

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

Reply.io

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited monthly emails
    • Basic sequence features
  • Starter$49/month
    • Email-only sequences
    • Billed annually per user
  • Professional$89/month
    • Multichannel sequences
    • CRM sync
    • Billed annually per user
  • Ultimate$139/month
    • Full AI suite
    • Highest sending limits
    • Advanced reporting and integrations

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 Reply.io if

  • You need multichannel sequences.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want contact database.
Reply.io review

Questions people ask

Is Chatwoot or Reply.io better?
Neither clearly leads. Chatwoot starts at Free and Reply.io at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chatwoot or Reply.io?
Chatwoot starts at Free and Reply.io at Free.
Does Chatwoot or Reply.io run on more platforms?
Chatwoot runs on Web, Cloud, Self-hosted. Reply.io runs on web, api.
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 Reply.io is typically brought in for.
What can Chatwoot do that Reply.io cannot?
Chatwoot covers Live chat, Email inbox, Social channels, Knowledge base. Reply.io covers Multichannel sequences, Contact database, AI email assistant, Deliverability tools.

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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