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Software · head to head

Freshchat vs LiveChat

Freshchat logo

Freshchat

Software

Modern messaging for customer engagement

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LiveChat logo

LiveChat

Software

Customer service software that delights

From
$20/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Freshchat has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Freshchat the free plan covers up to 10 agents and omits social messengers, SMS and reporting; LiveChat the Starter plan retains only 60 days of chat history, so an audit trail requires the Team plan at $49 per person per month
  • They diverge on capability: Freshchat covers Chatbots, LiveChat covers Ticketing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Freshchat and LiveChat actually diverge.

Attributes where Freshchat and LiveChat differ
AttributeFreshchatLiveChat
Starting priceFree$20/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Desktop
Founded20102002

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Freshchat

  • Chatbots
  • Campaigns
  • WhatsApp
  • Instagram
  • Apple Business Chat
  • Freshdesk
  • Freshsales
  • Slack

Only in LiveChat

  • Ticketing
  • Chat routing
  • Analytics
  • Canned responses
  • File sharing
  • WordPress
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot

Both cover

  • Live chat
  • Shopify
  • GDPR
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Freshchat

  • Live chat on a website or in an appnot LiveChat
  • Shared inbox across chat, email and social messengersnot LiveChat
  • Chatbot deflection before a conversation reaches an agentnot LiveChat
  • Routing conversations by skill or language on the higher tiersnot LiveChat

LiveChat

  • Live chat support on a website with agent routingnot Freshchat
  • Handling customer conversations across chat, SMS and messaging channelsnot Freshchat

Where each one falls short

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

Freshchat

  • The free plan covers up to 10 agents and omits social messengers, SMS and reporting
  • Reporting and social channels need Growth at $19 per agent per month billed annually
  • Intelligent routing, multilingual support and custom dashboards require Pro at $49 per agent per month
  • Skill-based routing, audit logs and IP whitelisting are Enterprise only at $79 per agent per month
  • Freddy AI is charged on top of the seat price, at $49 per 100 agent sessions and $29 per agent per month for Copilot

LiveChat

  • The Starter plan retains only 60 days of chat history, so an audit trail requires the Team plan at $49 per person per month
  • Pricing is per agent, so support cost scales with headcount rather than with conversation volume
  • AI reply suggestions are capped by plan, at 3 knowledge sources on Starter and 10 above it
  • Surveys and eye catchers are predefined rather than customisable below the Enterprise plan
  • SSO, white labelling and HIPAA compliance are Enterprise only

Pricing, plan by plan

Freshchat

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100 contacts
    • Chatbot
    • Inbox views
  • Growth$19/month
    • 2000 contacts
    • WhatsApp
    • Instagram
  • Pro$49/month
    • 5000 contacts
    • Auto-resolve
    • Advanced routing
  • Enterprise$79/month
    • Unlimited contacts
    • Custom bots
    • User authentication

LiveChat

$20/month
  • Starter$20/month
    • 60-day chat history
    • Basic customization
    • Ticketing system
  • Team$41/month
    • Unlimited history
    • Advanced reporting
    • Branding removal
  • Business$59/month
    • Staffing prediction
    • Work scheduler
    • Apple Business Chat
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Dedicated account manager
    • Product training
    • SSO

Which should you pick?

Choose Freshchat if

  • You need chatbots.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want campaigns.
Freshchat review

Choose LiveChat if

  • You need ticketing.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want chat routing.
LiveChat review

Questions people ask

Is Freshchat or LiveChat better?
Neither clearly leads. Freshchat starts at Free and LiveChat at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Freshchat or LiveChat?
Freshchat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Freshchat and $20/month for LiveChat.
Does Freshchat or LiveChat run on more platforms?
Freshchat runs on Web, Ios, Android. LiveChat runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
Can I use Freshchat for free?
Yes. Freshchat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LiveChat starts at $20/month.
What is Freshchat best used for?
Freshchat is most often used for live chat on a website or in an app, shared inbox across chat, email and social messengers, chatbot deflection before a conversation reaches an agent, routing conversations by skill or language on the higher tiers. Of those, live chat on a website or in an app and shared inbox across chat, email and social messengers are not what LiveChat is typically brought in for.
What can Freshchat do that LiveChat cannot?
Freshchat covers Chatbots, Campaigns, WhatsApp, Instagram. LiveChat covers Ticketing, Chat routing, Analytics, Canned responses. Both handle Live chat, Shopify, GDPR, Web support.
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Related pages

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More on LiveChat

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