Softwr

Communication · head to head

Chatwork vs Novu

Chatwork logo

Chatwork

Communication

Group chat for global teams, built to replace email with real-time communication

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Novu logo

Novu

Communication

Open-source notification infrastructure for multi-channel messaging

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Chatwork free plan limited to 100 users; Novu free plan activity feed retention is limited to 24 hours, restricting how far back teams can debug delivery issues.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chatwork and Novu actually diverge.

Attributes where Chatwork and Novu differ
AttributeChatworkNovu
PlatformsWebweb, api

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

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 Chatwork

Nothing recorded that Novu does not also cover.

Only in Novu

  • Multi-channel workflows
  • Advanced email editor
  • Activity feed
  • Multi-environment support
  • Role-based access control
  • Self-hosting

What people use each for

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

Chatwork

  • Team communication and collaborationnot Novu

Novu

  • Building multi-channel notification workflows for a SaaS productnot Chatwork
  • Self-hosting notification infrastructure for data controlnot Chatwork
  • Managing separate notification environments for staging and productionnot Chatwork
  • Tracking notification delivery history and activitynot Chatwork

Where each one falls short

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

Chatwork

  • Free plan limited to 100 users
  • Free plan message history limited to last 40 days
  • Standard plan pricing: $7/month annual or $8.40/month monthly

Novu

  • Free plan activity feed retention is limited to 24 hours, restricting how far back teams can debug delivery issues.
  • Overage on Pro and Team plans is billed at $1.20 per 1,000 additional workflow runs, which can add up at scale.
  • HIPAA BAA compliance and dedicated SSO are Enterprise-only and require custom pricing.

Pricing, plan by plan

Chatwork

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Secure messaging
    • Unlimited group chats
    • 1:1 video calls
  • Standard$7/month
    • All Free features
    • Unlimited message history
    • Group video calls

Novu

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10,000 workflow runs/month
    • All channels included
    • Up to 20 workflows
  • Pro$30/month
    • 30,000+ workflow runs/month
    • Advanced email editor
    • Remove Novu branding
  • Team$250/month
    • 250,000+ workflow runs/month
    • Up to 10 environments
    • 90-day activity feed retention

Which should you pick?

Choose Chatwork if

  • You want to start without paying.
Chatwork review

Choose Novu if

  • You need multi-channel workflows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want advanced email editor.
Novu review

Questions people ask

Is Chatwork or Novu better?
Neither clearly leads. Chatwork starts at Free and Novu at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chatwork or Novu?
Chatwork starts at Free and Novu at Free.
Does Chatwork or Novu run on more platforms?
Chatwork runs on Web. Novu runs on web, api.
Can I use Chatwork for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Chatwork best used for?
Chatwork is most often used for team communication and collaboration. Of those, team communication and collaboration is not what Novu is typically brought in for.
What can Chatwork do that Novu cannot?
Novu covers Multi-channel workflows, Advanced email editor, Activity feed, Multi-environment support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Chatwork: How much does Chatwork cost?

Chatwork is free for up to 100 users. The Standard plan costs $7 per month with annual subscription or $8.40 per month with monthly subscription for unlimited users.

Source
Novu: What does Novu cost?

Novu offers a Free plan for 10,000 workflow runs per month, Pro from $30/month for 30,000+ runs, Team from $250/month for 250,000+ runs, and custom Enterprise pricing for 10M+ runs.

Source
Chatwork: What is the limit on the Chatwork free plan?

The free plan supports up to 100 users and limits message history to the last 40 days. It includes secure messaging, unlimited group chats, 1:1 video calls, 10GB storage per organization, and task management.

Source
Novu: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Yes, the Free plan includes 10,000 workflow runs per month, all messaging channels, up to 20 workflows, 2 environments, and up to 3 team members.

Source
Chatwork: What does the Chatwork Standard plan add?

The Standard plan ($7-8.40/month) adds unlimited message history, group video calls, 10GB storage per user instead of per organization, advanced search, dedicated support, user management controls, and CSV contact import.

Source
Novu: How is usage metered?

Billing is based on the number of workflow runs per month rather than per user or per message, with overage on paid plans charged at $1.20 per 1,000 additional runs.

Source
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